Author: lacdesroches

Whew!  Finally, a truly rainy spring day where one can take a break from the long list of outdoor chores and work indoors.  Sorry to those part-time residents and visitors that it happened on the May long weekend, but rain was certainly predicted..  With any luck, it will be followed by some spectacular lightning storms, also in the forecast.  Most residents are busy with their typical spring chores like installing docks, launching boats, cutting back hedges and grass, weeding and planting gardens.  Despite limited access to some forestry roads, due to residual snow, several residents have already been out in the forest cutting next winter’s firewood.  A few years ago an older resident explained that it is better to get the wood early so that if he hurts himself over the summer,at work or play, at the very least his firewood is in for the year.   Depending on the situation, there is a very short window of opportunity to effectively clean up fallen trees – a well known problem in this windy, wooded area of the south Cariboo.  One has to wait for the snow to melt so see what work actually has to be done.  Then you wait until the ground is not too wet so that you can move equipment and vehicles on the land without creating bad ruts.  If you are removing stumps, the ground can’t be too dry as it can be as tough as cement.  Then, of course,  you need the right conditions for burning, preferably during some rain and, of course, before fire restrictions are put in place with could limit burning.   Who would have thought there was so much science and coordination required, just to remove an unwanted tree?  If all goes well and according to plan, as June 1st rolls around, unofficial summer begins.  We will be ready!

 

remarked, it is better to get the wood as soon as possible in case ho are out gathering Several residents are also getting firewood and cleaning up fallen trees

 

Ice off on Lac des Roches can be an amazing event.  This year the event lasted several days.  Today, May 6, strong westerly wind had cleared the west end of the lake of ice and replaced it with huge whitecaps, keeping any residents with any water craft from testing the water.  Until mid-afternoon, the rotten ice held its line at the midway point along Boultbee Road.   Strong gusts finally took the ice “away” late afternoon.  It was just gone…but immediately replaced with high waves.  At sundown, just after 8 pm, the wind died down, the lake was calm and the ducks, geese and loons seemed content to noisily watch the orange glow to the west fade away.  The only thing missing was a layer of clouds to create a beautiful sunset, but a clear sky can be just as nice, soon to be followed by a crescent moon and lots of bright stars.  what a glorious day and evening to be at the lake!

Summer-like weather conditions on May 1st and 2nd had residents expecting an ice-free Lac des Roches by the end of the weekend.  The sound of a lawn mower on Boultbee Road and a resident observed for several evenings, enjoying her pedal boat in the open water along the shore, were clear indications of the onset of summer.  All those warm weather activities came to a screeching halt on May 3 when sub-zero temperatures and snow returned.  It may be another week before residents are fishing and boating on the big lake.

Several sightings of black bear around Bridge Lake and points between there and Lac des Roches have been reported this week.  While you would think this news would incite some strong feelings among the neighbours, it is this week’s multiple sightings of ground squirrels, or gophers, on the south facing slope that is the hot topic around the lake.  Speculation about the presence and whereabouts of the badgers, known to control the gopher population, seems to be more important than the whereabouts of hungry black bears.  Among the many returning birds and animals, the popular hummingbirds returned today.  It is time to bear proof yards, set vermin traps and hang hummingbird feeders – as there are absolutely no flowers blooming except for the odd domestic pansy in abandoned flower boxes.

 

We’re almost there!  Despite still wearing winter coats, toques and warm mittens, the bicycles and lawnmowers have been pulled out of storage in anticipation of warm spring conditions which are on their way.  The feeder streams to the lake are noisy and full of melt water and there is clear cold open water all around the lake, attracting the odd migrating waterfowl.  The ice itself is rotten and there are dark patches that attract the heat during the day, converting the sheet of ice to hard-packed but unstable icicles.  Soon the ice will begin to shift with the wind, the beginning of the end of the ice for the year.  Bright red shoots of young rhubarb are emerging from the long grass in the normal spots and last year’s groomed lawns are very green and just about tall enough for the year’s first cut.  Snow flurries, normal for April, can be expected but the big white snowflakes sure look out of place against the green grass.

