I will lead a group of hearty souls willing to camp overnight for two nights into the Okanagan Highlands – Nuttal Lake area.
Please add a comment here or use the contact form to let me know. After reviewing the snowpack details I hope Nuttal Lake will be free of snow and I am booking the June 9th weekend for the trip. I just want to go and explore the area. The lake is between the elevation of 1600 and 1700 meters and has a few vista points around it that I hope will make good day hike destinations with Nuttal Lake as the base camp. On the drive up, there are great views of the entire city of Kelowna.
If you would like to take advantage of this fun training opportunity, please come prepared with proper clothing as temperatures considerably – usually about 7 to 10 degrees colder. Lots of non cotton layers and a good sleeping bag will be required.
While on the trip or before the trip over coffee at Tim’s, we will practice the following items and if anyone wants to meet for coffee to go over outdoor safety, survival techniques and the first two items below prior to the trip please contact me (if you have never backpacked, a meeting over coffee would be beneficial or if you want to co-ordinate safety and first aid gear) :
- Pre-Trip Planning and Preparedness
- Equipment and Gear Selection
- Compass and GPS Navigation as well as communication of location via ham radio
- Various ways of lighting a fire
- Water procurement
- Communications via Ham Radio (Call sign VA7CBK)
- How to keep warm
- Shelter Building
- First aid – Hypothermia
- Cooking
- Conquering boredom – there is to much to do to create a good camp so I can never imagine how boredom can happen…but apparently it does!
- Tracking, track identification
- Making Bush tea
- Enjoying peace and quiet while having a ton of fun.
Hi, i would like to attend your outdoor survival weekend. Is there still room available?
Hey there Brandon,
That trip is over but I’ll be having another one soon and post it here.
Hi,
Will you be putting one of these on in 2011/12 ?
Yes I would love to. I will put together a trip and post it here. What do you think would be outdoor activities / training that should be included?
Hi Clayton,
Compass and GPS navigation is always good as more and more people have GPS’s put don’t fully understand how to use them with a map.
(UTM Map reading)
Basic outdoor skills with a backpack while snowshoeing,Types of Snowshoes,backpacks,Shelter,fire,build a signal fire,drinking water etc,etc…. How about showing how to create a basic first aid kit for backpacking as well as basic equipment to carry with……
Hi Clayton,
I am an avid backpacker, self reliance and bush crafter and would love to know when your next planned trip will happen. So far, the only places I have been able to find that do this are in Vancouver or in the US. They are also very expensive. What are your rates like?
I am very interested to hear back from you.
Thanks!
Greetings guys!
Sorry for the delay in replying to the last comment. So first now that there are three of us crazy enough to admit we like to seek out a chilly night on the mountain side, I would like to get out ASAP. I will be posting more info thoughts and ideas in the post above.
Key points – 1) no charges unless we pool our money for a vehicle ect.
2) Let’s begin to choose a weekend that works for anyone who comments here. Please add the date to the comments here. – 3) let’s keep the location close to eliminate travel time. Nuttal Lake works for me.
My last thought before I go now is – would the use of an old snowmobile or two for cutting down the snowshoeing distance be permissible? I just know that my two wheel drive ranger wouldn’t get quite close enough to some locations. I am open to other locations. Around the 201 there are backcountry cabins. We could have the first night in a cabin (a little easier to talk GPS and mapping and the second night in a quinzy if we go that way? I am open to new ideas and I hope a local Search and Rescue member or two may come out as well.
Hey Clayton,
How’s everything? Happy to see this trip might happen!
I’ll just address the points in order.
1.) I wouldn’t mind getting a proper vehicle. I would assume though if we want to keep it local and one of us has winter tires we can make it to some cool spots without renting. I guess it would all depend on where we pick to camp.
2.) I was going to do a impromptu trip next weekend near Postil Lake. Really I can go any weekend.
