A mid-month KHC digest:

• Wells Gray Information Center does regular updates on its Facebook Page.
• Shuswap Trails does weekly updates on its Facebook Page.
• Here is FMCBC’s August newsletter
• Trail/Location (new) – Rim Rocks Trail
• Trail Location Update – Kane Valley
• Trail/Location Update – Monck Park
• Trail/Location Update – Three Amigos Loop
• If we obtain trail information (access, directions, maps, etc.), we try to add it to our Locations/Trails pages.    Before signing up for an event or before organizing a hike, it might be best to refer to the specific page dedicated to that hike.   Go to Trails/Locations on the menu bar to find the page you are interested in.
• Hikes range from short and easy to long and hard.   A few hikes have some very difficult sections (Yak, Needle, Estekwalan, Skoatl, Castle Butte, Slot Canyons, Bearcat Caves, Raft Traverse, Trophy Traverse, some of the Tramps, and others).   KHC does these more difficult hikes, but there are some risks involved, and the risks are greater for those if there are issues of fitness, strength, or experience, so members need to do their homework to see if the hike is right for them, or not.   Members can contact the hike leader for more information too.   Another related issue is to look at the group composition.   If the whole group has strong hikers, you may find you are at the back with less support on difficult sections (the reverse should also be considered).
• If a member has specific concerns with an event, he /she should address them on a one-to-one basis with the leader (email or phone), not through a public process (comments).
• When we had smoky conditions a few years ago, we established guidelines, using the Canadian Air Quality Index.   What we recommended for members and hike leaders was the following.    When the Air Quality is 1-3 (normal), we should proceed as planned.    When the air quality is 4 – 6 (moderate risk), the event can proceed, but hikers need to make a careful decision, and the hike leader should consider whether the event should be modified or not.   Hike leaders are encouraged to alert participants of the risks prior to the event.    When the air quality is 7 – 10 (high risk), events should be cancelled or rescheduled.   If a small group still wants to go out, they can do it on their own.  
• Thanks to all of our hike leaders for their summer volunteer time and guiding!

Some Talking Points:

• KHC has adjusted many of its pages and data access spots to be only visible to logged-in members.   This does two beneficial things – it adds privacy measures for member information, and it provides a benefit of KHC membership to be able to access all of the information that the general public cannot see.   But, is it convenient to members to always require logging in to access the information?
• This year’s camps and backpacks are over.    Next year’s camps will be planned over winter and dates will be established by late winter – early spring.   What thoughts do you have on 2021 that you can pass on to hike leaders?
• We don’t provide membership lists, nor contact information for our members to protect their privacy.   We would, however, provide a membership list (name, email, phone) to our members as a PDF document, on request.   Is this something members want?

A painting by David Langevin, based on a photo by Paulette Gendron

Tonquin (D. Langevin)

Featured image – D. Langevin (The Rockwall)

The next KHChronicles will be published in mid-October so send any info you may have to khc@kamloopshikingclub.net (DAS)

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Doug Smith

Retired now, I get into the outdoors most days to hike, paddle, camp, snowshoe, run, walk, or explore. More information can be found at: KamloopsTrails.net.

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