With its mountainous terrain and warm climate, Kamloops is an ideal place for the Canadian Armed Forces to conduct training exercises in anticipation of duties overseas.

Which is why soldiers from the Third Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry will be in the region from July 17-28 to conduct mountaineering training.

Capt. Tony Meier of 3 PPCLI said about 60 troops will form a base camp near the New Gold Mine site, west of Kamloops, but the majority of training will take place at Roche Lake.

The contingent will grow to about 180 troops for a major exercise north of Lac Du Bois from July 24-28.

Meier said people will see a limited amount of military traffic along the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 5 as well as in the Lac Du Bois area.

But he asked people out for hikes around Roche Lake to not be alarmed if they encounter a group of soldiers.

"We will be there almost on a daily basis," he said.

Not only is the terrain suitable for training, but having the facilities at the J.R. Vicars Armoury close at hand is also a benefit, said Meier.