Ian and I keep going back and forth about November's hike.

At first we wanted to take everyone out to Parkinson Creek access to the Wanda Fuka Trail (ha ha). This is such a beautiful spot. The trail isn't too long and then the walk along the rock beach (not pebbles but bedrock and Sheldon's favourite...conglomerate rock) is amazing.

If the weather has been dry in the days before and the day of, this is a great option. I fear that it will be really slippery if it has been raining in the couple days before the hike, though.

The Maple Mountain hike was cancelled in September so that is still an option. I have heard from so many people that Maple Mountain is beautiful and we all love Maple Bay so maybe this is a good option as an alternative. Forests are great for keeping us dry...and beaches are great on the sunny dry days.

Date: November 30
Place: Serious Coffee at Westshore Mall
Time: 8:30AM meeting and 9:00AM leaving

Please let us know if you have anything to add. I will post on the blog.

Sunday, October 19: Rod's Hike

Let's all meet at Serious (Westshore) around 8 am, with a plan to head out at 9:00.

Rod has a great hike planned for us. I hear rumours of Lester B. Pearson College, an observatory and a waterfall, the skeleton of a grey whale, and a mysterious path called the Barde Knockie trail.

Some links:
http://adhochikers.blogspot.ca/2012/02/feb-4-2012-pearson-college.html

http://www.openstreetmap.org/way/170057342#map=17/48.35126/-123.56678

http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC3PK7A_b12-the-barde-knockie-trail

Pack your raincoat and a snack. Friends and dogs are always welcome.

Sept 21 hike to Maple Mountain

I think we're going to postpone Maple Mountain. There aren't many people around for this hike, and Dave isn't feeling well.

(Sorry Carol.)

Dust off your hiking boots

Hi everybody,

Hikes for the next few months:

September 21 (Sunday) - Maple Mountain

October 19 (Sunday) - Rod's Hike - Roche Cove and Pedder Bay

November 30 (Sunday) - Devon & Ian's Hike - Parkinson Beach on the JdF

More details to come.
Marion

Solstice plus Seven

Let's celebrate the summer solstice (one week late).

Where: On Mars
When: June 28th (Saturday) at 7 pm
What: Bring an appetizer to share, something to drink, and your hiking ideas for fall.

Hi Everyone,

Nathaniel and Tracy have found a great hike for us and the date has been set for June 8, Sunday.

We hope you can all make it!

We will meet between 8:00 and 8:30AM at the Serious Coffee at the Westshore Mall.

We will try to leave by 8:30AM to get up to Cowichan when the morning air is still enhancing the forest smells.

Here are the directions from Nathaniel:
Mesachie Mountain
Follow signs from Town of Lake Cowichan to Mesachie Lake Village, about 6 km (4 miles). Turn right onto Forest Road (signposted). Go through village, turn right, drive slow (30k posted and the locals mean it). Continue along Forest Road, and cross bridge. The trail to Mesachie Mountain is to the right, past the gate and following the wire fence; then swinging NE through second-growth timber along an old skidder road. There's a loop through old growth on your left. Follow this until you come to a T junction, then turn right onto the mountain trail. The upper part is just one mossy hill. It is about 1.5 hour’s hike from the gate to the top and the view is excellent.

We can do some other exploring while we are up there and maybe stop for an afternoon lunch somewhere after. Cowichan and Duncan are favourite spots for a few of us so we can try to spend some good time up there.

Look forward to seeing all of you.

Devon

Cowichan River Trail

                                                                    

For those who did not make it we had a great walk on the weekend along the Cowichan River Trail. Parking along Riverbottom Road at Mile 66 Trestle we walked over the river where we had some incredible views. Once over the trestle we then  went off the Trans-Canada Trail and took a trail going downstream along the Cowichan River through some second growth forest. The trail was fairly easy with very little change in elevation as it meandered through the mixed forest.

Thanks to our hosts Devon and Ian we had some great discussions concerning the evidence of bear scant on the trail the last time they walked here. It was during the salmon run in the fall and there were lots of half-eaten carcasses of fish littering the forest floor and riverfront.

At the end of our hike we all agreed that it was well worth the trip up to the Cowichan Valley and this great hike.

The weather proved to be perfect with temperatures at around18 degrees Celsius. Lunch was along a long stretch of the Cowichan River, although we did not see any bears this trip we did happen to encounter some ducks swimming playfully in the river.

It was suggested by Ian that the next time we come to the Cowichan River rather than go downstream that we go on the upstream section of the trail. That sounded like a fantastic idea and I hope Club Mud can do it in the near future