Our latest hike and a time to de-stress and reconnect.

Jeff and I just got back from a trip to the area around Selmo, BC, Canada this past weekend, and it was AMAZING!  Our summer has been filled with lots of travel to see family, but we hadn't had time to indulge in another thing we love and that is getting out into the wilderness.  

Jeff had a ‘hankering’ to get out into the mountains that surround us in this beautiful part of the country. He loves to backpack into high mountain alpine lakes, and this time it had to be close because we only had the weekend.  I, on the other hand, had not had nearly enough exercise this summer to think about carrying a 50lb pack, plus myself up a mountain…So, a compromise!  We would try to find a place where we could do a great day hike, but still be far enough into the wilderness to feel as if we were backpacking when we camped at night.

We have plenty of places we could have gone in North Idaho (our own backyard), Washington, or Montana. Then I thought “What about an adventure into Canada?”  To go hiking and camping in another country, that sounded like more of an adventure!  We looked up places close by, and found a place by the name of Panther Lake, up in the Selkirks (Nelson Range).  It sounded remote, yet ‘do-able’ and just what we needed even with the prospects of walking through a lot of huckleberries in grizzly bear country.  It just takes preparation….Right?

Off we went with gear, dog (Chip) and bear spray in tow.  Of course, with Jeff and I, this included great food and a good bottle of wine to stow in the backpacks.  The instructions we found in the recommended book (just a stop at the library) led us nearly there.  Luck was on our side when we ran into a colorful mountain native, and he gave us ‘up to date’ detailed information on the road conditions, etc.  A good thing we ran into him, or we would have had a very difficult time finding the trail-head as there had been recent logging in the area, and, as it turns out, hiking trails are not well marked in Canada!

We call this:  "I'm a survivor!" 

                                                                     The 'easy' part.

We parked at the logging site, and upon getting out of the car, it was so very quiet….not a highway sound, no sound of air traffic either, unless you want to include the bird song.  Even the sound of the creek we were to follow up, was distant at this point.  Easy going for the first leg, with a few picturesque, downed foot bridges and the streams were low, so these were easy to get across. I found a few late thimble berries (which I adore), and was thoroughly enchanted with the green lushness.  The next leg went up into trees with a bit of a grade starting to happen, but Jeff stopped for me frequently and we took lots of pictures of the cliffs around us, and to enjoy the roar of the creek.  Then we got to the huckleberries, which I’d never tasted more than one or two fresh ones at a time.  Here we were still able to gather handfuls (yum!) We ran into another couple coming down from the lake, and they told us we were close, and no one was there.  This gave us a renewed excitement to get to our destination! 

                                                             One of the broken foot bridges.

                                                                          Jeff and Chip

Soon, through the trees and huckleberries, I spotted the glimmer of water (Jeff was too busy gathering and eating berries), and when we reached the shores, it was worth every step!  Gorgeous, glittering water, surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, the sound of a bird call, and the occasional screech of a bird of prey soaring above.  This is why we hike, to find this kind of secluded, pristine beauty.  To fill our lungs with air so sweet and pure, it is like a drug that goes straight to your head making you giddy and you have to just stand there and smile.  Braving a dip in the cold, clear water to cool off, and enjoy running around like God made us, is an additional benefit.  

Hunger sets in, and we find a huge warm boulder to warm our bodies on and break out the wine and food.  A good Sirah and our usual, wonderful picnic fare is laid out….avocado, fresh tomatoes, lettuce and lemon cukes from our organic garden, good Dave’s bread and whole grain crackers, Vegenaise (better than any mayo around!), a good organic sharp cheese (not vegan today) and some fresh peanut butter (Chip was glad we packed this!)....always, sooo good!  And even better in this setting! For desert we would eat more huckleberries on the way down.  The book had said this was a good hike to take with your best friend, and we concurred.  It is even better when done with your best friend and you happen to be in Love, too!!

Another dive into Panther Lake from a large boulder, warming in the sun while laying on bear grass, spying on a hawk with binoculars, watching the clouds roll by and making memories, filled the rest of the afternoon. Too soon it was time to go find a camp site.  We had a bit of excitement when we were near the end of the trail and in sight of our vehicle… Chip started growling with his hair standing straight up.  We never saw a bear, but it made for a good story to tell the family. 

We camped just a couple miles down from the trail-head at a cozy private campsite right next to the stream. It was perfect. I make a great bed, Jeff makes a great fire and we both make great food.  Vegan sausages, onion, jalapeno, red bell pepper, new potatoes, spinach, and garlic all go into the cast iron skillet and we enjoy the flavors to the roar of the creek and wonderful conversation by the fire.  These are the simple things we hold as special and sacred to us and are thankful for our ability to experience.                                        

After some play time on the creek, finding great rocks, and just enjoying ourselves, we head off for an afternoon in Nelson…one of our favorite small towns.  There is no time to hike today, but we explore some shops, and find some eccentric dinner restaurants that we would like to try sometime in the future when we can spend a few days.  One place I love to go when in Nelson, is Jagannatha Express, to experience great vegetarian food and the Joy and Peace I feel while eating there.  Unfortunately Jagannatha Express is closed on Sunday, but we were able to have a delightfully fresh meal at the hip ‘tappa style’ Cantina del Centro, where they declare ‘Tacos Are Sexy’ and ‘fingers not forks’.  The service was as great as the food, and I must try to re-create the vegan ceviche …it was divine!

Home again, refreshed, ready to be productive and looking forward to more adventure soon!