I
live in Kamloops, British Columbia,
which is one of the most wide spread cities in Canada!
We are surrounded by rolling grassland hills, clay bench lands, volcanic rock formations and plenty of sunshine on our semi arid landscape.
This photo journal is about Peterson Creek Park.
The park is considered right in the heart of Kamloops, BC.
This is a great hiking park perfect for exercise and adventure!
It is also accessible from several neighborhoods
that border the park property.
There are several paths from the downtown in the valley,
as well as from the higher elevated bench land neighborhoods.
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| Do crooked photos get your attention? |
Nowadays
the Trans-Canada Highway crosses
over top of the Peterson Creek ravine.
So the
traffic noise is something people have to tolerate
while hiking the trails
nearest the highway.
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| Plateau above Peterson Creek |
When I see a patch of dirt cracking open like this,
I know something is busy growing underneath! The earth is alive!
Some of the late spring wildflowers blooms linger due to heavier rainfall this spring
The Pine Beetle attacked many Pine Trees in the past few years.
It was
really, really, sad to see them turn red brown
and then dangerously snap or fall
during windstorms etc.
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| Pine Beetle kill of the Pine tree |
Nowadays, many of those dead trees lay toppled over
or they have been logged off to
remove the fire hazard.
As
a result, the highway traffic noise has increased in the neighborhoods, because older Pine trees no longer buffer the noise or slow down wind patterns. Once you are up on the plateau or further in the ravine, it is quieter.
There is just something so exciting and makes me want to jump for joy when I see young Pine Trees thriving so green in the landscape. It is just more precious to appreciate their growth after the devastating pine beetle kill.
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When I do go into Peterson Creek for exercise,
When I do go into Peterson Creek for exercise,
I like to check out the seasonal changes in the area.
This day I
decided to taste test several Saskatoon Berry Bushes!
It was much like taste testing wines!
It was much like taste testing wines!
I was surprised to notice taste differences depending if the tree grew
on slopes with less rain with more clay silt soil or flat bench grasslands near
rainwater runoffs with sunshine or shade!
I also have a Saskatoon bush in my backyard and I can harvest a years worth of berries for my freezer! All year long I can make the
most nutritious smoothies with these berries!
Nowadays, marketing tells us the best super foods that we should consume come from other
countries. Super foods such as Acia berry, Goji berry or drink products
like Monavie, or Chia seeds, Flax seeds etc.
But
really~ what our modern society has lost, is the indigenous knowledge of local
foods. It is known in cultures that live in harmony with the land,
that the food grown locally, provides exactly what we need
because of our interrelationship with the land.
that the food grown locally, provides exactly what we need
because of our interrelationship with the land.
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| Saskatoon bush berries ripen from a red color to a deep blue plump and seedy berry! |
It is higher up on the bench
land, excellent rainwater troughs
and plenty of sunshine! The berries were very sweet and I
thought
the best for pies or jellies.
There were several bushes in this area.
I
kept an eye out for the neighborhood bears too!
I call them neighborhood bears because we do share their
home!
But sadly, many bears have been shot because they come
onto our properties
for garbage and fruit.
Sad~
So
the power of the humble Saskatoon berry contains nutrients
that feed
our bodies right where we live, walk, breathe and interact daily.
The Saskatoon berry has sweetness and an abundance of seeds that provide nutrients
and protein. They are known to regulate blood sugar levels too!
I prefer not to dress mine up as jam and jelly with large amounts of sugar. Instead,
I simply add it to yogurt or kefir, juice or water
and blend it into a smoothie with a variety of other foods too!
Yes,
it is seedy, but that is the natural protein, minerals and vitamins
from the local land that we live on.
For
me it deepens my sense of connection to the land,
and gives me a sense
of place where I live.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The landscape trails are rustic and the grasslands are sensitive.
When damage happens on some trails from cyclists,
then eventually the trail needs to be closed due to erosion.
As the noxious weeds take over and then the
natural grassland habitat changes rapidly.
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| Peterson Creek Upper trails ~ Spot the jogger! |
So while raising my sons, or entertaining visitors,
hiking the Peterson
Creek area has been
an easy adventure from our doorstep.
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| Peterson Creek seen from the plateau~ Do not attempt to climb above the waterfall- people are rescued every year! |
Coming back down into the lower ravine,
I decided to go see the waterfall.
I decided to go see the waterfall.
I was pleased to see a few families with
young children playing in the creek water.
young children playing in the creek water.
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| There is a designated lower trail to the waterfalls |
The trail along the creek has eroded
over the years and depending on water levels,
it may be easy or hard to get up close to the waterfalls.
Older children love to climb up to see the cave!
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| Looks like someone lit a fire in the cave recently! |
~Warning~
Do not let your dogs, children or friends
Do not let your dogs, children or friends
attempt to climb higher than the cave.
Every ~ year Search and Rescue has to come to assist
someone and/or their dog off the rocky areas
that are not designated trails!
Be sure to get as close as safely possible...
the waterfall is actually much longer than in this photo!
You just have to get closer!
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| Peterson Creek Waterfall 2012 |
For two centuries families have hiked up to this waterfall
for picnics and to cool down during the hot summer days.
Kamloops is a great place to live and raise a family, as well as an awesome place to visit!
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| Looking north over the Trans-Canada Hwy Bridge |
