BC PEOPLE i need suggestions

[munchy]

hey all. i live in the lower mainland of BC (abbotsford to be exact) and im planning a field herping trip for the weekend of april 30th. the only problem is that i havent decided where to go yet. thats where you guys come in. where do yall think would be the best place to go within about 6 or 7 hrs of where i live? im looking for snakes more than anything else. bull/gophers in particular as ive never seen a wild one before. im willing to drive anywhere from spences bridge to penticton/kelowna, oliver/osoyoos, 100 mile, kamloops, anywhere really.... id just like a few suggestions from people who know so our trip will be worth it. i will be taking lots of pics and posting them up here. so what do you guys think???

thanx in advance,

kk

[Leviathan]

The penticton/Kelowna area is the best for Bull snakes. I think it's around White lake observatory. I will try to find out exactly where to go but I'm just getting ready to head out to Calgary. I'll pull the ol' herping map outta the box when I get back if you are still looking :) Good luck

[munchy]

thats great leviathan. thanx alot.;) even if i dont see any snakes ill be happy. the drive itself is so nice and just being out there is fun, but id love to get some herp pics for you guys to view. wouldnt mind seeing some rattlers as well. does anyone know where the best place is to look for those elusive rubber boas? i was in armstrong for a while a few years back and supposedly theres a few of them there, but i never saw any...

does anyone know anything about galager(SP?) lake or vaseaux lake? apparently both are good rattler spots. i went to galager lake last year and i have to say its one of the most unique lakes ive ever seen. we caught largemouth bass there along with some sunfish, yellow perch, and crappie. looks so cool from the hotel looking accross the lake till it just suddenly ends with a steep mountain going into the water. all the sheep running around up top. damn i love BC.:cool:

thanx again;)

[munchy]

i sometimes attend fly fishing derbies at salmon lake (on the douglas lake ranch) and that place is beautiful, although im usually too busy rippin it up on the water to be looking for herps. i caught one MASSIVE toad (not sure what kind,) but thats it. does anyone know what kind of herps reside there and the rest of the nicola valley? also i have some relatives who have a cabin in clinton(near 70 mile i believe) which they said i could stay at. its right on beaver dam lake and they have killer eastern brookie fishing, ice on or off. ive caught a couple garters there but does anyone know what else they have for herps there?

[munchy]

sorry for all the questions. im just having a hard time deciding where to go...

[kam_herp_hut]

I am in Kamloops now, and know that there are a lot of areas around here to find rattlers (but not exact areas). Also, Skimikin Lake (in Tappen) has recently had a lot of rattlers heard and found (I lived there and heard them many times while rummaging through the fields and brush). The forestry was worried about it because they were babies, and were unsure if they were released or migrated to the area. They have survived though.
I always found tons of snakes out there. Big western toads and thousands of baby frogs and toads in August.
If you have the chance sometime, I know of a place that may let you wander around their property looking for snakes (he has just under 20 acres of fields). Email if you ever want to go up that way and I'll see if I can get their permission for you.
Good luck and get tons of pics!

~Tara