Category: Community Blog

Unseasonable spring-like weather has not benefitted Lac des Roches. Since the strong warm wind has evaporated most of the snow, the lake level remains very low. Water pools on the lake from melting ice are also evaporating fast. Winter play is on hold. While deeper snow in the surrounding mountains can offer an adequate playground to snowmobilers, the bare access trails at lower levels are a barrier.

Readers review

Lorraine Jollymore hosted the January book club for a dozen reading enthusiasts who reviewed The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz. As usual, the book discussion was lively and thought provoking, and led to many related discussions both on and off the topic of the book. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 6 to discuss The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill. Contact Wendy Dubbin at 250-593-4538 for details.

Defiant doggy

Residents may encounter one of our newest community members, Sheba, a friendly but skittish yellow lab-cross that now lives at the Coyle residence on McCarthy Road. Sheba is a rescued dog and may have suffered some abuse in her past. She is still learning her boundaries and wanders occasionally from her new home, perhaps in search of playmates and biscuits or just to meet her nieghbours. She is not aggressive to people, dogs or cats and is especially friendly to women. I hope we can all find the patience to be kind to this adjusting and well-deserving young dog.

Torch run fun

The Olympic Torch Relay passes by Lac des Roches on Jan. 28 inside a vehicle convoy and without fanfare. Residents may wish to join the celebrations planned in Lone Butte around noon and at 100 Mile House around 12:45.

Celebrations

• Best wishes to Marie Wallewein, celebrating her birthday next week. Marie is an executive member of the Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake as co-chair and liaison to area societies and the Cariboo Regional District.
• Good wishes are sent to Elsie Clarkson, celebrating her birthday today. She and her five siblings, all 70 years or more, will be travelling to Ontario in February to visit their mother, Lillian Reid, who will turn 100. What luck to have such longevity in their genes? Elsie says her mother frets when she can’t remember all of the names of her 32 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. Well, no wonder!
• Also celebrating his birthday today and another year of good health is Bill Jollymore, the media director for the Friends group. Undoubtedly, Bill will once again entertain his good friends with his humor and remarkable recollection of witty anecdotes at the dinner that will be held in his honour tonight.
• A faithful reader of this column and yet another Jan. 20 baby is my mom Shirley Mann of Langley. Although health issues have prevented both of my folks from travelling to the lake for a few years, they keep current on all the activities in the area from their annual subscription to the 100 Mile House Free Press.

Ice fishing for burbot and trout can be challenging on Lac des Roches, but there are plenty of other winter activities that are popular on the lake when the ice thickens at this time of year. During the holidays, snowmobiles, skiers and skaters made good use of the ice, which provides one of the few flat spots for play in the predominant hilly terrain that surrounds the lake. While walking on the flat surface of the lake is a winter-only treat, caution must be exercised due to the potential slippery surface as well as the weak points that occur over the underwater springs that feed the lake. Take care and enjoy our winter wonderland – even if it is only a temporary playground.

Bird sightings

Perfect weather conditions and enthusiastic participants made this year’s Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 19 an excellent day for birding, says co-ordinator Wendy Marshall. A record number of species were observed this year, 22 in total, including three golden-crowned kinglets never previously counted. This year, the local birding group was honoured with the presence of well-known birder and wildlife artist Tom Godin of 100 Mile House, and the group is hopeful that his attendance will become an annual tradition. Next year, the excursion will likely be planned for after Dec. 26 to accommodate more participants who were unable to attend due to busy holiday schedules prior to Christmas. The next major birding event — in which anyone can participate — is the Great Backyard Bird Count in mid-February, more information to follow.

Get well wishes

Many concerned residents send their heartfelt good wishes for a speedy and full recovery of her health to our very dear friend and neighbour Judi Stacey. We are sending good thoughts their way, to both Judi and her devoted husband, Ed, during this trying time.