Spring weather – as a rule – is very unpredictable at Lac des Roches and conditions over the Easter weekend, falling in mid-April this year, were no exception.  Two inches of wet snow fell early Friday morning, followed by several hours of blowing snow which kept most residents and the few visitors indoors.  It wasn’t until the late afternoon warmth and sunshine which quickly melted the new snow when people actually appeared out and about, salvaging what was left of the day for some very fresh air.  Saturday started out promising with clear skies.  At least one residents out hiking, taking advantage of the early morning sunshine, was caught unprepared for the snow squall that travelled through the area in the late morning and provided a temporary wet layer of snow everywhere.  By noon, the weather had returned to spring-like conditions.  Motorcyclists heard on the highway in the afternoon may have managed to skirt the snow if they were travelling one one of the many circle routes which leads the riders down to lower altitudes before and after the Highway 24 leg.  Out of curiosity, one resident googled “motorcycle snow tires” and yes, there were amazing images of studded, tredded, chained and tracked tires for motorcycles.  Doesn’t the idea of snow tires on a motorcycle just seem, um, wrong?  The rest of the weekend weather was fantastic.

With most of the undisturbed snow gone from the yards, April 17 was a good day to pick and rake wayward rocks off the edges of greening lawns.  Talk of pulling lawnmowers out of storage has been buzzing around the neighbourhood for a few days as the grass is getting noticeably longer.  Well, maybe that idea should be put on hold for a while.  A rain shower that night turned to snow around 4 am and by 8 am on the beginning of the Easter weekend residents were clearing at least 2 inches of heavy wet snow off everything.  The rain and snow on the lake ice has made the lake messy and not fit for any use.  Roads are wet and muddy again and the fresh snow has hidden the hard-packed paths in the deeper snow in the sheltered woods, so off road hiking is more of a challenge than it’s worth.  Hopefully, the fresh snow will be gone by Saturday night, leaving plenty of time and options for hiding “eggs” for the eager young visitors who might be expecting an early morning outdoor hunt on Easter Sunday.

 

Despite staggered spring breaks among the different school districts in BC and Alberta, visitors to the lake during March were considerable fewer than previous years.  The rare site of sound of children of all ages playing in the snow was enjoyed by the few full-time residents.  Tobogging seemed to be the activity of choice, taking advantage of the slopes on private land and the public access that allow sledders to fly down the well-worn paths and zoom right out onto the ice covered lake.  Since March, the mild nights have changed the surface of the lake to the point where it is not enjoyable for any type of play or work.  As with many lakes in the south Cariboo, a layer of water appeared on the lake on April 8 after an extremely mild night.  That water, along with the sun has pitted the ice with slush and light layers of hollow ice and, while there is plenty of ice below the surface for safe use, the surface is unstable and unpredictable and users will get wet.   Our local tree remover is counting on some chilly nights in April to finish removing danger trees from the lakeshore and hauling them over the ice.  Considering the snow showers we experienced on April 11, there is a good chance he will still get the cold weather he needs.

 

 

 

Snowshoeing is certainly gaining in its popularity among the residents at Lac des Roches.  So many of the challenges such as slopes, wind, slush and weathered trails just don’t matter when trekking with snowshoes.  Many of the trails made in the surrounding hills this winter are firm enough now to enjoy despite the softening snow conditions of spring.  Hikers have also found that several tracks can even be enjoyed wearing only snow boots although gaiters are highly recommended to keep snow out of the tops of boots since the snow is still well over 3 feet deep.  The ladies of Boultbee Road still go out on Sundays and extend an open invitation for other local ladies to join them for their weekly adventure.

Thanks to the efforts of a Boultbee Road skiing enthusiast, residents have been enjoying some terrific cross-country skiing throughout March.  Pulled behind a snowmobile and with family members perched on top for weight, the track setter leaves two near-perfect ski impressions which makes skiing – especially for novices – much more enjoyable.  Wind, snow, slush and inattentive sledders are continual challenges for keeping the trails open but keen skiers will do their best to maintain the trails as long as conditions allow it and non-skiers keep off the ski tracks.