3.) The only thing about location I have is that I wouldn’t be able to take my car in. It’s a little suzuki with all season tires. I would definitely need to car pool with one of you, or we all go in one car/truck. I have access to snowshoes and also don’t pack much. I have a hammock, wool blanket and my 10 item essentials. I am in the process of getting a thermal pad and maybe a sleeping bag for -12 weather.
Just a little about myself. I’m 26, married, live in Kelowna and spend time practicing bushcraft, self reliance and survival skills.
Hey man! sounds great – I am 90 percent confirmed for the trip – i also emailed the other comment participants on this post – hope they comment here asap
Clayton,
Unfortunately I’m flying out to Alberta on a business trip this coming Saturday.
Well a business trip in this economic climate is always good Ron. Thanks for the note! We will plan a more indepth trip asap. ps – I am getting certified by Google in Google AdWords and have extra coupons for new AdWords Accounts – I can give you or anyone else $105 as a credit to a new accounts and help you set it up if you like or just give it to you to use as practice SEM. More details are on my site at http://www.semmanagement.ca/2011/10/105-credit-for-new-adwords-account/#comment-154
Hey Bruce,
I just wanted to mention that I appreciate you sharing a little about yourself. Whenever I go out with someone new I always ask just to see what level of experience I know what to expect. I appreciate you mentioning the 10 essentials. Can you list them here in a comment – would be a great addition to this page! I also have a camping list written up here with a list of 10 essentials at the top – if you disagree on any items – post it:-)
It looks like it will be just myself for the outing this weekend. Short notice and all. Are you set on Postill Lake? I would like to try to get to Nuttal Lake or Derickson Lake. There hopefully won’t be as much recreational vehicle traffic. Derickson Lake is up the 201 and down Edge and then by foot for a few km. I would pay for the fuel. My truck, a 2009 Ford Ranger is really good on fuel. By Derickson Lake we could have the option of a hot stove if required.
I am very interested in one of these trips, I will not make this weekend, but hopefully there will be more!
Are you planning any summer hikes?
Lets start the plan now! Lets agree on a location and then we will figure out the date.
I would like to do a short backpack trip and camp overnight at Nuttall Lake.
Nuttall Lake Satellite view on Google Maps
I have hiked in twice from different directions. We can drive to within 1km – as the crow flies. It seems to be the nicest closest but mostest remotest 🙂 spot that I can find near Kelowna. From the Orchard Park mall it is 23 km of with the rough dirt road starting at Gilard RD off of Chute Lake Rd.The view is great as the hill the knoll at the north end is at an elevation of about 1700 metres. There would still be snow in April so if we want a dry area we may want to wait until mid to late May for this location. If we can get in an April trip, a lower location like Geen (Twin) lakes would be easily accessed and fun to go to. If we go to Twin lakes, last fall when I was there I found an abandoned canoe that we could fish with if we bring a paddle. 🙂
I also like the lakes on the Aberdeen Plateau as well. Some nice treks and views can be had around Damer Lake.
Let me know what you think. (Aprill 22 is out for me as I will be enjoying a fly fishing meetup down by Knox – Fly Fishing Kelowna
I would like to make the next weekend survival trip location Nuttal Lake. Please add a comment here or use the contact form https://www.tracksandtrails.ca/contact-tracksandtrails-ca-webmaster/ to let me know. After reviewing the snowpack details I hope Nuttal Lake will be free of snow and I am booking the June 9th for the trip. I just want to go and explore the area. The lake is between the elevation of 1600 and 1700 meters and has a few vista points around it that I hope will make good day hike destinations with Nuttal Lake as the base camp.
Could there not be an upcoming trips section on your site? This placement on your site seems so out of the way.
Awesome suggestion for TracksAndTrails! I will have a new section right at the top asap! Watch for it! If you check out the contact page I just added a calendar where you can book an appointment for planning a trip at a coffee shop or propose a day for a trek. Just click the button below the contact form where it says “Face to Face”