Merritt and the Great Northern Adventure

I have dreamed of going to the great northern reaches

of British Columbia for years. My visions

of vast open wild spaces have

haunted me most of my life.

I am lucky enough to be able

to travel this beautiful province of

British Columbia and in September 2013 my

dream was about to become reality.

First stop along the way
was south-central BC and the Nicola Valley.

Experiencing the immensity of 

the grasslands near Merritt is awe inspiring.
And it's quiet here. I mean .... really, really quiet.

You can hear the wind rustling the
grass in huge swaths that sweep across
the hillsides and valleys.The occasional rock or
tree breaks the rhythm of nature, heat waves
undulate and caress the blue skies.

I stayed overnight at Marquart Lake.
The skies slowly dissolve into an inky black,
the soft nighttime calls of an owl resting
in a nearby tree remain within my heart.

Best Places to See in BC - Lundbom Grasslands

The beautiful Nicola Valley in
British Columbia has always held a special appeal for me.
It just feels old here. Old and open and free.

The grasslands stretch for miles in every direction
and offer completely different vistas than the
coastal regions. Vast is the word that comes to mind.

Lundbom and Marquart Lakes are set amongst
rolling grasslands and wide open country views.
Stunning and calming all rolled into one.
I was lucky enough to hear a family of owls
calling to each other during the night and early
morning hours. Though I never got a glimpse of them,
their cries were haunting and eternal, reminding me
of how fragile and precious our lands are.

The Laurie Guichon Memorial Interpretative Site
is set along the road leading to the lakes, and is definitely
worth a few hours to explore and savor
the natural beauty of this area.
Named after fourth generation rancher
Laurie Guichon was recognized as a
grasslands conservationist in BC.