Gordon Marshall reported that Lac des Roches was completely covered with ice on the cold morning of Dec. 6. The temperature at lake level was just below -25 C, so it only took two nights for the ice to form on the lake. Lac des Roches is usually the last lake in the South Cariboo to freeze due to its size and the persistent easterly winds. The ice groaned and cracked for a couple of days following ice-on, but a thin layer of snow a few days later quieted it right down. The cold temperatures are thickening the ice and it is safe for walking along the edges but needs further testing before sledding or skiing in the middle is recommended. Coyotes and otters have been crossing the lake ever since ice-on, but there is no evidence that the lake has supported a heavier creature or person yet. Ice has been on Little Lac des Roches since November and several plowed hockey rinks have been put to good use by the many hockey enthusiasts living on Gerald Crescent.

Time for sledding

The Bushwacker’s warming hut has once again been relocated by Rod and Joan Hanzel to its popular spot on Wavey Lake Forest Service Road, near Cow Camp. Soon, the hut will be a popular rendezvous and resting spot for area sledders. Located amid huge stands of dead pine trees, there is an unlimited supply of firewood to last the entire winter and spring season. Sledders are reminded to treat this hut and the surrounding Crown land with kindness, so it may continue to be used for many years to come. Reports from one avid sledder on Boultbee Road are there is already plenty of snow on all the popular routes north of Lac des Roches.

Olympic Torch

Residents may be disappointed to learn that the Olympic Torch Relay from Kamloops to Williams Lake on Jan. 28, 2010 will not be run on Highway 24 which borders the entire length of the lake. Although it is likely the torch will travel via Highway 24 from Clearwater, it will be transported inside a vehicle and without fanfare until it reaches the next torch celebration, planned for Thursday morning in Lone Butte. It is expected children from all the surrounding schools will be bused to Lone Butte to witness a short portion of the torch relay. Event organizer Heather Nelson has extended an invitation to all Lac des Roches residents to join Lone Butte’s celebration of this historic event.

Light up

Night is the best time for walking this time of year because so many coloured lights on houses and outside trees are alit. Congratulations to the wonderful job so many residents have done, decorating their homes this year – our roads look very bright and festive. Thank you from an admirer and Merry Christmas to you all.

A fire at an occupied home at Lac des Roches on Nov. 19 was extinguished quickly due to the fast actions by Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department (IVDF) members. The damage at the Gerald Crescent home was extensive, but limited to one wall of the house. Jamie Moberg, a nearby resident and IVFD first responder said initial evidence indicated heat from a wood stove ignited a buildup of hidden bat droppings on the stove pipe where it passed through the wall to the exterior of the house. Bats are a nuisance and potential health issue for many homeowners living near the lake, but few knew they were also a fire hazard. The incident serves as a reminder that all emergency services for police, fire or ambulance, must be called into 9-1-1 for appropriate dispatching to be initiated. A second call to local first responders is fine and will be attended to on a best-efforts basis by the dedicated volunteers, but calling 9-1-1 first will ensure the appropriate responders throughout the Interlakes area are notified through an established paging protocol.

Bring binoculars

The annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count is scheduled to take place Dec. 19. This fun-filled day begins and ends at Lac des Roches and would be enjoyed by anyone interested in observing wildlife in the area. Local enthusiast and guide Wendy Marshall will provide details at 250-593-2327.

Animal movement

A clear layer of thin ice developed over most of Lac des Roches on Dec. 2, when the wind subsided and temperatures dipped to below -10 C. Without the cover of water, otters were spotted moving on the ice throughout the next day, revealing the location of their hidden ice holes under docks. Only because of a light snowfall overnight on Nov. 23 were Boultbee residents able to see signs of a violent confrontation between two bucks. Warmer temperatures during the following day melted the tracks and erased all evidence of the night’s drama.

Book club

A record number of 19 reading enthusiasts attended the last book club meeting for 2009 on Nov. 29. A discussion of Jamie Ford’s first novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, birthday cake for the hostess and a fun book exchange was enjoyed by all. The next book, The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom, by Slavomir Rawicz will be discussed on Jan. 9 at Lac des Roches.

Old phone books

Before recycling 2009 Kamloops phone books, neighbours at the lake may like to reuse it first. Although the 593 exchange is part of the Williams Lake directory we receive as part of our phone service, the nearest services — besides 100 Mile House — are located in Kamloops. A business directory for North Thompson communities, even if outdated, is very handy.

