BRITISH COLUMBIA: SNOWSHOEING THE FLAT IRON TRAIL
The forest is silent except for the crunch of our big feet along a snowy trail. When a clump of snow plops from an evergreen’s branch, we are all startled, except for Gord Jones, our snowshoe guide, who is use to both the silence and the sounds of the woods.
We are trudging along Flatiron Trail in British Columbia's Wells Gray Provincial Park. Located just north of the tiny town of Clearwater north of Kamploops in central BC, it is a 5,400-square-kilometre haven of wilderness. On this pleasant winter’s day –fresh snow and clear air – our group of five is realizing why this region is renowned for outdoor winter adventures. There are scant people but hectares of wilderness; few cars but many animals. Although we keep watchful for elusive mule, Whitetail deer, moose and Pine marten, all we spot are squirrels and grouse.
We are joyous about exercising on these racquet-shaped devices that were utilized by early explorers. Over the last few decades, snowshoeing has become a popular recreational pastime -- even without experience, they allow you to trek snow-trenched trails without sinking.
Although most of our all-women group are city slickers and take the odd plop into soft snow, we are all enamoured with this walk-on-snow guided by Clearwater Lake Tours. We lunch at Blue Grouse Country Inn B&B – run by a charming Austrian couple that offer dogsledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing excursions – then head back into Wells Gray.
Nearby is one of nature’s phenomena: Helmcken Falls. They highlighting a vast circular canyon and plunge 141 metres into the Murtle River. In winter, Helmcken - three times higher and so much more secluded than Niagara Falls, drops into a snow cone, giving the surreal effect of a mammoth, ice cream cone. Both Helmcken and nearby Dawson Falls are easily viewed from safe platforms and are spectacular in any season.
Wells Gray Provincial Park is renowned for its backcountry, yet it is possible to also explore on well-marked, easy trails such as Majerus Farm Trail. If there is a more idyllic walk in the snow, I can’t imagine it. Evergreens cloaked in icy attire and the white bark of aspen and birch dappled by late afternoon sunshine paint an unforgettable winter scene.
Following this easy route we eventually come across remnants of the early day homestead that earned the trail its name. This is the only groomed trail in Wells Gray (although experienced snowshoers and cross-country skiers can travel for days in challenging terrain) and is part of a 26 km-long Loppet Trail used by cross-country skiers.
Had we been more energetic we could have followed this route back to Helmcken Falls Lodge our home base for this fitness adventure.
“We’ll save that for next time,” we joked over our delicious lodge dinner later that night. We all agree that Clearwater, with its proximity to Wells Gray Park, this lovely lodge surrounded by wilderness and run by a friendly English family, and its multitude of activities that connect one with nature - is a true find. Tomorrow, we could choose between dog sledding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, but it would be tough to beat today's snowshoe in the park.
For more information:
www.ntvalley.com/clearwater
www.helmckenfalls.com
www.clearwaterlaketours.com
Judi Lees is a B.C. based freelance writer.