karstosis.photography

Today was a fantastic November First. The sun was out, the air was crisp, and the Subaru was slowly navigating the potholes along Cosens Bay Road. Inside the car, two adventurers with a goal: explore Cougar Canyon Ecological Reserve until Nightfall - proceed back under light of headlamp.

The curious humans were myself and Rick, and while I had no clue what to expect, I had a vague idea of how to get there after my solo expedition a week ago. After seeing the image on the Reserves website, I decided I wanted to find that lake.

We set out at 2pm. Not really an optimal time, as just to hike there and back non-stop is probably a two hour undertaking, and we came to explore new terrain. But we were well prepared to deal with the onslaught of nightfall that would bedevil us after we almost certainly end up staying late. So off we went.

The first part of the hike consisted of much familiar terrain, and many photo taking stops. The route takes one through the local rock climbing Mecca, Cougar Canyon; we walk past cave, boulders, sheer hundred foot cliffs, and curious chipmunks. After scaling up one cliff and around another, we cross thick grasslands and follow faded flagging until we arrive under the powerlines where we are offered a great view of Vernon and Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park. From here one can see Turtle’s Head Point, Kal Beach, Vernon, Swan Lake, heck - all the way to Armstrong. This is where I took a fantastic couple of night shots later, on the return journey.

After dropping down below the lines and following an overgrown service road for a short while, we arrived at the border of the Eco-Reserve. Shortly after passing the sign, we saw a good place to head on in, a clearing of sorts. Here there was a frozen, semi-dried-up wetland.

It was spooky, but made for great shots.

After getting to a bit of a viewpoint, we discovered that there was opportunity for us to proceed downwards, deeper into an epic, untouched wilderness. We scrambled around for a bit before we discovered a bit of a game trail. We followed this for a ways, until looking down the canyon, I noticed that there was another clearing below us, with what looked like a sheer drop off at the edge. This was at a narrow part of the canyon, and I figured that there was no way we could go wring if we headed towards that - it was sure to be a visual treat. Being the adventurous explorers we are, we headed for it. Upon arrival, we realized it was well worth it. We found a lake.

This lake was quite the fantastic sight. Its shores were nearly right at our feet, just about 100 feet of vertical below. I had read that there were many small lakes in here (six to be exact), but was surprised to see one of this size. I was expecting ponds, this was a full -fledged lake. After much gawking, and evaluating the remaining amount of daylight we had left (as well as if or if-not we wanted to climb out in the dark) we decided to scramble down.

It was a steed decent, but well worth it. We were in the depths of Cougar Canyon. I have wanted to get out here for ages. What a treat. I shot some pictures, then just sat back to take in the sights. It was phenomenally quiet and still. One cannot even hear the highway across the lake when in this spot. It is completely still. Fantastic.

There is something amazing about getting away from it all like this. It is raw. Keeps you alive, keeps me alive anyhow. With all the turbulance and uncertainty in my life lately, it was fantastic to be out here. Everything was purged - if only just for a few precious seconds, while sitting on the shores of that lake.

Wilderness tends to do that to me, that is probably why I have been out here 14 of the last 16 days.

But alas, darkness fell, and it was time to head back, the climb up was easier… finding the trail was an adventure, but we made it back. After some night photos of Vernon, and a ton of Satisfaction, it was time to go to Lumby for food.

I have a felling I will be spending a LOT of time out at the Canyon in the Coming weeks. It has become my survival tool.

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