Celebrations

Birthday wishes to Jamie Moberg, who is a busy local businessman, trainer and IVFD volunteer to name a few of his many activities. Lorraine Jollymore celebrated her 75th birthday in Washington at a special party with many friends and family. Anniversary wishes to Al and Marie Wallewein who monitor water quality and loons on little Lac des Roches. Al, the webmaster for the Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake Stewardship Society is also celebrating his birthday this month. Happy third anniversary to Barry Reid and Lois Motz, who are executive members of the stewardship group and volunteers with IVFD. They still appear to be enjoying a very long honeymoon here.

Although we have experienced minimal power outages, the wind blowing through Lac des Roches this month has been ferocious, on both the lake and its shores. The trees can usually withstand the predominant winds from the east, but we have had some casualties with uprooted and snapped trees everywhere although no serious property damage has been observed by the Block Watch crew. The removal of dead pine trees along the power line on Gerald Crescent have put the minds of several residents at ease with the decreased chance of property damage and downed hydro lines as we expect the storms to continue. The huge slash piles that burned in the hills east of the lake during the earlier wind storms was a bit unsettling since we have had so little precipitation since the spring, but the fires appear to be out.

Readers meet

Wendy Marshall and Lorraine Jollymore co-hosted this month’s Book Club discussion at Wendy’s home on Nov. 7. Thirteen members discussed the novel, When I was Young and In My Prime, by Alayna Munce. Members reside throughout the South Cariboo, from 108 Mile to Lac des Roches. Some often travel significant distances from their rural homes once a month to join in on a few hours of thought-provoking discussion and to share their common interest in reading. The date of the next meeting has been changed to Nov. 29 and will be a discussion of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel, by Jamie Ford. Interested readers may contact Wendy Dubbin, Bridge Lake Community School co-ordinator at 593-4538 for more details.

Wolf sighting

Wolves are fairly common in the area later in the winter when the lake ice offers them a new hunting venue of the many critters that burrow along the shoreline. A lone wolf trotting through Boultbee Road yards on the afternoon of Nov. 17 was a surprising yet magnificent sight. It’s just another reminder of how close to the edge of British Columbia’s backcountry we live and our need to respect the animals we share it with.

Beautiful birds

Bald eagles continue to hunt over the sheltered bays, using the few docks not pulled from the lake as tables for their feast of unlucky fish. Migrating trumpeter swans are a daily sighting around the lake now. Even if you don’t see these huge white birds, their distinctive sound can be heard all hours of the day and night as they discover the abundant open water – thanks to the high winds that keep the ice off of the big lake.

Celebrations

Best wishes to all those around the lake who are celebrating special occasions this month. Happy 10th anniversary to Daryl and Yvonne Llewellyn, and a very happy birthday to Ed Stacey who still amazes us with his exceptional energy at "70 something. " Friday the 13th was especially lucky for Karen and Tighe Lefebvre when their new baby girl, Sophia Margret Maria, was born. Tighe says both of his girls are doing well. Congratulations to all. ‘

Concert coming

Please note on your calendars that Dec. 17 is the date of the upcoming Bridge Lake School Christmas dinner and concert. It is always nice to see so many neighbours attending and encouraging the creative talents of several children from our community who attend the school and perform in the concert as well as a show of appreciation for the efforts of the parents and staff who make it all possible.

Proud Lac des Roches residents Tony and Marguerite Neill will see a lot more of their daughter, Sandra, since her recent relocation to Kamloops with the RCMP. After many years of working throughout the Cariboo as a biologist in the forest industry, Sandra switched careers four years ago and graduated from the RCMP’s Regina Depot in August 2005. Const. Neill’s initial four-year assignment to the small town of Chetwynd in northern British Columbia, where she received "good experience," ended last month when she assumed her general duties much closer to home. Now, if only Tony and Margueritecould convince their son, Scott, who resides in Australia, to move his wife, Becky, and baby son, Finn, a little closer to Lac des Roches.

Winter gardening

Wendy Marshall advises there are still plenty of garden tasks remaining despite the snow we’ve had. Late root crops of carrots and parsnips must be pulled from the damp soil, dried and stored. Apparently, autumn is the best time to plant spinach seeds and garlic gloves for the following growing season. It may be necessary to scrape away snow, but if the soil is not frozen, seeds and cloves can still be sown and bone meal added to a six-inch deep hole — best for garlic. Both spinach and garlic will often sprout under the snow, she says, so when the snow melts, a new vegetable crop is right there to welcome the warmer days of spring.

