April 12, 2018 Westbridge to Rock Creek

6c and overcast, north wind... well, not what I expected of this short 14km southeast trek to near the American border. The downed burnt trees were from the winter, and it looked like I was the first hiker through. Until this section is cleared up, cyclists should avoid it, though the last two kilometres are on the road. There are about 8 farm gates to open and close, as well as a stream to cross, but because it's spring run-off time, the water's high and fast and I had to shimmy across a fence; the water was too wide to jump. The provincial park campground seemed in good shape, untouched by the fire of 2015, but as I drove by it on the way home I saw that the area near the entrance had been burnt pretty severely. I was told by a local that the embers had drifted a distance up to 5km and had been landing on roofs and decks that were nowhere near the fire. This part of the TCT goes through agricultural land, and there were a few areas where it is simply a walk through a cow pasture. Oh, if you do this section and arrive near the pub in Rock Creek, beware of the guard dog there: it will jump halfway up his fence to get at you!

Kettle River, BC