Put ziplining on your list of fun things to do as part of your Kokanee Glacier Park visit.
Located mostly above 1,800 metres in elevation, Kokanee Glacier Park is one of the places to see in BC and is popular with visitors who love to backcountry hike and ski or those wanting to go for a leisurely walk through old-growth forest or fish in one the park’s many glacier-fed lakes.
It’s also known for its sudden weather changes.
Located in the Selkirk Mountains, straddled in between Kootenay and Slocan Lakes, Kokanee Glacier Park features both alpine and subalpine terrain, where the snowpack on the higher elevations usually remains until July. Storms can suddenly brew in this environment in late spring/early fall, and rain is common. Temperatures can reach as high as 28 degrees Celcius and drop as low as 11 degrees Celcius in the summer months.
If you’re planning to visit Kokanee Glacier Park, with a stop at Kokanee Mountain Zipline either on the way into the park or after your visit, it’s wise to be prepared for the weather.
It’s Getting Hot Up Here!
Heat exhaustion from prolonged sun exposure can be detrimental for anyone visiting Kokanee Glacier Park in the summer months. Hiking in high altitudes, even though the temperature may seem cooler, is deceiving, as the air tends to be drier and thinner. Altitude is also known to increase sunburn risk, with the intensity of UVB (ultraviolent shortwave) exposure.
It’s best to be prepared:
- Protect your skin, especially your nose, with a good zinc-based sunscreen of SPF 30 or more.
- Wear a hat (you do not need your hat while ziplining, as you will be wearing a helmet, but still bring one along)
- Bring extra water, at least one litre for every hour you are out hiking is recommended, we have free water stations during the zipline tour
- Put on those shades, but bring cheap ones or wear a sunglass strap when ziplining
In the case that you do overheat, look for these symptoms of heat exhaustion:
- Dizziness
- Nauseous
- Increased thirst
- Tired or weak
- Bad headache/muscle cramps
- Flushed skin
- Rapid heartbeat
Treatment for heat exhaustion:
- Seek shelter right away
- Remove excess clothing
- Cool your skin with water
- Rehydrate with water, juice or electrolytes
- Rest for 30 minutes before resuming your activity
Kokanee Mountain Zipline runs rain or shine, and the cool rain water is a refreshing way to go zipping in BC. You can also go faster as the rain lubricates the line.
But it’s still good to be prepared for ziplining
Bring raingear, such as a shell or poncho, but maybe leave the umbrella at home. It really won’t help you on the zipline unless you believe you are Mary Poppins. Our Nelson zipline provides rain ponchos free of charge too!
Wear closed-toe shoes and bring some clothes to change into such as long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
Both Kokanee Glacier Park and Kokanee Mountain Zipline have sheltered areas in case a sudden storm blows in, so you can stay warm and dry.
Are you ready to try ziplining in the Kootenay mountains?
Read our blog on High Elevation at Kokanee Glacier Park On or Off Your Feet.
Kokanee Mountain Zipline is located east of Nelson, BC, 2.2 kilometres up Kokanee Glacier Park Road from Highway 3A at Kokanee Provincial Park. We are now open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays) through June. Please visit our booking system to see our available times or call us at 1-844-764-4484.