Fishing trip

For many years, longtime resident Bill Jollymore and his wife, Loraine, have enjoyed fishing the pools along the Margaree, a Canadian heritage river on Cape Breton Island, N.S. Their 65-day, 22,300-km, round-trip drive was made even more enjoyable this year when neighbours Gordon and Wendy Marshall flew out to join them for some world-famous Atlantic salmon fishing. The Margaree Salmon Association honoured Bill this year for his many years of generous support and conservation efforts for the river. He has this prestigious award and his stunning pictures to add to his collection of souvenirs from these trips to Canada’s east coast. It was the first trip to Cape Breton Island for Gord and Wendy, and they added a drive along the nearby scenic Cabot Trail to their adventure. Wendy says the changing colours on the different trees were breathtaking. As with any fishing trip, weather is a key factor and a rainstorm, which lasted several days, resulted in muddy waters and poor results for our local fishers and the 50 other fishers out on the river. Gord’s response to the fishing conditions was his familiar adage: "The fishing was great — the catching was lousy. " All four agree — their trips were fantastic.

Hazardous hill

Two traffic accidents on Highway 24 at the west end of Lac des Roches on Oct. 25 have renewed concern among area residents about construction of an access just east of the hill. Slippery conditions, resulting from the shaded pavement, steep slope and sharp bend of the road, are notorious for surprising even the most experienced drivers. Residents are particularly concerned slow or stopped vehicles using the new access could compound the danger on this stretch of the road. They are quick to urge neighbours and friends to drive with extra caution on this hill, especially during the winter months.

The Thanksgiving weekend was a busy time for the 40 players and many observers who endured the chilly weather to participate in the 21st Annual Boultbee Road Horseshoe Tourn-ament. The teams consisted mostly of residents with family and friends filling the empty spots. The winning team of Kelly Raby and Keith Lefebvre was no surprise as Kelly was on the winning team in 2008. Honourable mention was earned by Ume, a visiting exchange student from Japan, who stepped in for a slightly injured player. While almost doing the impossible by hitting herself with her own toss, she played very well for a beginner. Since there was a shortage of women for the mandatory mixed teams, special thanks goes to Steve “Stephanie” Martin who volunteered to “play like a girl,” complete with painted fingernails. For the cost of $10 a person, the participants received a day and a half of good-natured competition, barbecued hamburgers and, of course, George Martin’s famous – and delicious – French fries. Patty Brenton, one of this year’s organizers, says she hopes to attract more residents for next year’s tournament and invites neighbours to contact her in August at cpbrenton@telus.net.

Wildlife signs

Deer sightings of both mule and white-tailed deer have increased significantly all around the lake and have some residence on edge as they cross the roads at all times of the day and night. Fresh black bear sign is abundant at the east end of Boultbee Road. Two trumpeter swans stopped over at the McCarthy Bay last week, a sure sign that migration is underway. The mother bald eagle is still fishing from the trees hanging over Carlos’ Point. Two otters, elusive throughout the summer months, were observed along the Boultbee shoreline, to the delight of visitors visiting during Thanksgiving long weekend.

Best wishes

Late birthday wishes to Judi Stacey who just barely qualifies for official senior’s discounts. She is well known for the volunteer work she does alongside her husband, Ed, for the Interlakes Lions Club, Bridge Lake Community School and Citizens on Patrol. Best wishes Judi for many more birthdays and good health. Late anniversary wishes to John and Elsie Clarkson for 48 years together. A few years ago, they considered a move closer to the city, but plans changed and they stayed. “Long” John remains the self-appointed “Mayor” of Boultbee Road and is doing a fine job. Continued health and happiness to you both. Happy birthday Madeline Kerr. With her husband Bryson, Madeline makes Lac des Roches her home for six months of the year while fulfilling many volunteer commitments for her hometown of Delta. Through telecommuting, Madeline organizes three book sales for the Delta Friends of the Library, co-ordinates a fundraising campaign for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. ; leads a sorority group and assists with the Delta Triathlon. Although it’s not without its challenges, this honourable work can be done from her lake office.

