Author: lacdesroches

Under ice diver training has become an annual January event at Lac des Roches.  Both Canadian and American dive teams have found the facilities at the Lac des Roches Resort and the condition of the ice on Little Lac des Roches to be ideal for their winter training activities.  This is a view of the group from Highway 24.  Their presence was indicated by a large temporary shelter over their access hole which also protects their sophisticated equipment.  The team members are happy to talk to anyone who treks out on the ice to see their training in progress.  If you missed them this year, pencil it in your calendar for late January next year.

 Several residents from Lac des Roches occupied an entire table at the recent International Dinner at the Bridge Lake school.  This year, the annual fund raiser was held on January 30 and was well-attended by a total of 90 residents from many of the surrounding communities. Boultbee Road resident, Yvonne Llewellyn, pictured here with husband Daryl, was the winner of one of several door prizes.  Yvonne’s basket of Canadian Olympic items included this vehicle window flag which she proudly displayed on her morning walk the following day.

Lac des Roches may be a small community but a combination of its unique geography and demographics provide limitless stories which may be of interest to everyone.  Moving the column from a bi-weekly newspaper publication with a one-week advance deadline to an instant update medium is a welcome change for both readers and writers.  The objective of the community blog is to inform and entertain the residents and friends of Lac des Roches with relevant and timely stories and pictures of local activities.  Readers are invited to submit stories, pictures and suggestions to enhance the blog.  Enjoy your daily read! sw

More than a dozen friends and neighbours gathered last week to celebrate Bill Jollymore’s milestone birthday.

Never one to be shy of the spotlight, and in typical fashion, Bill kept the guests entertained and awed with his recount of stories and jokes from his eventful past.

He has been coming to Lac des Roches for more than 50 years and is well-known as an expert on area fly fishing. Bill’s expertise on fishing gear, firearms and fly tying is recognized worldwide with some of his collection currently on exhibit in New York City.

Bill and his wife, Lori, have been living part time at Lac des Roches for more than a decade, but have plans to relocate full time to Washington.

Construction update

Boultbee Road landowners with properties near the location of the drainage improvement project were invited last week to a site meeting to discuss the proposed changes.

The objective is to redirect the water through new underground culverts and manholes from a large ditch between two houses to a nearby public lake access with minimal impact to existing properties, driveways and the lakeshore.

Heavy spring runoff water in previous years has caused damage to the public road and put private property at risk of flooding, so this modification is a welcome change.

Diving activity

The large tent on Little Lac des Roches, visible from Highway 24 near the Lac des Roches Resort, is evidence of the return of divers conducting under ice training.

Today (Jan. 29) is the last scheduled day for underwater manoeuvres. During the training exercises, the divers have always welcomed visitors interested in learning more about their techniques and equipment, and they will answer questions and pose for pictures.

As with their first day of setup, their last day will be spent demobilizing their gear and restoring the lake to a safe condition. They will be too preoccupied to entertain the public.

If you missed the opportunity to observe the group this year, chances are they will return next January, as this has become their preferred destination for this annual training and recertification.

Better ice

Weather conditions have improved the ice playground at Lac des Roches.

Cooler nights in mid-January have resulted in much of the water and slush on the lake refreezing, a significant improvement since December. During a mild winter like the one we are enjoying, there will always be wet spots near the underwater springs but around the lake, ice depth is reported to be between eight and 12 inches.

Burbot fishing

While trout fishing can be successful all year long, several fishing parties have been out on the lake both day and night, fishing for burbot.

Although catching these odd-looking fish usually improves during their spawning season, January to March, fishing success seems to be a little low this winter. The fish seem to be a little behind schedule moving into the shallows this year, but as with all fishing, patience is required.

For those anglers, willing to try their luck catching burbot, the reward is a surprising treat. While the white meat of a burbot is easily mistaken for cod when prepared like cod, it is similar to the delicate flavour of lobster, especially when boiled in lightly salted water and dipped in melted butter, which gives this strange looking fish the nickname “the poor man’s lobster.” Bon appétit.

Critter watch

Residents on both Boultbee and McCarthy roads have been enjoying frequent sightings of moose meandering through the yards, munching on the tips of trees and bushes. Wolves are still heard in the surrounding hills but not seen – thankfully.

Wet ice conditions kept many residents and their guests from enjoying their usual activities on Lac des Roches throughout the holiday season.

Although the ice depth measures between six and eight inches – plenty deep enough for foot and vehicle use – mild temperatures and heavy snow contributed to the accumulation of deep overflow water and slush on top of the ice.

