When the heat dome enveloped the Interior of BC, the forests dried out and forest fires multiplied, followed by smoky skies.    The high country south of Kamloops was cooler and less smoky so ti became our “goto” destination each day.    We paddled McConnell Lake, Stake Lake, Lac le Jeune, Paska Lake, Walloper Lake, Face Lake, Lodgepole Lake, and Surrey Lake and often combined a paddle with a hike.   On this day, we paddled twice around Stake Lake (1 hour) and hiked for another hour on trails in the smoke haze.

There is a large marsh on the northeast end of the trail system and our hiking route went right around it.

The lodgepole pine and douglas fir forests are dry here too so we hope that this area can avoid the threat of forest fires.

There were loons, ducks, and dragonflies on the lake.    On the trails were many wildflowers and pollinators, a few of which are shared here.