History

The Penticton Outdoors Club (POC) was started by a small group of outdoor enthusiasts who enjoyed “self-propelled” recreation. Fred Van Seters, Tom Landecker, Stu Patterson and Ann Kiefer met during the 1975-76 hiking season to create a club where people could share their love and knowledge of the natural environment as well as their familiarity with the outdoor recreation sites of the South Okanagan.

This informal group continued to evolve and eventually formalized with a Constitution and Bylaws compliant with the Society’s Act.

Though people have come and gone, and trails and hiking protocols have changed, the POC remains an active club grounded in its original principles:

• The organization of trips and outings of its members in the wilderness

• The promotion and development of outdoor skills and activities

• The promotion of safety and ecological wilderness practices

• The protection and preservation of wilderness areas and waterways

• The exchange of information among members and the general public

• Liaison and possible affiliation with other societies with similar purposes

During the early years, before the age of computers, membership meetings were held every few months to discuss the hike/ski plans for the following time period. Hike schedules would be mailed out to the membership, indicating the hike leader, the meeting place and a description of the hike. A membership fee of $5.00 was charged to cover the cost of postage. Social events were common, often organized and hosted by active long time members Harry and Kay Keen.

The POC became very involved in trail maintenance and the construction of new trails in partnership with the Ministry of Forests. Large signs went up at trail-heads acknowledging the Club’s participation.

Members would maintain the signs and erect trail maps until liability became a concern. The Club donated to Environmental groups as well as Penticton and District Search and Rescue. Trail Master Emeritus, Art DeWith was crucial in establishing many of today’s trails. Early members, Brad Houston and Judy Gurney compiled lists, maps and descriptions of the many Club hikes spanning an area from Peachland to Osoyoos. This information was instrumental in the creation of many of today’s hiking app’s, and remains in the Club archives.

Some of these routes include the Balsam Route at Mt. Hawthorne, the Carmi Trails and Guy’s Cache. Our members were also among the early explorers of the ski touring routes at kms 10, 11, and 13 along the Beaverdell Road, km 48 off Hwy 201, Mt. Riordan / Southward Ho, Winter’s Creek Road, the Vista Trails and other terrain off the Nickel Plate road, as well as the ridges beyond Apex Proper. The Club became a predominantly hiking and ski touring group, but later snowshoeing and cross country skiing were added to the winter roster.

More recently, with so many diverse winter activities, small groups have branched off and organized themselves. A small kayaking group has been established and numerous summer overnight camping / hiking trips have taken place. Trips to the Rockies, the Purcells, the Bugaboos, the Valhallas, the Kootenays, Waterton / Glacier Parks, Twisp and the Cascades are among the many adventures, as well as a cycling tour from Kelowna to Castlegar.

Initially affiliated with the Alpine Club of Canada, the POC has always been influenced by the knowledge and experience of others. Education continues to inform hikes and protocols. Speakers are featured at annual AGMs and as a member of the Federation of Mountain Clubs of B.C., the Club remains current with best practice recommendations.

The Penticton Outdoors Club is the longest established outdoors club in the Okanagan. It has maintained its mandate of no age limit and members young and old continue to build and enrich the club.

We celebrate the vision and contributions of our original and lifetime members (as of 2018): Joan Agnew, Joan and Jack Cooke, Jack and Pat Dawson, Art DeWith, Brad and Marie Houston, Ann Kiefer, Dick Kornelsen, Tom Landecker, Stu Patterson, Hugh Richter, Gill Holland, Al Tinka, Jerry Monahan, and Fred Van Seters.

 

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