Good news

Among the residents of Lac des Roches, there are abundant accomplishments. I hope to discover more about our neighbours, their families and friends, and share their stories to entertain and inspire us all.

There is much more that falls at Lac des Roches these days than orange leaves from the trees. The autumn windstorms have begun and neighbours should use caution with several outdoor activities. The wind from the southeast will take its toll on dead or weak trees, but it is the short and extreme gusts from the northwest that seem to do the most damage, taking down even the healthiest trees. The trees get stirred up, do a type of circular hula dance, and then snap — the direction of the falling piece totally unpredictable. Even if the trees survive these gusts, yards can be littered with branches. Luckily, yard cleanup work is an excellent form of exercise in the fresh fall air. While outdoor burning bans have been lifted, the area is still very dry and the sudden wind gusts and their unpredictable direction can surprise even the most prudent neighbour. If you do burn your yard waste, keeping your fire small and feeding it gradually will provide both a good physical workout and a warm way to spend a chilly day.

Frogs for friends

Frogs don’t have teeth – I get that now. They were not the late season nibblers in my garden as suspected. Thank you to the readers who explained frogs are excellent for a garden as they eat – without chewing – a variety of bug-like pests that do have teeth and will happily chomp on zucchini and strawberries. My apologies to the frogs; they are welcome to live in my garden every year.

Deer, oh dear

Since the arrival of cooler weather, the sightings of deer in the area, especially those crossing Highway 24, have increased. Several mule deer families, frequenting the yards around Lac des Roches have neighbours talking. Two young does, likely siblings, have displayed very white tails as they bound through the fields to the safety of the trees. Most locals are pretty certain that despite their tails, they are definitely mule and not whitetail deer. A cautious and obviously attentive mother is leading three healthy fawns around. Three offspring is a relatively rare sight for deer and unexpected if they are crossing the highway. It serves as an excellent reminder that drivers should slow down for a deer that has crossed the highway, as there is a very good chance it is being closely followed by a companion or an interested buck.

Ground hazards

Neighbours are reminded there are many hazards in the surrounding forests and grasslands that have been supporting ranching for many years. It is not uncommon to find a piece of wire – often barbed – amid the grass and trees. Whether it got there by abandonment, was dropped by accident or dragged by an animal, it poses a hazard to humans, livestock and wildlife and should be retrieved and disposed of appropriately. Although the lodging grasses this time of year will often reveal the existence of an otherwise invisible wire fence, it is usually a tug at one’s boot or pant leg that reveals these hidden hazards on the ground. Recently, on a popular animal trial near our fence, I tripped over what I thought was a root, but it turned out to be four abandoned telephone cables, originally snipped off at ground level, but now poking out of the ground as the surrounding dirt is steadily packed down by the animal’s hooves. With a bit of digging and pruning shears, the hazard has been mitigated although not entirely removed. We must do what we can.

It is easy to take the Lac des Roche’s loons for granted as we normally enjoy their sounds for six months of the year. City visitors at the lake last week were surprised and delighted to hear the calls of several loons, so a phone call the next day to local birding enthusiast Wendy Marshall, resulted in some interesting information on loons in our area for this time of the year. While the Loon Survey recording continues for Bird Studies of Canada, the young and adult loons are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from one another since the breeding plumage of the adult bird changes from the distinct black and white patterns to a more brownish winter plumage, similar to that of the younger bird. Adult loons usually leave our lakes in October with the young departing a few weeks later. Chances are fairly good our next visitors from the city, expected in late October, will still be able to enjoy the musical sounds of the loons. Wendy added the two eaglets that spent the spring squawking from a nest near her home and spent a good portion of the summer screaming from the treetops all around the west end of the big lake, have now left. Presumably, they have moved to a river where a spawning salmon make an easy meal for a young bald eagle. The mother eagle is still hunting around the lakeshore but her dives in the clear water provide feed that she can enjoy entirely to herself. She rarely makes a sound these days although she creates quite a disturbance when she is in flight near the many noisy kingfishers she shares the lake with.

