November 24, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
View a larger image on flickr.com
GPS in hand, I went with a Geo-caching friend on a high-tech treasure hunt to find a cache box near a cemetery just south of Dawson Creek.
We had checked out GeoTourismCanada online and found a whole list of locations in and around Dawson Creek.
Even though I live in the area and knew where we were going for this hunt, it was very exciting to forget that and just follow the GPS coordinates. I used to love orienteering when I was in school, so this gave the same thrill.
Learning how to read the GPS device was the tricky part and I'm sure it would get easier with practice. We stopped the truck several times along the way so I could learn and practice how to read coordinates.
Finding the box itself just by following the coordinates was a challenge as well as a lot of fun.
Inside the box was a plastic bag with a small pencil and a logbook to write in. Several other people had written in the book ahead of us. We made sure everything was tucked away for the next adventurer.
I can certainly see why people love this sport.
November 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
View a larger image on flickr.com
We set out from Dawson Creek, Mile O of the Alaska Highway while it was still dark, with a full tank of gas and a fresh cup of coffee-to-go.
About an hour and a half up the highway, just as the sun was rising, we found out how Pink Mountain got its name. Fireweed grows everywhere up the mountain and in the ditches. We must have hit peak season because along with the pink flowers, there were butterflies everywhere. Sadly, many butterflies got caught in the grill of our vehicle.
The air was fresh and clean and the views were awesome. We stopped at an interesting place called Sasquatch Crossing Lodge to fill up our coffee and ask about the butterflies. We were told that these are yearly phenomena and are Arctic Yellowtail Swallow butterflies.
We didn't see any sasquatches though, maybe next time.