In the Okanagan, heading off the beaten path to do a little exploring today means that you won’t be alone to commune with nature.

In recent years, it’s got so there isn’t a spot where you won’t be interrupted by the whine of a motorbike, the rumble of a 4x4 or even the sight of a camo-clothed hunter or nature photographer melting into the bushes nearby.

People are everywhere. It’s no wonder all the wildlife are in my yard instead of out in the wilderness.

However, it’s a different story in other parts of the southern interior of B.C.

You can actually settle in for an afternoon of sun by the rustling aspens near a peaceful lake in the Cariboo without being disturbed by anything larger than winged biters like black flies or mosquitoes—unless a moose happens to wander by in front of you.

I know, I did that this summer and it was a delightfully calming holiday.

And now the definitive guide to exploring backroads and trails in the Cariboo has been published to show you how to get to some of those out-of-the way peaceful oases.

Cariboo Trips and Trails, by Murphy Shewchuk, published by Fitizhenry and Whiteside, is the third in a series of outdoors guide books which began with Okanagan Trips and Trails, which I co-wrote with Murphy, and continued with Coquihalla Trips and Trails.

Not only is Murphy an experienced, award-winning writer and backroads explorer, he’s also very clever with new technology like Global Positioning Systems and digital cameras and he’s included GPS waypoints throughout the book, as well as fantastic photos.

His map-making skills are remarkable as well, particularly now that he’s able to use a range of digitally-available resources in compiling maps to guide the backroad traveller.

Last year, Murphy was presented with the B.C. Heritage Award for his efforts in the Nicola Valley to preserve heritage and for his writing and publishing work showcasing the province’s history.

That recognition was well-deserved, and you’ll notice all his backroads guidebooks include the added bonus of fascinating and well-researched tidbits about the historic aspects of the route you’re travelling or the scene you’re enjoying.

Included are more than 40 trips and trails ranging from the scenic Deadman-Vidette Road to the historic back road to Barkerville; Wells Gray Provincial Park to the Chilcotin Plateau.

For anyone who enjoys nature photography, hiking, biking, bird-watching, history, camping, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, skiing, or simply the outdoors at any time of year, this book would make a welcome gift.

It’s crammed full of information which you could use just to go on a “virtual” journey, without even venturing onto a back road.

The spectacular photography is one similarity with Liz Bryan’s latest book called Exploring the Interior Country Roads of B.C., published by Heritage House.

With its larger size, full-colour photos and less-technical details, this is more an armchair traveller’s guide book, although it could also be taken along in the family sedan.

It features 18 journeys through the Interior with a focus on landscape and history. The photos are excellent, but I would have preferred to see the type broken up with more subheadings; it’s a bit gray and intimidating at times.

Likely because it’s become so built up in recent times, her book skips quickly over the Central Okanagan, with a brief mention of lumber barged down the Okanagan River from Okanagan Mission near Kelowna to the Judge Haynes’ ranch, built in 1882 at Osoyoos.

Otherwise, it focusses on Fairview and White Lake in the south and the Kettle Valley to the east.

There is lots of information in here to use while sitting by the fireside planning sunny trips.

Okanagan trips

Incidentally, I’ll be gathering information to update Okanagan Trips and Trails in the coming months, ready for the next reprint, so if you have discovered any errors or out-of-date information, I would be most grateful if you’d let me know, so I can include those changes in the next edition.

Judie Steeves writes about outdoors issues for the Capital News.

jsteeves@kelownacapnews.com