Since snowmobilers count on frozen lakes in the South Cariboo to access miles of trails, they proceeded to use the lake and made their usual paths around and across the lake, often shooting up giant rooster tails of water or displacing huge sheets of slightly frozen slush.

Colder nights since early January have resulted in solidifying much of the mush on the lake resulting in miles of ruts and ridges criss-crossing the lake. The lake is now an extremely bumpy ride for sledders and the frozen obstacle course will provide a challenge for walkers and skiers for the remainder of the winter.

Other than on manicured ice rinks in front of several cabins, skaters in particular will be challenged to find patches of smooth ice among the ice’s cracks and tracks. Ice fishers, particularly those intent on catching burbot, have begun night fishing on some of the nearby shoals, which attract these unique and tasty fish during the winter spawning season.

Bird watching

Lac des Roches birding enthusiast, Wendy Marshall reports the annual local Christmas bird count showed the “numbers of species as well as numbers within each species were a little lower than previous years.”

The event included a one-day count along a predetermined route by a group of birders and stationary feeder counts over a short period of time. On Jan. 4, eight members of the Bridge Lake Naturalist Club logged dozens of species during their day-long excursion.

A significant surprise mentioned by Wendy was the first time presence of many dark-eyed juncos, which should have flown south before winter. She explained they are ground feeders and usually migrate to lower elevations and climates where snow does not cover the seeds on the ground.

While juncos may be getting some of their nutrition on the ground below yard feeders, something may have changed in our ecosystem, which allows them to stay in our area.

Winter finches have not yet appeared and Wendy speculates the redpolls and pine grosbeak have found a good food supply to the north, which would explain their absence.

Snowy playground

Sledders report there is plenty of snow to enjoy the trails and cut blocks on the usual local trails.

Active log hauling is still underway and caution must be exercised on all forestry roads. The logging activity has resulted in new forestry roads, which appeal to sledders constantly looking for connecting routes to enhance their trail rides.

Several neighbours have commented they appreciate the ledge created on the forestry roads by the grader operator, using his wing blade, to create a safe riding lane for their sleds, out of the path of regular road traffic.

Critter watch

There are only a few reports of actual animal sightings, but the frequent snowfall has provided repetitive evidence of plenty of wildlife activity throughout the neighbourhood and surrounding Crown land.

Moose, deer, coyote, otter, rabbit and ermine tracks are common and reappear soon after each snowfall.

Although the howls of several wolves seemed to originate from locations along the south edge of the big lake, no obvious tracks were seen, so presumably they are keeping out of sight in the heavily wooded shoreline.

A pair of moose has been observed and their tracks in the snow show evidence of their movement crossing the lake and feeding throughout wooded areas.

Fresh tracks indicate deer are moving through every few days. Under the cover of darkness, they have been meandering through properties, nibbling on the few remaining dried rose hips within their reach.

Several coyotes are back in the area, using the frozen lake as both their hunting ground and playground. Although there are no reports of unpleasant encounters in the area, recent reports of attacks on dogs in other areas of the province are a harsh reminder of just how dangerous coyotes can be.

At least one very active otter has been spotted several times around the big lake. Its unmistakable tracks – a deep rut in the snow – have appeared everywhere during the past few weeks. It has crossed the lake in several spots and checked out all the docks along the Boultbee Road shoreline.

It has travelled through sloped properties and investigated every ravine. One would expect its black body against the white snow would make it easy to spot, but it is somewhat elusive.

While some residents have learned that barking dogs are often the sentries that give notice of wild animal movement nearby, the barks can often mean there is simply a wood pecker feeding nearby. The need to be aware and cautious in the presence of wild animals in the neighbourhood cannot be stressed enough.

Icy update

Deep snow on the lake ice is having its usual effect.

While the snow muffles the sound of cracking ice with temperature changes, wet spots on the lake are evidence that the cracks are forming. In certain areas, the weight of the snow pushes the ice downward, allowing water to seep up through the cracks and create a layer of slush.

Where there is no water, the snow is protecting the near-perfectly smooth surface of ice which only needs to be cleared to expose a fabulous skating surface.

 

Sleds trespass

Earlier in December, groups of sledders, apparently unfamiliar with the area, traversed through private properties several times, looking for access to Crown land trails.

Unfortunately, snowmobile tracks are often misinterpreted by future sledders as an invitation of passage through private property. While it is unlikely residents can stop the wayward riders while they are riding, property owners can mitigate the occurrence of trespassing by marking open access areas with temporary but well-marked blockades. It is unfortunate that the onus is on the land owners, but it seems the occurrence of snowmobilers who do not respect private property has increased.

