Nature Notes from Paradise Meadows

Nature Notes from the Strathcona Wilderness Institute at Paradise Meadows & Buttle Lake, Strathcona Provincial Park

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Autumn Hike to Divers Lake


A beautiful fall day - so it seemed like a good day to go up to Paradise Meadows for a hike to Divers Lake ! The colours of blueberry & huckleberry leaves are a startling contrast to the evergreens. Divers & Rossiter Lakes were added to Strathcona Park in 2003, but there is no established trail as yet. The beginning follows logging roads, then the route enters the Park and follows a rough trail through woods, then bushwhacking along the lakeshore.
With all the recent rain, various mushrooms are appearing. Once the trail entered the woods, the shrubbery was quite wet - rain pants recommended!
Divers Lake with Strata Mountain in the background. (Mt. Allan Brooks on the left) The water levels were quite high so we didn't cross the outflow stream to get to the meadows beyond.
Lots of king gentian still blooming - this one lit up like a lantern from the sun behind. Labrador tea grows around the lakeshore as well as other bog plants such as sticky false asphodel.
Lots of insects as well! Various dragonflies & their prey, and very friendly butterflies - this satyr comma enjoyed our company for quite a while.
Back at the Centre, several groups of schoolkids were on outdoor excursions today - three or four busloads - a couple hundred in total. Some exterior work is going on around the Centre - contractors are working on improving the pathway connection to the parking lot, as well as grading & landscaping.

No comments:

Post a Comment