In Pictures: Parks Day 2015

The recent Parks Day event in Mount Revelstoke National Park has been judged a success that helps set the stage for another couple of events later this summer.
Parks Day takes place on the third Saturday of July each year. First celebrated in 1990, Parks Day celebrates our national parks “the best places for Canadians to experience all of nature’s powerful benefits,” Parks Canada’s Jacolyn Daniluck told The Current. “Our parks are among the oldest in the world and have existed for more than a century. What better time, than Canada’s Parks Day, to share and celebrate the benefits that parks provide for families to bond, children to play, and communities to meet.”
The activities at the summit at the Heather Lake day-use area from noon until 4 pm included:
Information and a display from the Shuswap Trailrider Adaptive Adventure Society regarding trailriders. Those are sturdy wheel-chairs adapted for hiking trails rather than sidewalks. It is guided by a team that pulls, lifts and pushes the trailrider along the trail. Also, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks showcased a new “mountain-trike,” which is another type of trail wheelchair. For more information on the Shuswap Trailrider Adaptive Adventure Society please go to www.shuswaptrailrider.com/rewarding-day-trailrider-at-nature-trail/
Parks staff were on hand to talk about a number of things such as Species at Risk and Whitebark Pine geocaching. Parks staff also held a special guided stroll on First Nations’ traditional use of the Columbia Valley and edible/medicinal plants of the area was offered at the summit to Learn-to Camp 2015 participants.
Next up for the park is the Annual Eva Lake Pilgrimage on August 15. Participants for the hike will meet at 9 am at the Balsam Lake parking lot. Celebrate the Summit is planned for Saturday, September 12, in Mount Revelstoke National Park with the third annual Eva Lake Alpine Trail Run.
Registration for the Eva Lake Run: registration is at 9 am in the Balsam Lake day-use area; the run begins at 10 am at the Eva Lake Trailhead.
Here are some photos of this tis event:

The Parks Canada tents at Heather Lake were well used and appreciated. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada
The Parks Canada tents at Heather Lake were well used and appreciated. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada

Pierre tries out one of the new trail riders showcased at the park. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Pierre tries out one of the new trail riders showcased at the park. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada

Alana Jung led people on a hike to see the flowers, which bloomed somewhat early this year. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Alana Jung led people on a hike to see the flowers, which bloomed somewhat early this year. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada

Amy Clark provided lguidanceand expert advice to the campers learning how to roughy it in the park. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Amy Clark provided lguidanceand expert advice to the campers learning how to roughy it in the park. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada

This Parks Day event on top of Mount Revelstoke was an introduction to Canadian camping traditions, like roasting marshmallows. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada
This Parks Day event on top of Mount Revelstoke was an introduction to Canadian camping traditions, like roasting marshmallows. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada

This young fellow had just what you needed after sundown — a camp light. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada
This young fellow had just what you needed after sundown — a camp light. Rob Buchanan photo courtesy of Parks Canada

Enjoy the rest of our summer!