In recent years I have been doing a paddle and hike combination, usually paddling first to avoid windy conditions, then securing the boat followed by a hike. Some spots are excellent for doing that with a good boat launch and … Continue reading →
Stake Lake (Overlander Ski Club) has expanded its snowshoe trails and last year we did a loop along Cow Creek and Spruce Canyon, then up to Rattler Viewpoint , and back on a loop route around the lake. We snowshoed … Continue reading →
There are a number of basalt bluffs surrounding McConnell Hill and trails go by the ones on the west and southwest sides, but there is a set on the northeast corner too, forming a kind of “basalt amphitheater.” To get … Continue reading →
On a mild late-February day, we decided to stomp the new snowshoe trails at Stake Lake. The Cow Creek, Spruce Canyon, and Rattler Lookout trails are top-notch routes to try. In years past, I had explored this area on foot, … Continue reading →
We hiked up McConnell Hill in the Stake Lake Trail system, then we braved the Bushwhacker Trail loop, stopping for lunch at a viewpoint, then returned to the Sidewinder Trail to complete an 11.5 km loop. With such a wet … Continue reading →
There are 60 km of hiking trails in the Stake Lake network. A few of them go over or around McConnell Hill. The hill rises 600 feet above McConnell Lake, with steep cliffs on the west and north sides. Below … Continue reading →
