The next hike,

The next hike will be on Saturday, 25th February.

We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10:00am.  

Last week it was pouring with rain for most of the hike.  We decided to investigate an old logging road that may run down the east side of the island to a smaall beach near North East Point.  We mostly hiked along old and seldom used roads that are in good condition, but the distance down to the beach was greater than I had anticipated and we stopped for lunch at a spot still quite high above the sea.  Perhaps we can try this route again sometime, but certainly it would be nicer to do so on a dry sunny day in summertime.

We have had a rather mild winter so far, so my wintertime photo today is one I took in February last year.  This is a tiny creek that runs down the hillside above Gillies Bay quite close to the logging road up to Cap Sheaf Lake.

A lovely miniature waterfall near Gillies Bay in February, 2011.

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 18th February.

We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10:00am.

Last week we did two short hikes instead of just one longer one, but both were in the same area with a short drive in between.  On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week Texada had quite long periods of steady rain and I felt fairly certain that our Stromberg Falls near Davie Bay would be well worth visiting.  By Saturday morning the heavy clouds had moved on and we headed south to the parking for the falls.  Hiking higher up the side trail beyond the falls we found that Grow Op Creek was roaring down through the forest. Backtracking to the falls I could hear them long before we reached them, always a good sign and I was not disappointed.  The sun was shining through the bare branches of the big maples and the spray in the air made it tricky to take good photos without getting water spots on the camera lens. I was careful to not get too close and my reward was the photo below.  

For lunch we hiked up the steep hillside above the falls and found a spot on a rocky outcrop with a glimpse of the sea through the trees.  After lunch we drove south and explored a new logging road that is being pushed up into the forest quite high above the Shingle Beach campground. The recent heavy rains meant there was water flowing and pooling along the unfinished road and even the  old logging road we often use to hike from the campground to the empty beach cabins had sections that were covered in water.

JD.

          

          Stromberg Falls with the creek in almost full flow.  What a beautiful sight!

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 11th February.

We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10:00am.

Last week we hiked on the high ground to get above the sea fog which was very thick when we met at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay.  We parked near Second Lake and did the long circular hike that includes the Hydro Reactor Station, a section of the Vancouver Island power line right of way and a section of Thompson Road. At lunch time we were at the highest point under the wires enjoying the warm sunshine and looking out over the sea of fog that extended all the way to Vancouver Island's snow covered mountains.

The photo was taken on one of the hikes last month when we hiked to the cabins on Shingle Beach. On the way back it was fun for some of us to climb on the giant tree stump that has been stranded on the beach there for several years. 

JD.

Hikers on the stranded tree stump on Shingle Beach.

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 4th February.

We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10:00am.

Last week the group of Trekkers was smaller than usual even though the weather was not unpleasant.  We started our hike from Eagle Creek and headed towards the sea.  As an interesting diversion we took the side road that follows the creek down to the former community that existed for many years near the mouth of the creek.  Only one of the cottages is lived in now, but it was interesting to stand for a few minutes and enjoy the view of the rugged shoreline, the strait and the distant snow covered mountains of Vancouver Island.  Retracing our steps to the main logging road we continued on to our lunch spot on the beach at the south end of Mouat Bay.

JD.

The youngest hiker finding the rounded beach stones rather rough going.