The Hedley monk's cave is located up Hedley Creek in the beautiful Similkameen Valley.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Steve Gosselin
May 06, 2021 - 5:10 PM
Many long-time residents of the small community of Hedley, located in the Similkameen valley around 30 km west of Keremeos, are aware of the story of a hermitic monk named Leon, who lived in a remote cave north of the community.
The monk’s cave is located several kilometres up Hedley Creek, (sometimes known as Twenty Mile Creek). Leon lived in the cave in the 1980s.
The LifeisAdventure video portal on YouTube recently published the video below, of a trip up the creek to visit the site, made by unidentified family.
On the trail to the Hedley monk's cave.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Steve Gosselin
Steve Gosselin and his family follow a mostly well-marked trail along the river, making their way along steep creek banks, crossing the creek on fallen logs.
Along the way is evidence of years of intense mining that took place in the area, which is famous for the long-producing Nickel Plate Mine.
Gosselin calls the trip “tough and dangerous” but sounds tongue-in-cheek as his young family comes into view.
Once at the site, he doesn’t spend a lot of time in the monk’s refuge.
“Oh, so disgusting! It’s been taken over by animals!” Gosselin exclaims.
The Hedley monk's cave.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Steve Gosselin
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