Poco Loco: Bears in our Backyard

When we first moved into our condo at Sun Peaks, BC, we were concerned that we would miss having a back yard. but we soon realized that the entire resort area is our backyard. The photo below is the view from our door following a Spring snowfall. The area is full of walking paths and hiking trails and we are surrounded by forest, flowers and wildlife everywhere we go.

Our backyard April 23, 2015 looking across the 16th fairway to the ski runs on Sundance Mountain

Our backyard and golf course May 1, 2015 looking towards Mt. Morrisey. Our condo building is on the left edge.

Spring at Sun Peaks is the best time to view bears. In fact, there are bears everywhere! We wear our bear bells even along the paved walking paths weaving in and around the village as we are in the forest everywhere around here. The photo below was our first brown bear spotting, just above the village.

Brown bear in our backyard, half way up Hi-Voltage ski run on Mt. Tod, near the Burfield chair lift

These two black bears are just a short distance above the center of the village. A mother bear and two cubs has been spotted numerous times but all we've seen is adult bears so far.

Black bears in our backyard, half way up Cruiser ski run on Mt. Tod near the Sunburst Express chair lift

This Red Fox walks across the golf course every day, right in front of our living room window.

Red Fox in our backyard, on the golf cart path across the 16th fairway

Red Fox watching golfers on the 16th fairway, waiting to cross

Red Fox watching me, watching him

Mule Deer in our backyard, snacking on the edge of the 16th fairway

Marmot in our backyard, in the rough off of the 16th fairway

We've gotten together with a group of around 20 other locals who meet for drinks every Tuesday afternoon (VERY well attended) and coffee Thursday mornings (not as well attended). A lot of fun and VERY active people. After all, they chose to live in a ski resort. They are all very avid skiiers, downhill, cross-country, snow shoers, and fishing and hiking and running. One of the guys in the group has begun organizing group hikes. There are dozens of well known and marked hiking trails around here and perhaps just as many lesser-known unmarked trails. It is one of these trails that we chose to hike on after coffee this past Thursday to McGillivray Creek Waterfalls.

The trail starts from the main road just above Whitecroft. It was a short 10 or 15 minute hike to the falls, along a pretty rough trail, over huge boulders at times but an easy hike. The Falls at this time of year are pretty dramatic with the runoff being so high.