September 15: Back to Mystic

We can't get enough of Mystic Beach ...

Let's meet at Westshore Serious Coffee at 8:30, and head out by 9:00.
Saturday, September 15th.

Bring your lunch and a raincoat! Dogs and friends are always welcome.

Goldstream Trestle

Thanks for the photo Dave!

Sunday Hike - Goldstream

WHEN: August 19 (Sunday)
WHERE: Goldstream Park (7.5 km loop in Goldstream Park)
MEET AT: Serious Coffee (Westshore) at 8:30, plan to leave by 9:00

Thank you Tracy for a great idea!

"This route follows Ma Miller"s Trail to Arbutus Ridge which continues on to the Goldmine Trail, Niagara Falls, across the trestle and down across from Goldstream Falls, returning via Ma Miller"s. The trail passes an abandoned gold mine and the "Little Nigara Falls" which are supposed to quite spectacular."

SAVE THE DAY! Friday, August 31st

Devon and Ian will be in town the last week of August, and we're planning a get-together on Dave's deck.

Mark you calendars! More info to come.

July & August hikes

July 21st (Saturday)
Mystic Beach
Let's meet at Serious Coffee (Westshore) at 8:30, out the door at 9.
Bring a lunch - if it's a nice day we can build a bonfire and hang out for the afternoon.

August 19 (Sunday)
Looking for suggestions for a great destination.

Girls and Boys go Wet and Wild

It's that time of year to head over to Portland Island for a leisurely hike (more like a walk, actually) around the perimeter of of Princes Margaret Marine Park on Portland Island.


We'll meet at the Van Isle Marina fuel dock (not the Sidney dock, Sheldon) in Teseum Harbour, 2320 Harbour Rd at 9:30 June 10, sail across to Portland Island, walk around the Island, and sail back.


It's advised that folks bring along a bottle to drink or share in the gentle sail back. This will be a full day, so bring lots of food/nibbles. Some can be left on boat for trip back, some carried for a beach picnic on the island. We could even fire up the bbq on the boat if required.


The only caveat is that we have only 3 extra life jackets (+ one for a dog), so it's important that people arrange to bring one if possible. Coast guard regs stipulate there must be one for each passenger. Aside from that, there's no real limit to the number of people who can join us on this outing.


Sports rent (www.sportsrentbc.com) at the corner of Government and Chatham rents PFDs for $5.00/day.


Last year was a gorgeous time, so lets hope for good weather. Note that this is a clothing optional hike.

Saturday, May 12 - COBBLE HILL

Gary (aka the Gare Bear) has planned a hike for us to Cobble Hill, followed by a visit to Merridale Cidery.

Let's meet at Westshore Serious Coffee at 8:30, and be ready to leave by 9:00 am.

Environment Canada is promising sunshine.

Anybody who is hungry can have lunch at Merridale.

As always, bring your kids, your dogs, your friends, and your rain jacket.

See you Saturday!

Rod's Grand Hike:

East Sooke Park and Mychosen cafe breaky

The hike for Sunday April 15th is East Sooke Park, western section.This trail starts at the Pike Road parking area and accesses Mt Maguire (official park elevation 268m) via the Anderson Cove Trail, then loop down to the coast via the Coppermine Trail returning to the parking area via the Coast and Pike Road trails. 8km and about 5 hours.

We plan on meeting at the mychosen cafe for breaky at 8:30 and then head to the Pike Rd entrance at 9:30. Hope you all can make it.

Club Mud March 17th, 2012 - Rod Mitchell knows the way.....

I have attached a couple of screen shots taken from Google Earth and a kmz file that hope others can open all by way of showing folks the area we will be hiking in on the 17th. (north is roughly up in both views) The plan would be to meet as usual at Serious Coffee at Westshore at 0830 and proceed to my place where we will start and end. We will walk Southwest through private property to Blinkhorn Lake, around the lake and up through private property to the top of Mt. Blinkhorn. We will then return to my place where we will climb to the top of the bluffs on that side of the valley and enjoy a another nice view. (weather permitting - puh-leez) There we will sit for a bit then walk down our house for (I hope) a bowl of chili and a cup of tea or coffee. BYOB if desired.
I have cleared passage with the property owners concerned. We must remember to not pick up anything along the way (not even an old bone....) and to try to be aware of trail degradation. That is, try not to go off trail where the moss can be scuffed trying to negotiate a rock outcropping or some such. Please make sure to let me know if you are coming so we have a head count to tell people.
On my own land I have some rare plants that the Gary Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team (GOERT) has been working with me to protect. For instance, GOERT thinks that the population of Purple Sanicle between my property and my neighbour's is probably the largest left in Canada. Many plants will be sprouting at the time of our hike and are vulnerable to trampling at that stage. I will indicate areas of special concern while we are there.
I encourage you to look up GOERT's website and check out some of the info there. Here is a quote:
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"Collectively, Garry oak and associated ecosystems are among the most endangered in Canada. Once common in coastal areas of Southwest British Columbia, less than 5% of these ecosystems remain in near-natural condition. Most of the remnants are in isolated, fragmented communities that have no connection to other Garry oak communities, thereby reducing migration of populations or mixing of genetic material of species from one area to another."
--------------------------- snip ----------------------------------------
If the weather is good we will have some truly lovely views but either way it will be a good outing.
Looking forward to seeing you folks again, ...........................//Rod.

The Mount Maguire rain hike

Mount Muddy Maguire on Saturday

Where: Meet at Serious Coffee in the West Shore Mall.
When: Between 8:30 and 9:00, Saturday Feb 18.
The Usual: Be prepared for rain, and bring your friends.

East Sooke Park, Jan 2012

Pictures from last month's hike, the one where a few of us didn't want to get our dainty toes wet.

Mount Maguire on Feb 18

Our next hike is Mount Maguire in East Sooke Park.

Where: Meet at Serious Coffee in the West Shore Mall.
When: Between 8:30 and 9:00, Saturday Feb 18.
The Usual: Be prepared for rain, and bring your friends.

Gary has planned this hike, and He Knows The Way!

A map: http://www.crd.bc.ca/seaparc/programs/documents/map_eastsooke.pdf
A brochure: http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/documents/east_sooke_web_brochure_000.pdf

WEATHER OR NOT - we're going!

Gary knows the way!

We'll meet all of you non-wimps at Serious at 8:30 for our January 21st hike around Roche Cove.

(Thanks for the photo, Dave.)

January 21st - Roche Cove

Where: Cedar Grove Hike in Roche Cove Regional Park.
When: Let's meet at Serious Coffee (Westshore Mall) at 8:30 so that we can leave by 9:00.

The CRD website says it's an invigorating hike:
http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/rochecove/
http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/rochecove/hike.htm

Thank you Nathaniel and Tracy for planning our first hike of the year!