Great neighbours

Earlier this month, while Mother Nature provided the hot, dry weather, family, friends and neighbours provided the necessary additional manpower to assist the owner with a roof replacement project on Boultbee Road residence. I had the opportunity to listen to the steady stream of banter among the work crew. While it was entertaining, I could have sworn it was the same chatter and kidding I had heard when many of this same generous group of fellows assisted with our concrete pouring, five years earlier. What a great community we live in!

Don’t feed wildlife

It is harvest and cleanup time for the local hobby gardeners. Several neighbours have lamented over the amount of food their gardens supply to the local wildlife and critters. Deer can be particularly destructive and can wipe out a string of peas in one night — this I now know. One resident says her garden is too small to share with the bugs and the local wildlife, so she has installed a low-voltage electric fence, which has successfully deterred the hungry deer. Judging by the nibbling that continues on my zucchinis and strawberries — yes, our strawberries are still flowering and producing fruit in late September — I wonder if it isn’t the many frogs, which come out of their burrows after dark, that are helping themselves to our food?

Fish stories

Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake, the community and lake stewardship society, wishes to thank all the participants who submitted crewel reports for the 2009 summer fishing season. These records of stocked fish caught in Lac des Roches are used by the Ministry of Environment to determine the success of past stocking practices and potential changes to the program for the future. To collect data next year contact them at www.lacdesroches.org.

For the last two years, gusting winds at Lac des Roches have kept the South Cariboo Rowing club from including this lake in their three-day lake tour. On Aug. 29, calm weather conditions resulted in a visual treat for travellers stopped at the highway rest stop and residents who happened to be watching the lake. Four long rowing shells with a total of 20 rowers from all over southern BC, accompanied by a motor-powered safety boat, set out from the public boat launch to tour the eight-mile long lake. In the afternoon, they carefully maneuvered through the narrow channel to Little Lac des Roches where they rewarded themselves with refreshments from the local resort. Their outing included excursions for the following two days on nearby Canim and Bridge Lakes. When asked about any notable sightings during their journey, local rower Jack Jenkins only mentioned observing a nude sunbather in a boat; but we’ll not mention the specifics, to protect the identity of the local sun worshipper.

Fall descends

It sounds like fall on the shores of Lac des Roches. After hearing this comment from several residents, I set out to figure out what fall sounded like and I think I have pinned it down to a few discernable sounds: the strong easterly wind blows through drier leaves on the Aspen and Cottonwood trees making a much louder and crisper noise as they flutter against one another. Gone is the silent summer greenery, replaced by the parched grass, dried limbs and dying flower stems that crunch and snap loudly underfoot. Lower water levels mean that the waves that reach the undercut banks exposed along the shoreline make a hollow "kafflub" sound that wasn’t heard during the summer The absence of familiar summer sounds like lawnmowers, motorcycles, robins and hungry baby crows are further contributors to the subtle but distinct changing sounds that indicate fall is definitely here!

Wary wildlife

Other than the small rodents that burrow in the fields and managed to destroy several of my peas and one zucchini plant, local wild animal sightings are still far and few between this year. Most residents concur that the extreme weather this summer likely affected normal wildlife activity. Just as some lucky residents were getting used to the recent return of daily visits by several does and the young bucks, these cautious animals will no doubt resort to their elusive behaviour. Now that hunting season has returned, they will be wary of the unmistakable sound of gunfire in the surrounding south Cariboo wilderness.

Groovy highway

The highway along the north side of Lac des Roches may be a little safer now that centerline grooves have been added. In 2008, new paving at the west end of the lake included centerline grooves. In August, grooves were extended on the eastern portion of Highway 24, which is in the Thompson-Nicola regional district. Drivers who drift over the centerline will immediately be warned by the vibration they will feel on their tires. Residents will also know of drifting drivers as the resulting distinct rumble sounds echo off the southern slopes and usually reverberate along the whole length of the lake!

Membership renewal

Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake, the community and lake stewardship society, has produced its quarterly update for members that is posted on their website, www.lacdesroches.org. It includes a reminder that annual family membership fees of $10 are due. New "friends" are always welcome and you do not have to be a resident to belong to this active group.