More NACTS Volunteer Trail Work July 2025
Trails Society volunteers continue to clear our trails and ensure they are in good condition for the summer hiking season. Frank K, John H, Bob T, Jamie D, Ryan N, Graham F and Michele N were out during the last 2 weeks in July clearing the Box Lake and Cedar Grove trails and helping get ready for the upcoming Kuskanax Mountain switchback step block project. These were all shorter efforts but an essential part of our summer work program.
Eva Lake Group Hike July 26
9 hikers set off from Nakusp early Saturday in two vehicles to head up to Mount Revelstoke National Park where one more hiker from Kelowna joined them for tor a leisurely 16 km return walk to Eva Lake through high alpine meadows and rocky traverses. The flowers and mountain vistas were stunning, as was Eva Lake, one of the prettiest in the National Parks. We had sun, rain and lots of bugs to keep things interesting.
Kuskanax Mountain South Clearing July 15
John H and Bob T hiked and cleared and did light brushing on Kuskanax Mountain Trail South from the trailhead above Vickie’s View to the summit on Tuesday, July 15. The trail is now clear from the trailhead to the summit except for one unstable deadfall that is lying on a steep slope which we will reassess in a couple of weeks, and 3 fall tree root balls that are obstructing the trail and will need to rebuilt around them. These obstacles are easy to circumnavigate. The switch backs across the steep sandy slopes below the second viewpoint have soft and unstable footing in places. Repair work is scheduled for the week of July 28th. Please use
John and Bob also staked down a target for a sling load drop of corner step blocks scheduled for Saturday July 19.
caution.
Shannon Lake Group Hike July 13
14 happy Nakusp and Area Community Trails Society hikers climbed along the creek side trail to beautiful Shannon Lake on Sunday, July 13. This was the first time for many of the hikers and all were impressed by the scenic trail and lake, nestled in a classic rugged mountain amphitheatre a short 60 minute drive from Nakusp. All found the footing on the steeler sections challenging but no one slipped or twisted anything. We went as far as the first campsite part way up the side of the lake where we had lunch and even a quick dip in the icy lake for one of the more intrepid of the hikers.
Saddle Mountain Lookout Work Party July 11.25
Frank K, Jamie D. Ida F, Corinne T and Bob T spent Friday July 11 clearing the Saddle Mountain Lookout trail of deadfall, and tidying and cleaning the Lookout and facilities. Frank and Bob cleared falls from the Upper Parking lot to the bench half way to the summit where they stopped for a long lunch break and to wait for the rest of the team to return from the summit. The trail is now open and in good hiking condition from the upper parking lot to the summit with the exception of two falls within 200 m of the upper parking lot that were too big for our electric chainsaw and volunteer crew to handle safely. The washrooms are more or less clean, and restocked with a limited supply of toilet paper. A small hornets nest inside the upper parking lot toilet should be avoided.
Kuskanax Mountain North Clearing July 6.25
A group of 6 NACTS volunteers (Bob T, Jamie D, Frank K, Michele N, Simone H & Cedra E) hiked the Kuskanax Mountain North Trail on Sunday July 6, clearing some light deadfall, brushing, and rolling rocks off the access FSR. It was a great day for a hike with sunshine and a cool breeze at the summit.
Nakusp Hot Springs Group Hike Saturday June 28
Simone H and Michele N lead a group of 13 hikers, including themselves, on a pleasant hike up the Hot Springs Trail from the lower Trailhead off Alexander Road to the Nakusp Hot Springs parking lot. They were looking forward to a post hike dip but were disappointed by the day long power outage that closed the hot springs pools. Joe B and Bob T volunteered to shuttle the hikers back to their vehicles on Alexander Road. Everyone enjoyed the gentle walk through big trees and moss covered slopes.
Shannon Lake Recon & Brushing
Jamie D, Frank K and Bob T spent a day hiking and doing some light brushing of the Shannon Lake trail in preparation for a group hike on Sunday July 13. They GPS tracked the drive from H6 to the Trailhead and the trail from the new Trailhead at the bridge closure to the far end of the lake. It was gorgeous day!
