Canadian EarthCare Foundation/Society
Donations to the Canadian EarthCare Society are not tax deductable and are a great way to help protect your environment...
more
|
 |
 Lacoma Lake
The Canadian EarthCare Foundation and Canadian EarthCare Society worked with Friends of Lacoma and partnered with Penticton Forest District, Forest Renewal B.C., Riverside Forest Products, Gorman Brothers Lumber, Penticton Indian Band and Westbank First Nations to re-establish a wilderness trail to Lacoma Lake, the last pristine wilderness in the central Okanagan.
 Lacoma Lake is nestled in a true pocket wilderness, containing some unique flora and fauna. A number of red and blue listed species can be observed in the area including the yellow-bellied racer, alligator lizard, rubber boa, flying squirrel, and the spotted bat. Because of the area's unique flora and fauna, and as a result of EarthCare's involvement in the Okanagan Shuswap Land and Resource Management Plan, Lacoma Lake and the surrounding area has become a Provincial Park
Historically the Okanagan people and the Nicola tribes used it as trading route, part of a system of trails linking the Interior Salish to the Coastal Salish. Europeans later used the route to in it traditional way and as a trapping and prospecting route. The first European homesteaders the Law, Coldham, and Morsch families resided in the Trepanier Bench area, damned Lacoma Lake and built an elaborate flume system to distribute much needed water to their dry valley. Many parts of this system are visible to this day. The small damn is still in place but the floodgate is permanently open allowing the lake to rise and fall more or less in its original state.
There are resident populations of beaver, muskrat, loon, heron, moose, deer, bear and cougar in the area. Lacoma Creek flows into Trepanier Creek, which flows into Okanagan Lake. These creeks are situated in steep canyons surrounded by thick timber and bush making them cool and refreshing in the heat of the semi-arid Okanagan. The distance from the trailhead at Clover Creek (accessed via Trepanier Bench Road) is just over 10 kilometers making it a solid day trip but much better overnight stay.
Facilities were installed at the trailhead (since burned down by vandals) and the midway point (fire ring and toilet) and at the lake (fire rings and toilet).
If you plan to hike this route - realize that you are hiking into a wilderness setting. Radio and phone access is limited and in some cases on the trail non-existent. Pepper spray and bells should be considered as standard equipment.
If you pack it in, pack it out. It you practice safe hiking procedures you will have an enjoyable hike.
<< back
|
|
Canadian EarthCare Society
Email: info@earthcares.org
|
