We're Heading North to Canada

Last year at this time, Linda and I were home drying out our camping gear. We had connected with Daren and Marcy up on the Coeur d’Alene River and were very fortunate to have found the spot we did. The area was packed with campers and the spot we found was rustic at best.

For this years Memorial Day trip I suggested heading up North to Canada in an effort to avoid the masses we faced last year. On Thursday afternoon we set our sights on Premier Lake Park, situated 72 km north of Cranbrook. We had been there many years before and were hoping that Daren and Marcy, who left before us, would get a site at the lake campground. As luck would have it we were successful and spent a wonderful weekend up in the area exploring the lakes, watching the fish, eating great meals and just plain relaxing.

The road to Premier.
Nestled against the west slopes of the Rocky Mountains, are the emerald green waters of Premier and four smaller lakes, Canuck, Yankee, Cats Eye and Quartz. The area is rich in wildlife. Premier Ridge, west of the lake, is an important wintering range for elk, whitetail and mule deer, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. As we drove up to the area we saw two coyotes dash across the road in front of our truck. I thought the first one was a, fox, but the second one, a big male, proved me wrong. Entering the park we saw several deer and an elk. The elk was a male with small horns covered in velvet.

We arrived a little late. It took longer in Cranbrook that we expected. Linda’s luck was bad at the super store. First she could not buy wine, then when we got in line everything went wrong with the customers in front of her and it seemed like it took hours just to check out. Good thing Marcy and Daren had gone ahead and were setting up camp.


Camping at Premier Lake Campground.

We had a good campsite next to the small creek that runs into the south end of the lake. It was very interesting to sit and watch the fish. The spawn is in full cycle it was like the great gold rush all weekend. Our weekend was filled with fish jumping over small falls, making nests for mating and just plain amazing us with their ability to get up stream no matter what they ran into. Daren and I would take our chairs down to the stream and sit watching the mayhem. I suggested playing a drinking game. Every time a fish jumped up over this foot high water falls, everyone should take a drink. If they made it up but got washed back down then you should drink twice. My guess was we would be snockered in about an hour. But it would have been fun!

Everyone was real tired so we turned in with out making a fire this first night.