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Biggi – The Whole Trail

Biggi – The Whole Trail

by | Sep 30, 2020 | High Rim Trail Reports, Members Trail Pics

Hi there!
I just completed a thru-hike of the High Rim Trail (HRT) northbound. I omitted Cardiac Hill since I hiked it before and wasn’t keen on hiking through the burned area. I started at Goudie Road, spent the night at the Monolith (hiking 31km) and finishing at Cosens Bay (hiking 21km). About 7-8 years ago I attempted the same with friends but it was so difficult to hike the trail due to all the blowdowns that we abandoned our attempt at Oyama Road.
This time I made it through and enjoyed my experience. Especially the second day is great with more views, less overgrown bushes and less mud. Many thanks for clearing the trail and posting signs. My recommendations for improvements would be:

  • There are still blowdowns on the trail. There are maybe 10 large logs that require a lot of scrambling, and many smaller ones.
  • It would be so useful if you could post on the website when you clear which section.
  • I found myself “lost” and having to use the GPS app almost every time I hit a dirt road. A simple arrow on the existing signs, indicating which way to turn, would eliminate some of the “extra” hiking.

I am dedicated to LNT (Leave no trace) hiking and found the trail mostly clean (besides all the cow poop!). Next I will try the Ok Highlands Trail section; let me know if there are any reports on the trail condition.

Read Biggi’s Pacifc Crest Trail Report.

Trailman Grumpy Dan (Daniel Henhoeffer) – deadfall across the trail, Land slide reroute in Kal Park

Trailman Grumpy Dan (Daniel Henhoeffer) – deadfall across the trail, Land slide reroute in Kal Park

by | Sep 12, 2020 | High Rim Trail Reports, Members Trail Pics

Went in to hike up to the tower today but had a last minute change in plan. Went in at Cosens Bay and hiked south to 51KM. No major deadfall on the trail that is impassable. There is dead fall between where Upper Stone Free interacts with the HRT but is passable with a pack on. Heading south bound HRT will go up to slide location and will direct you to the right onto Interstellar. Be aware that the left onto The Steep RT is unmarked for HRT. Heading north bound HRT sign posted onto The Steep RT but nothing to send you onto Interstellar. You will eventually meet up with the trail. Trail was dry and clear with no wet spots in Bear Valley and only a trickle flowing at Cosens Creek. Great Saturday morning hike.

Okanagan High Rim Trail Co-Founder Arnold Trewhitt

Okanagan High Rim Trail Co-Founder Arnold Trewhitt

by | Mar 15, 2020 | Members Trail Pics

Kelowna Hiker

Trail Co-Founder Arnold Trewhitt

The Okanagan High Rim Trail connects Kelowna to Vernon along the edge of the hills on the east side of the Okanagan Valley. Last night the Okanagan High Rim Trail Association had the chance to sit down with Arnold Trewhitt, one of the original founders of the trail who was born on and has lived at the same property in Lake Country for 95 years. Let that sink in, Arnold has lived in Lake Country for 95 years.

 

Arnold said the area has changed a lot over the last century. He mentioned walking the hill sides when he was a younger man, following the trails the trappers, who took to the forest to make a buck during the great depression, had blazed. Arnold remembers hunting pheasant along what is now the Okanagan Rail Trail on the way home from school during the great depression, and how meat was so hard to come by in those days. When I asked Arnold what has changed the most over the last 95 years in Lake Country, he said people, cars…and laws. It almost sounded like an understatement.

It was clear that Arnold was passionate about the Okanagan High Rim Trail; he reiterated what a valuable asset it is to the community and shared a clipping from the Capital News dated April 11 1994 announcing that the trail was finally open. At the time, it was a bit of a learning process, and there was lots of annual work to keep the trail cleared. Most of the work was done by a small group of passionate retirees where Mary Bailey was invaluable in gathering support from the community and organizing the group. During the early days of the trail, this small group dwindled quickly. Bruce Sumner who was the original driving force for the project flagged the route, and marked out the locations for the original kilometer markers with cotton on a reel, but passed away shortly after it was completed. Arnold remembers sadly how Bruce’s health deteriorated near the end due to a brain tumor. Other volunteers moved away, and eventually there was little help to keep the trail in shape. 

 

view of Kelowna while hiking the Okanagan High Rim Trail.Tom Beggs who was also one of the original founders and came back from Victoria to spend three days every summer with Arnold to clear as much of the trail as they could. Arnold remembers Tom being as fast with an axe as Arnold was with a chainsaw. On one occasion they were stalked by a young cougar on the trail. Arnold recalls running at the cougar with the axe, expecting it to run away, but was unnerved when it just crouched down and watched him close the distance. The cougar seemed to leave them alone after throwing some rocks toward it. Arnold is witty and still pretty quick on his feet these days, and you wouldn’t want to come at him; even if you were a cougar. 

 

Arnold is humble about what he has accomplished, and simply states that he enjoyed the work. Just about his whole family has taken an interest in the trail, spending time both enjoying and maintaining the asset, with a particular fondness for the section “Nan’s Path” between Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake. Arnold says you need to snowshoe the trail to use it to its full potential.

 

View of Kelowna while hiking the High Rim TrailThe Okanagan High Rim Trail Association is excited to keep up what other locals started almost 30 years ago. This summer and fall we are tackling the section “Cardiac Hill” at the Philpott Road trailhead which was damaged from the forest fire and subsequent logging in the area. If you are interested in volunteering, please consider registering and subscribing at HighRimTrail.ca.

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I enjoyed the trail.

– Arnold Trewhitt

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