August 10, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Houston, Hiking
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The walking trails located along Buck Creek is so easy to get to, I've spent the majority of my summers on it. We always take our dogs down to the trail as well because there are different pull outs that lead to the river. The dogs love to wade out into the slow moving current to cool off during the warm summer months and I'm no exceptions. The cool water feels great during the summer and because it is lower and slower moving it is easy to wander through. The trail offers more than just an easy place to cool off. In previous years we could walk down the Creek and watch beavers build their dams. Even though the trail is located right in town you can usually expect to see some wildlife. The Buck Creek Dike trail can also be a long walk. I've walked along the entire trail before, it reaches from behind Supervalu all the way to the motor cross track. The trail is very secluded in areas and always close to nature. The Buck Creek Dike has just been upgraded as well in these last couple of years. New benches have been placed all along the trail making it more relaxing. This easy walking trail is one of my favorite areas to visit in Houston.
July 13, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Houston, Hiking
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I went searching the other day for the elusive Byman (Perow) Falls and boy are they hard to find!
After turning off Highway 16 onto Perow Loop we went a short distance and turned onto Jarman Road. We had to follow Jarman road up a hill until it turned into the Perow FSR. Once on the Perow FSR we travelled passed the 5km marker and found the falls not far passed it on the right.
The first time we drove by I missed the markers entirely so keep your eyes open for two orange ribbons tied around two trees. The trail itself was overgrown and had many fallen trees along the path. If you keep your eyes open and walk carefully you can maneuver through the trail. It does get steep in spots and you can look out above the waterfall. If you have a fear of heights I wouldn't recommend going too close to the edge since it is quite a ways down.
After going along the trail you are brought to the rocky creek shore. If you travel back along the creek you will be standing at the base of Byman Falls. In total there are two falls. The first major fall comes into a small pool that then overflows into a second very small waterfall. The second waterfall flows into Byman Creek.
The sight was beautiful and definitely worth the bug bites. However, for those that want to explore the falls I highly recommend bringing bug repellent and bear spray. For those going to see the falls, Good Luck!
July 06, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Houston, Hiking
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Wow! My family and myself love travelling and adventuring around northern BC, so this rainy summer has been putting a bit of a cramp in our style. So when we finally got our first day of sunshine - YAY!- I grabbed my mom, sister and friend and we piled into a car and headed out to hike China Knows Mountain. The road in to the trailhead is in quite good condition- but be wary of logging trucks that use the road, and proceed with caution.
If you are looking for an easier hike to the top, then continue past the first signs marking the trail and head another 3 kms down the road. Trust me, we went up the advanced route, and it truly is for advanced hikers only! However, once we reached the top we were greeted with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area. Crawling closely to the edge you are able to see dozens of mountain goats scaling the cliff's edges (but if that kind of thing doesn't float your boat, you can also see them on the hike up- a safe distance away from the edge). There was also many signs of bears around - tracks, etc; but we didn't see any ourselves. On the way back from the top we took the "moderate" path down, and although it was a little bit longer, it made the trip much easier on our tired legs! It is definitely something to think about before you begin.
All in all, if you're looking for an enjoyable hike, with striking views and wildlife viewing opportunities, China Knows is a great afternoon adventure to tackle. It is a memory I will always remember, and you'll be left with the urge to return again soon.
~as a side note, the mountain goes by either China Knows or China Nose...it just depends on who you ask