Okanagan Vacation 6 - Mount Kobau
June 22nd, 2011
Columbian Ground Squirrels
We did a lot of driving in the mountains this trip. Mount Kobau was the first serious expedition. Our original plan was to go to the top. Some unusual birds nest at the very peaks of tall mountains in the Canadian Rockies--birds adapted to live and forage in treeless alpine tundra, such as the Gray-Crowned Rosy Finch. But when we got as high up as we could drive, we found that the 1km hiking trail to the top was unnavigable without winter boots--possibly even snowshoes! So there our trip ended.
Sagebrush, sub-alpine conifers and patches of snow near the peak of Mount Kobau. Photo by Michael Britton, wallpaper available.
It was a peak moment for me. Literally (well, almost) and figuratively. Tall, majestic, primeval-looking conifers dominated the landscape. The air was cool. A little rivulet of a stream trickled along, and Oregon Juncos watched us from the rocks. I felt still and peaceful and like I'd come to one of the most untouched places on earth. From above, from the very treetops, trickled the haunting song of the Hermit Thrush.
Photo by Michael Britton
Yes, sagebrush and snow. In the same landscape. In June. Who knew?
I tried to photograph the juncos, but they did not wish to be photographed. The stars of the day ended up being a colony of Columbian Ground Squirrels we ran into on our way up the mountain. They seemed to have a home in a big blackened brushpile, likely remnants of the forest fire that swept through the Okanagan in 2003. They retreated to the brushpile when we approached--but couldn't resist poking their heads back out to see what we were up to.
Eventually they decided that we were mostly harmless.
1680x1050 wallpaper
June 22nd, 2011
Columbian Ground Squirrels
We did a lot of driving in the mountains this trip. Mount Kobau was the first serious expedition. Our original plan was to go to the top. Some unusual birds nest at the very peaks of tall mountains in the Canadian Rockies--birds adapted to live and forage in treeless alpine tundra, such as the Gray-Crowned Rosy Finch. But when we got as high up as we could drive, we found that the 1km hiking trail to the top was unnavigable without winter boots--possibly even snowshoes! So there our trip ended.
Sagebrush, sub-alpine conifers and patches of snow near the peak of Mount Kobau. Photo by Michael Britton, wallpaper available.
It was a peak moment for me. Literally (well, almost) and figuratively. Tall, majestic, primeval-looking conifers dominated the landscape. The air was cool. A little rivulet of a stream trickled along, and Oregon Juncos watched us from the rocks. I felt still and peaceful and like I'd come to one of the most untouched places on earth. From above, from the very treetops, trickled the haunting song of the Hermit Thrush.
Photo by Michael Britton
Yes, sagebrush and snow. In the same landscape. In June. Who knew?
I tried to photograph the juncos, but they did not wish to be photographed. The stars of the day ended up being a colony of Columbian Ground Squirrels we ran into on our way up the mountain. They seemed to have a home in a big blackened brushpile, likely remnants of the forest fire that swept through the Okanagan in 2003. They retreated to the brushpile when we approached--but couldn't resist poking their heads back out to see what we were up to.
Eventually they decided that we were mostly harmless.
1680x1050 wallpaper
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Mike
June 23rd, 2011 at 8:38 am
Very cute squirrel pics!