The Next Hike

Check here every week for details on the next Trekker hike!

Friday, September 20, 2013

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 21st September.
We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10:00am

Last week we met in Van Anda and carpooled over to James Mack's place near Favada Point on the north-west coast of the island. The sea fog was extensive over the higher ground and it did not look like clearing off for some time, so we hiked south on the main trail not sure if we would be able to climb up onto the bluffs for the great views at lunch time.  Eventually we reached the turnoff down to Big Beach, the fog was still not far above us and the only thing to do was to head down to the beach.  The trail was in good shape and it was pleasant enough though not sunny.  It seemed odd, but there were no birds to be seen out on the water and only a single seal which soon decided to dive and was not seen again.  Someone said it would be nice to have some of the larger marine mammals show up to entertain us and I said something about how there have been many more sightings than usual in the last few weeks, including some whales. But the bay remained quiet, the sea flat calm all through lunch.  Then just as we started packing up someone saw fins out of the water some distance offshore and we soon realised a group of Orcas were headed south, some of them very close to shore. What a treat!

My photo is of two of the orcas, one male adult plus a very much younger individual follow along behind it. I'm hoping to put a name or ID to this very tall dorsal fin which seems to be quite a distinct shape and may belong to one of the Transient or Bigg's orcas. 
JD.

The dorsal fins of two orcas heading south past Big Beach near Favada Point on the north-west coast of Texada Island.

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