Kelowna Killer Beez

Hope you’re enjoying this beautiful day! Remember that quite a few of us ski on Wednesdays, Saturday and Sundays at Kelowna Nordic. They also have great snowshoe trails! If the sun is out, we picnic near the parking lot afterwards (and sample the newest baking endeavours of Mel, his wife Leslie and Larry!). Feel free to email Mel or myself if you’d like to meet up … you don’t have to be a fast skier, we have fun at different paces and abilities!

Here is something that the “Honorary Bee” Stephen in Vancouver sent to us:

Do you have a mountain bike gathering dust in the basement or garage over the winter?  Well then, you might be interested to know that you can turn that little beauty into a snowcycle and go play with your snowmobile friends, if you have some.  Here’s how.

Or you could just sell the mountain bike and get a fat bike plus some cross-country skis.  Now we’re talking.

Whatever.  Get out there and play in the snow.

The last shoulder season week was a busy one for the Beez … we hiked and snowshoed, enjoying deep snow and beautiful vistas.

As always, Geoff outdid himself with his Relive work … thank you for providing these!
Check them out below:

https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOpN4GLeRq

https://www.relive.cc/view/v8qkdXYAk3v

https://www.relive.cc/view/v36AeQJQ2Z6

The ski season has now started. Some of us will explore Sovereign Lakes, others are happy that Kelowna Nordic started grooming on the same weekend. If you have never tried xc skiing, maybe this is the winter to give it a go – it is a great sport, providing a full-body workout without lasting all day, fresh air and sunshine, and no cars, fumes or traffic lights!

A group of us ski Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday mornings. If you’d like to meet up, please email us. The snowshoe trails at Kelowna Nordic are also fabulous, with great views, flagged trails and even GPS-referenced maps (so you can always check on your phone where you are). Tom has done amazing work on this all summer!

If you do not have a Kelowna Nordic season pass, you can still buy it ($125 for the whole season!) or conveniently donate online for day use passes (ski or snowshoe). Please see their website.

Lastly, I just wanted to comment on what a great group of people the Beez are! It is so nice to have a group of friends who are always interested in a good workout outside – and are not scared off by snow, steep climbs etc. I appreciate you all! 

Update: The survey results show a clear preference for Spion Kop. So after a coffee at 9am we will be driving to the parking lot above Pelmewash Parkway. Here is the link for the trailhead. Hike will start at 10am.

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Please take a minute to watch Geoff’s RELIVE of Sunday’s sunny hike around Rose Valley!

What is your preference for next Sunday? Despite the new snow, my guess is that skiing will not start yet. And even with snow on the ground, both McDougall Rim and Spion Kop would be fine to walk (we have done both in the snow and there are hardly any rocks, though shoes/boots with a good profile are recommended). And maybe the snow is melted away until then anyway!

Please complete this survey to let me know your preference!

Meet at 9am at the Bean Scene on Dickson, 10am hike start. Carpooling would be great! I will update the blog on Friday to reveal the destination. 

Congratulations to all who came out yesterday and completed the challenging hike at Okanagan Mountain Park! Our “videographer” Geoff put together a beautiful Relive:

https://www.relive.cc/view/vXvLpnLDM7v

Next Sunday we will go for something a bit LESS challenging! Bob will lead us from his house around Rose Valley Reservoir. This is not a particularly technical hike but does cover almost 12km, as per his details below. The forecast is for a cool day with gorgeous sunshine.

Meet at 9am at the Bean Scene if you are coming from town and are interested in coffee/car pooling. Meet outside Bob’s house at 2056 Rosealee Lane in West Kelowna at 10am, ready to hike. There is ample parking along the road just past his driveway.

From Bob:   Rose Valley hike description

• Trail conditions: mostly good, some short rocky sections
• Distance:  12 kms
• Estimated hiking time: 3 hours
• Spectacular views!
• Bring a snack to provide energy for a short technical section near the end …

Ouch, is it really November already?

Since we changed our hike destination to Crawford this past Sunday (check out Geoff’s wonderful video here) and the snow will be melting this week with temperatures up to 12C and no frost at night, we will be heading to Okanagan Mountain Park to do the Lookout Loop next Sunday. It takes about 2.5 – 3 hours to hike. 

Meet at 9am at the Bean Scene on Dickson Road for carpooling, 10am in the parking lot for Okanagan Mountain Park (if you are planning to meet us there, please let me know in case anything unforeseen comes up and I need to contact you the morning of). 

It is with very heavy hearts that we report the recent passing of our dear friend and fellow Killer Bee, Alistair Baillie,  after a courageous battle with mesothelioma.  We will miss him greatly.  Alistair was known to all of us for his good nature, kindness, generosity, gentle manner, and sense of humour.  A regular on the Beez Wednesday and Sunday rides for many years,  Alistair also enthusiastically participated in our hikes plus cross-country skiing and other special events.  Our sincere condolences go to his family and wife, Lynne.

 

Following is a collection of pictures which will bring back fond memories of happy times spent with Alistair. 

Gone but never forgotten.  Rest in peace Alistair.

 

If you are planning on meeting us at 10am for the hike only (without coming to the coffee shop), please check with us after 9am on the final decision on hike destination … just in case there is a consensus to change the location!

We left what felt like summer in Kelowna 10 days ago and come back to snow and freezing overnight temperatures! It seems that fall (winter?) has arrived quickly.

As such, the Beez decided today that cycling is done for 2020 – this includes the Sunday and Wednesday rides. We will be switching to hiking while we wait for the xc ski areas to open up!

On Sunday, October 25, we will meet at 9am at the Bean Scene on Dickson to hike the Okanagan Mountain Park loop  (start there at 10am). I hope you can make it! One of the next hikes will be Spion Kop in Lake Country.

Also, some of us have been in touch with Alistair’s wife directly to express our condolences but we also wanted to give you the option to sign a card for her. We will have this available at 9am on Sunday at the Bean Scene so even if you can’t make the hike, you are welcome to stop by to sign the card.

It’s been a very challenging year so let’s enjoy some of the fall colours and the fresh air until we can ski!