July 12, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Burns Lake, Hiking
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Since my sister and myself are always up for a little adventure, we decided to get together with a couple of friends and hike into Uncha Mountain Red Hills Provincial Park. Red Hills offers gorgeous views of the lake, plus it is just about ten kilometres down East Francois Lake Road, so it is very easy to access.
The trailhead itself starts off at the end of the road, and a newly installed outhouse is the only facilities along the trail. Although this is a fairly well know path, there is very little signage for its entire length - the only markers are bits of flagging tape strung on trees or else slashes on poplar trees. Don't let this deter you, though, because it is a very rewarding journey following the edge of Francois Lake.
We were able to take a relaxing walk for most of the way, following what is best described as a game trail. We spotted deer, grouse, eagles, osprey, squirrels and a variety of other little animals and wildlife on our hike. After walking a few kilometers, we followed another well used game trail that weaved its way up one of the many bluffs of the Red Hills (this one doesn't have any markings at all, though, so take care when wandering off the original trail not to destroy any plants). It was from this vantage point that we had unparalleled views of nearly the entire length of Francois Lake. The public ferry was also visible - but because of our height it appeared tiny compared to the lake!We packed a picnic lunch for the hike (by "we", I mean the girls did, the boys somehow forgot they would be hungry after hiking in the sun), and after gathering all our garbage up to take back with us, we started our return. What a great way to spend a day!
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