Vehicle accident

Earlier this month, a lone traveller on Highway 24 at Lac des Roches experienced an unfortunate vehicle mishap during a particularly heavy snow storm.

He found himself relying on the aid of hospitable strangers. Although not injured, his health condition warranted first aid attendance, which he received from several residents, many of whom attended from the volunteer fire department as emergency responders.

The compassion and care extended to the driver during this bleak evening was impressive. His extreme gratitude goes out to residents, first responders, paramedics, police and the towing company for their help in getting him home to his own bed that night.

Bird outing

The Christmas bird count is scheduled for Jan. 4. Call Wendy at 250-593-2327 for more information.

New beginnings

To all residents, I extend my good wishes for a healthy and happy 2014. To those making New Year’s resolutions, go easy on yourselves with realistic and attainable goals.

Lac des Roches residents awoke to a frozen lake covered in beautiful frost flowers on the morning of Dec. 5.  It was very early to have ice on the big lake.

When Harold and Penny Edwards learned that their great nephew Trevor Okino was scheduled to play a hockey game against the 100 Mile House Wranglers, they realized it was an ideal opportunity to invite family to cheer him on.

For the Nov. 27 game against the Chase Heat, Harold invited Trevor’s mother Stacey Okino from Ladner, and grandmother Lynn Turner from Tsawwassen for a visit to his Lac des Roches home, which included a trip to the game in 100 Mile House.

Whether the extra cheering contributed to the win is debatable, but Trevor’s team enjoyed a 4-3 victory that night.

Early ice

The night of Dec. 4 was calm and cold.

With the air temperature dipping down to -28 C, conditions were ideal for Lac des Roches to completely ice over. By daybreak, the new ice was covered with tiny frost flowers, so many, in fact, the lake was completely white, like it had been blanketed with a layer of snow.

In less than a week, the ice thickness measured six to eight inches, able to support most winter activities. Outdoor enthusiasts arriving for winter holidays will be delighted to find a near perfectly smooth layer of ice under the protective cover of snow and frost although the many cracks in the ice are a natural tripping hazard.

Waterways survey

A surveyor contractor was out checking and marking property boundaries and topography details on several lots below the rest stop.

According to Michelle Schilling of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, their work is a key component to a drainage study that is underway. Water runoff is a known problem on several lots with underground streams and ditch overflow causing concern to both private property and Boultbee Road.

The study will ensure the water flow can be redirected to the lake from private property to available Crown land.

Residents who have questions about this project are invited to contact Schilling at 250-395-8948.

Sledding advice

The accumulation of early snow is very attractive to local snowmobilers although frigid temperatures will prevent many sledders from venturing out.

Again this year, Wavey Lake Forest Service Road is being cleared of snow to support active logging. Snowplowing goes beyond 205 Road, to the new road extension just beyond the Jim Creek Bridge.

Riders can avoid much of the road by exiting at 201 Road, although regulations regarding driver’s licences and liability insurance requirements apply to all sledders using any portion of forestry roads. Sledders are also requested to stick to established trails around residences.

Lot owners, who allow their neighbours to access Crown land through their fields, should not have to contend with the noise and damage from playful sledders when there are hundreds of kilometres of trails nearby.

Lights aglow

Despite a relatively sparse winter population, the community looks very festive.

Thank you goes to all the residents who have lit up their yards and houses to celebrate the holiday season.

Avoid tracks

In a few days, the area will be bustling with neighbours and friend up for the holidays. On the lake especially, please be mindful of the effort taken by Nordic skiers to set their tracks for cross-country skiing.

It would be greatly appreciated if all other traffic, sledders and walkers particularly, would avoid travelling directly on ski paths.

Glad tidings

For the residents of the community and their friends and family, I wish to extend my heartfelt good wishes to all for a joyous Christmas and a safe holiday season.

I hope it is an enjoyable and event-filled winter for all.

Despite the allure of open and calm water in late November, cold air and water temperatures kept even the hardiest sportsman off Lac des Roches.

On the other hand, early ice on the lake, due to the same cold temperatures, is a welcome winter bonus for many. Little Lac des Roches has been iced over for two weeks with ice depths exceeding five inches around the shore. A hockey rink has already appeared in anticipation of hours of play.

Ice travel by any means on these lakes requires caution due to thin ice and holes, which form above the many underwater springs, particularly in the shallower areas.

Potluck poultry

The grouse population at Lac des Roches has increased considerably since summer, that is, until last week when two spruce grouse ended up in a resident’s stew pot.

One grouse flew into the glass panel on a residential balcony. The other was surprised by a hiker and in its flurry to fly into the trees for safety, glanced off the shoulder of the hiker and flew into a tree. For both birds, the impact was fatal resulting in a delicious feed of grouse – with very little effort – for one lucky resident.

