Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 16th February.

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

Last week we went in search of the sunshine as it seemed likely that we would find some above the fog that had settled over Gillies Bay during the night.  We drove up to the end of the blacktop in the fog and carried on up Bell Road passing First Lake still in the fog.  At the Reactor Station turnoff it was still foggy so we swung to the left and continued to climb higher until our luck ran out — the road was covered by ice and snow and still no sun.  Turning back and then off to the left we parked by the gates of the Hydro compound.  There were still patches of snow in the shady parts of the trail heading west under the lines but it was fairly easy walking and we made good progress down to Thompson Rd, then south through the forest with the sound of rushing water below us.  For lunch we sat at the roadside, in the fog, but it was peaceful and pleasant enough and now below the snowline.  The winding trail through the forest took us east to the gas line and soon back to the vehicles again.  

My photo is a close shot of a harmless little amphibian, Rough-skinned Newt. But is it harmless?  I've picked them up and demonstrated their ability to right themselves when turned onto their backs in my hand. But I also warn people to be sure to not hurt them as they can exude poison through the skin.  Only Garter snakes have some degree of resiatance to the poison and can eat them safely.  Here is what Wikipedia has to say about the situation:—

"The mutations in the snake's genes that conferred resistance to the toxin have resulted in a selective pressure that favors newts which produce more potent levels of toxin. Increases in newt toxicity then apply a selective pressure favoring snakes with mutations conferring even greater resistance. This cycle of a predator and prey evolving to one another is sometimes termed an evolutionary arms race and has resulted in the newts producing levels of toxin far in excess of what is needed to kill any other conceivable predator."

They are harmless enough to us, sort of!  And cute too.

JD.

       

       A Rough-skinned newt out for a walk on a day when all the snakes are still safely hidden away until spring arrives.