April 24 – Stamp Mill Hike

I wish that we liked wine more. It seems that every 100 yards that you drive on any road there is a sign asking you to come in for a tasting at this or that estate winery. It is either that or fruit stands, which we are unfortunately too early for. The fruit trees are all blooming though.

We drove just a bit north to another short but this time steep hike, to get back into shape. The Stamp Mill Trail starts at the Tinhorn Creek Vineyard and then climbs up the hill behind the vines to the ruin of an old mill used to process minerals mined from the hills above. The ruins are really not much to look at. They just give you an excuse to climb up the hill for a nice view.

You park by the winery visitor’s center and they even provide you a printed guide to the trail.

The start of the trail has you climbing the hill beside the various varieties of vines.

Looking up the hill.

Looking down into the valley. The road looks flat but it is not. We huffed and puffed a while before we got going.

Since there are a lot of snakes in the area, they have put a low fence around the entire vineyard to keep them out.

 

Then you must go through a gate in an electrified fence to keep the bigger guys out.

Carefully.

We checked out the creek that flows beside the vineyard. You could barely tell where the water was since it was so full of dirt.

Upwards. It was getting hot so off comes the jacket. The high today was only supposed to be around 21C.

Looking back down the valley towards Osoyoos.

The wildflowers are starting to come out.

Shortly, you reach a plateau. The mill is in the trees down in the creek valley left of center.

There is another path that branches to the right for about 10 km along the plateau but recently one of the landowners at the other end blocked the way so you have to come back the way you came.

Not much is left of the mill.

If there is something that can be climbed …

We headed back down to the edge of the plateau for an early lunch with a view. Looking towards Osoyoos.

Looking down on the town of Oliver.

And the photosphere. I managed to clone Jennie.

After a long stare and a great lunch it was back down through the vineyard.

It is almost embarrassing as to how short this “hike” was.

Driving home, we took a road that ran part way up the far side of the valley. Looking across at the vineyard.

As I said, a short hike.