Up The Creek Traditional Geocache
chase_bc: Moving. No longer able to maintain.
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(small)
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This cache is located beside Yard creek. For more info about the area visit:
http://www.malakwa.ca/yardcreek.php
Created in 1956, Yard Creek Park is a popular roadside campground and day use area. It covers 60 hectares of beautiful forested upland, as well as a recently expanded area of 115 hectares of riparian habitat along the Eagle River. The park campground was closed in 2003, but is now open and being operated by the Malakwa Community Center Association on behalf of Columbia Shuswap Regional District. It offers 65 quiet, forest shaded RV and tent sites, trails and a popular day-use area with a log picnic shelter.
Just 15 kilometres east of Sicamous, along the Trans Canada Highway, Yard Creek is a great spot to use as a base camp for visiting the Sicamous and Shuswap Lake area. Due to its roadside location, Yard Creek Park is a haven for travelers from May to September. The park usually has vacancies during July and August and most long weekends.
The landscape sunounding Yard Creek Park is part of the lnterior Wetbelt characterized by cedar and hemlock forest and lush undergrowth. The park contains a variety of bird species including American dippers. These fascinating little birds dive into the icy waters of the creek and "fly'' along under the water in search of water insects. Watch for them on the rocks along the creek.
The Association has recently entered into a partnership with Sicamous Malakwa Adult Resource Training / Community Living. This relationship allows us to not only provide a great camping resource to travelers and local area residents, but also to enable employment opportunities for local youth. To view a Map of the park Click Here
The Yard Creek facility is a first come first serve campground, no reservations are taken. For more information contact Randy Hebert (250) 836-4872.
The Trees Around You - There are many species of trees in this area. See how many of these species you can find - western red cedar, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, white spruce, white pine, lodgepole pine, western yew, black cottonwood and trembling aspen.
Remnants of the Internment Camp - If you look closely you can see small leveled off rectangles along side the trail. These are some of the remains of the internment camp set up in 1942. These leveled off areas are all that remain of the internment camp's small outbuildings. Most of the remnants of the camp have disappeared over time.
Typical Wet Belt Forest - The forest in this spot is typical of the interior wet belt forest, which is extensive in the eastern part of the southern interior of British Columbia. Western red cedar and western hemlock are the dominant trees with a sprinkling of Douglas-fir, white spruce, white pine, lodgepole pine and western yew.
What Killed the Cedars? -As you look around, you will notice that a lot of small cedars have died. This was not caused by disease - it was caused by a shortage of water during the hot dry summer of I 1998 If you take a closer look at the ground you will notice several types of moses and lichens.
Sockeye Salmon – If you are here between the 20th of August and the l0th of September you will have a good chance of seeing spawning sockeye salmon in the pools to your right.
Old Growth Douglas-fir - Here is a good example of an old growth Douglas-fìr. Note the difference between the bark on the old growth and the second growth fir. The thick bark on Douglas-fir trees enables them to live through low intensity fires. This is why you can find old-growth Douglas fir' in a relatively young forest.
Mosses and Lichens -There is an abundance of mosses and lichens that grow in interior wet belt forests at low elevations. If you have a plant guidebook, you may be able to identify several species in this area - hungwort (leaf lichen), common witch's hair (hair lichen), shaggy peat moss, and lacy fern moss.
Huckleberries and Blueberries - There ate 4 types of berry bushes near here - black huckleberry, oval leaved blueberry, red huckleberry and velvet-leaved blueberry. Remember, you are in bear country. When the berries are ripe bears will frequent this area. Use caution - hike as a group and do not let children wander. Make loud noises frequently.
Flowers on the Forest Floor - Two flowers a¡e very common in openings in this type of most forest – one leaved foam flower (tiny white flowers on wiry stalks) and Queen's cup (solitary white cup shaped flowers and bright blue berries).
Western Yew - This is a good example of a western yew. Look for the red berries and purplish peeling bark. Avoid the berries - they are poisonous. These distinctive, shrubby trees can be seen scattered throughout the park.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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