Saturday, July 05, 2008- WILDERNESS FIRST
AID COURSE
The Nordic Cross-Country Ski Club is organizing a Wilderness
first aid course in conjunction with Jim Ongena on Saturday,
July 5, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the EECO Centre
in Mission Creek Regional Park. Space is limited so register
early.
This one day course is designed for hikers, skiers, snowshoers,
climbers, and anyone who recreates or works in the outdoors.
Learn how to gain skills and confidence in handling traumatic
injuries and medical emergencies in the outdoors.
Instruction will involve learning how to handle soft tissue
injuries, patient moving, basic CPR, hypothermia, fractures,
concussion, unconsciousness, dehydration, hypothermia and more.
The cost for the course is $100. and includes taxes and course
material.
Jim taught his first wilderness first aid course in 1982. He
holds a Masters degree in outdoor education from the University
of Calgary and has taught outdoor education courses in Montreal,
Ottawa and in the Okanagan. Jim is also a certified world wide
climbing guide.
Visit his website for more information www.corporateheights.ca/guiding
To register in this one time offer contact Jim Ongena at (250)
486-7166 or email jim@corporateheights.ca
If you would like more information please call Alice 769-5812
December Newsletter
Download the December 2007
Newsletter [PDF File].
Michael Nobes would like to thank Lori Robertson, Jenna Hoffman,
Mary Hegenbarth, Bitten Tisdale and Roxanne Warner for their
help in getting the newsletter into the mail in such a timely
fashion.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
THIS YEAR
GROOMING FOR CLASSIC AND SKATE SKIING
We
have nearly 60 km of groomed trails with a good balance of difficulty
that are groomed regularly with our Piston Bully 200 Groomer.
We also have over 20 km single track trails groomed with our
Skidoo. In addition to the Main Cabin at the trailhead we have
two warming cabins, both equipped with stoves, tables and chairs
and located to provide ideal lunch stops. Dogs are not allowed
on these trails or in the cabins but are welcome on the K9 Trail.
This is Ryan Elliot, our groomer operator. Note the electric
lights in the Quonset hut. These were installed this summer
to provide much appreciated lighting for maintenance and power
for the Piston Bully's block heater.
Daily Report on Conditions
To get the report on conditions and weather at our trails call
861-3616. The current day's report is usually available
by 7:30AM.
SNOWSHOEING
Snowshoe
trails all have names beginning with Snow or Snowy, and are
shown as dotted lines on the X-C Trail Map map (if you have
the map focusing on the ski trails. If you have the map focusing
on snowshoe trails, the ski trails are faint and the snowshoe
trails are darker).
The snowshoe trails form three groups. The first group is
in the western portion of the area the club uses, and focuses
on the Snowy Hilton and Snowy Cabin trails. The second group
is in the centre of the area, and focuses on the Snowy Vista
trail. The third group is in the eastern portion of the area,
and includes Snowbound, Snow Business, Snow Goose, Snowy Leon,
Snowy PM, Snowy Valentine, and Snow View.
Download the Snowshoe Trails
document for written trail descriptions [PDF
FILE]
A TRAIL FOR ALL SEASONS
The
Mildred Wardlaw Nature Trails were developed at the McCulloch
Nordic Cross- Country Ski Trails to utilize part of this area
in the off-ski season. Two of the flower, shrub and tree signed
trails were named for Mildred Wardlaw, daughter of Dave Wardlaw
who was employed by the water district to control the water
outlet on McCulloch lake. Mildred continued his tradition while
living on the nearby family ranch. She recorded basic daily
weather data and still found time to get to know the flowers
and birds in the area. She was also an artist. Mildred died
in 1995.
The extensive cross-country ski and snowshoe trail system has
been used for years by hikers, mtn. bikers and back country
horse riders in the spring, summer and fall months. It seemed
a good fit for the Central Okanagan Naturalists Club, many members
of which also belong to the Nordic club, to develop a nature
trail system for the use of club members, school groups and
the general public.In 1997 an educational program began. Identification
signs for some of the common flowers, shrubs and trees were
developed. The former two groups are attached to stakes and
are placed out next to suitable specimens on the trail every
spring and summer. Initially, 4 species of tree signs were developed
and were attached to appropriate trees along the trails.
From that beginning, a large kiosk was constructed to house
two large signs utilizing photos to show many of the common
birds and mammals resident in the area. In 2006 a panel depicting
the ecology of the Mountain Pine Beetle and another similar
sized panel illustrating all of the conifer tree species and
most of the major deciduous tree species were added to the kiosk.
Six more small-sized tree species signs were designed and are
now...late 2006 and 2007...being attached to trees along the
nature trails as well as other cross-country ski trails. Benches
and bird boxes ..the latter built and erected by members of
the Young Naturalists have been added to the trails.
A beautifly carved sign advertizing the Nature Trails was erected
a few years ago to lead to the entry kiosk where a large scale
map and history of the trails is located.
HIGH RIM TRAIL RESTORATION & MAINTENANCE(An Update):
The
High Rim Trail restoration and maintenance project is in its
second year.
In the first year 35 volunteers spent a total of 480 hours flagging
and clearing 31 kms of trail over 10 days. From May to July
this year 21 volunteers worked 215 hours over 5 days flagging
and clearing 28 kms of trail. Even though the trail is estimated
to be 55 kms in length, some of the trails had to be worked
on several times.
Starting from Mission Creek to the Oyama Road: bridges and styles
were repaired, trails were rebuilt, trails were flagged and
cleared of debris, signs were repaired, and new signage was
installed. We encountered many obstacles along the way; we hiked
through mud, over and under large timbers and dense brush. We
met other hikers, and equestrians; we were witness to ATV damage
in pristine meadows; logging in large cut blocks; cattle damage
to trails due to lack of fencing; and vandalism on trailhead
signs.
The Nordic Club is hoping to submit a proposal to the Okanagan-Shuswap
Land Resource Management Plan (LRMP) Monitoring Committee in
October requesting that the High Rim Trail from Cosens Bay to
Mission Creek be upgraded to a Category 'A' trail. This change
would provide more protection to the trail within a linear corridor
and maintain a diverse managed landscape in visually sensitive
areas. The trail would be managed consistent with the recommendations
of the LRMP.
Download the High Rim
Trail document for more information. [PDF
File]
Download The High Rim Trail
Map for access points to the High RimTrail. [PDF
File]
For more information download IF
YOU GO - TRAVELOGUE. [PDF]
Download a recent article by J.P. Squire
'Stroll Up the Rim to Win' [PDF]
REMINDERS
To all Nordic XC Ski Club members and trail visitors: pictures
and feedback on our trails is always welcome. Pictures of activities
and people are particularly welcome. Please be aware, what you
send may be posted on this site. E-mail admin@kelownanordic.com.
Members who wish to carpool may meet at the
Parkinson Rec Centre for car pooling at 8:45 am each Wednesday,
Saturday and Sunday.
Members and non-members are reminded to sign
in at the main cabin. Both Forestry and the BC Gaming Commission
are interested in how many people use our facilities.
Warning!
Logging trucks travelling on the FSR 201 have the Right of Way
and is not recommended as a short cut between our cabin and
Highway 33.
The Kelowna Nordic Cross-Country Ski Club wishes
to acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British
Columbia through the BC Gaming Commission.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
