Wiildrose Goes Fishing ~ Harvey Creek Traditional Cache

Thousands of Kokanee Salmon are running up Harvey Creek, near Sullivan Lake. Huge schools of these bright red beauties can be seen from the bridge or creek bank. This intense and exciting event is important to the survival of the species, so please avoid harassing the fish or disturbing the streambed. The run typically lasts until the middle of December.

The Salmon Run is comprised of three-year-old Sockeye Salmon leaving Sullivan Lake and swimming up Harvey Creek to find suitable spawning sites. From Harvey Creek’s banks or the bridge, the fish are visible as they separate from the schools and pair up with mates. Females dig a redd (deposit site) to lay eggs and within a few days die. Their decaying bodies provide nutrients to the creek and Sullivan Lake vital to the growth of plankton and insect life that will feed next year’s young. The dying salmon also feed animals like bald eagles, raccoons, and mink. Kokanee eggs hatch in February and remain in the gravel until spring where they are swept away into Sullivan Lake to start another cycle.

I just placed this cache on 11/3. It snowed up there this week! The roads were good today, but there were big snowballs all along the sides of the road, where the plows piled them! I looked over the upsteam side of the bridge and thought, "Oh, no fish." THEN I looked over the downstream side of the bridge and laughed. There were a LOT of salmon swimming in the big pool there. Their colors are very muted right now. I don't know why. There are also some snow geese or tundra swans on the lakeshore.

Please park on the opposite side of the bridge from the cache. There is lots of parking on both sides of the road there. Be very careful of cars if you have small children or dogs in tow.

Make sure you sign the actual micro log. PLEASE be wary of muggles! This place can be quite busy at times.