Winter hazards

Last winter’s snow and weather conditions were quite rare and the lack of daytime warm weather and sunshine through much of the winter prevented the snow from sliding off many of the low-pitched roofs.

Residents are reminded to take care for their own safety and that of their families, pets and guests who might be unaware of the hazard of sliding snow or falling icicles from overhead structures.

Warm weather following the surprising wet snowfall earlier this season cleared most structures of their snow with no reported incidents or close calls but residents must be cautious if the temperatures continue to fluctuate.

Unexpected critters

Abundant tracks in the snow are once again proving the area is either packed with thousands of critters on the move or perhaps only dozens of animals that can’t keep still.

Among the expected tracks of deer and coyote in the fields and grouse and chipmunks among the trees, cougar tracks near the boat launch and otter tracks near the rest stop were a little out of the ordinary.

One resident was in the right place at the right time to witness an otter making its way down the slope, across Boultbee Road, toward the lake.

Night noises

Active logging is still underway in the hills south of Lac des Roches.

The drone of equipment is heard late into the night and early in the morning.

Residents speculate that the contractor may be working around the clock during the week to keep expensive equipment utilized but no one can confirm that as few are willing to stay up through the night.

One resident walking his dog at different times of the late evening notes that on several occasions, the howls from distant wolves are loud enough to momentarily drown out the sounds of the logging equipment.

Early sledding

The third week of November is very early for snowmobilers to take their machines out, but there is enough snow for enthusiastic neighbours to do just that.

Tracks indicate the first ride occurred on Nov. 23 and there have been several since.

Bird watching

The Christmas bird count has been scheduled for Jan. 4.

As always, Wendy Marshall will lead the group to popular local observation points. Everyone is welcome to join this entertaining and informative excursion. Call 250-593-2327 for more information.

The ladies of Boultbee Road gathered for tea and coffee on Nov. 10. The group always finds several reasons to turn their routine gatherings into a party.

While the ladies are always happy to share good news about their families, particularly grandchildren, over beverages and home baked treats the group celebrated both a recent marriage and a teaching contract beginning in China.

First snowfall

No one expected the first snowfall of the season on Nov. 2 to last longer than 24 hours and leave almost a foot of wet snow on everything.  Many trees bent right to the ground under the weight of the snow and several trees uprooted and landed on overhead lines.  These trees may account for the many power blips and the five-hour power outage in the area on Nov. 3.

Power blips continue to plague the area with many residents having given up on resetting their blinking clocks.

Wild weather

Terrific wind gusts throughout the day and into the night of Nov. 11 were the hot topic around the neighbourhood the following day.

White caps on the lake appeared to be over three feet high.  Residents were amazed that there was no power outage considering how many trees blew down.

On one lot a grove of large aspen trees snapped off and resembled a stack of pick-up-sticks.  The wind, which was surprisingly warm during the night, lapped up about 10 inches of snow in the exposed fields during a 24-hour period. Warm temperatures for the next few days proceeded to melt the rest of the exposed snow.

Mediocre meters

It seems the new electric meters are not so smart after all.

Individual residential meters readings are not reaching the central receiving router at McCarthy Road so BC Hydro is not aware of household electricity consumption nor are they automatically aware of power outages in the area.

Residents may have noticed that their last BC Hydro bill was estimated, evidence that the system is not fully operational.  All smart meters around the lake were being tested by a Corix technician in early November.

He indicated that the infrastructure should be fully working within two months. Outages should still be reported to BC Hydro at 1-888-769-3766.

High flyers

Flocks of migrating birds have been observed the last few weeks.  On Nov. 2, during the snow storm, three large flocks of geese were seen going east and north – nowhere near the southern direction expected.

Residents presumed the geese were looking for quiet open water to sit out the storm.  Many different ducks have been sighted with one resident surprised to see a golden eye and mallard apparently paired up and travelling together.

A pair of swans was seen on Nov. 11 and observant residents are likely to glimpse or hear more as there are often several pairs and small flocks of trumpeter swans that overnight on our lake during their migration.

Wolves confirmed

Several residents have been out driving and hiking the back roads in both Regions 3 and 5 that surround our area during the current hunting season.

Although deer and moose sightings are few, the blanket of fresh snow provided considerable evidence of just how plentiful the wolves are this year.

Areas previously known for concentrated deer and moose population show tracks of wolves only, some the size of a man’s hand, and more typical of tracks seen hundreds of miles to the north.

Residents who spend a lot of time outdoors will continue to hear the wolves’ howling in the hills all around the lake.