Sky High to Sea Level

We went up to the sub-alpine area in Manning Park early one morning since it was frosty down at our campsite anyway.  Nice to be up there without anyone else!  We had some awesome lighting as the sun broke through the clouds.

There is a viewpoint about halfway up to the sub-alpine area.  Here is a view to the east.

I shot a 7 shot panorama and stitched it in Photoshop.  Be sure to click on the picture to open up a larger version.  Below the pano is a shot of the information sign pointing at the mountains with their names.  Most of the peaks you see here are in the USA.

Later that day we hiked the Canyon trail which goes from the Gibson Pass road to Coldstream campground and back along both sides of the Similkameen River.  The headwaters of the Similkameen is in Manning Park and as you can see it is not very large at this point.  By the time it gets to Keremeos and points east it is a major source of irrigation water for tree fruits and grape vines.

After saying farewell to Manning we headed home.  Once on the ferry we were treated to a large pod of Orcas feeding on Salmon right in front of the dock.  I was disappointed that the ferries left the dock right into the middle of the pod.  One whale swam right up to the ferry and gave us the stink-eye so I guess they were not too impressed either!

Manning Park Critters

After leaving the Palouse in Washington and saying farewell to Gaye and Lee we headed for Manning Park for the final leg of our trip.

We dry-camped in Mule Deer campground and as I celebrated my birthday I was musing that the last time I spent a birthday in Manning was in about 1979 or 1980.  Far too long to have been away from one of our favourite parks!

In the campground we found this little Chipmunk feeding on Saskatoon berries.

On a drive up the Gibson Pass road we found a family of Grouse.  Here is one of the three juveniles we photographed.

Later we found yet another adult.

One of our favourite short hikes is 20 Minute Lake.  Despite this park being the most visited of all of BC's parks this little lake, located only minutes from Lightening Lake, the busiest area in the park, is often overlooked.  Rarely does anyone stop at this little jewel.  We found a single, lonely Loon which was very cooperative and gave me over an hour of shooting.

Lastly we had been hearing many woodpeckers but could never see one.  Finally I spotted this Black-backed Woodpecker up in a dead pine.  Perhaps the Mountain Pine Beetle have created habitat for woodpeckers.

Palouse, Washington

Two weeks ago Alaska and 15 degrees.  Today, Washington and 39 degrees!
SCORCHING!!!!!

But, the Palouse is a beautiful area and the wheat is being harvested right now.  We went up and caught the sunset from the top of Steptoe Butte which rises 3612 feet above sea level.  The road spirals to the top getting narrower to the point where there is only room for the parking lot and a set of microwave towers at the top.

Early morning light gives another spectacular perspective as the rolling hills create long shadows.

After the combines have been through there tracks will remain for the winter.

There are few places not planted in wheat or other crops but here and there in some watercourses a few trees manage to grow.

Some trees are planted as well around the farm houses and barns.  The barns here are worth a blog entry on their own but I'll have to get to them later.



Prince Rupert Side Trip

I know, I'm bouncing all over the place here.  When you don't have regular internet you process pictures based on your mood.  Now, while we sweat it out in Merritt I'm cooling myself off by thinking of rainy Prince Rupert.

We went to the North Pacific Cannery museum.  This is the last remaining fish cannery of the era on the Pacific coast.  Once, there were hundreds- but then once there was a lot more fish!

These canneries were isolated communities that were only accessible by boat and once you were there you were pretty much stuck for the duration.  You lived on boardwalks overhanging the beach, shopped in company stores and lived a segregated lifestyle for the most part.  First Nations, Chinese, Japanese and Europeans.  The living quarters reflected the racism and feelings of the time.

This is the net shed where nets were stored and repaired.

Inside the net shed.

Inside a tool shed.

The Japanese fuel dock.

A portion of the boardwalk.

Got cans?

Mmmmm...Salmon!  Mind the lead solder though...

We stopped in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it community called Usk where we photographed one of the smallest churches ever!  Compare the size of the door to the building, the door is normal size.  Inside are four pews- two per side.

Back in the Hazeltons I found this pole set against the Roche de Boule mountains which seem always to be stormy.