Next Hike.

The next hike will be on Saturday, 31st May.

We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10.00am.

We first drove south on the Davie Bay road and then turned left just after Eagle Creek.  This road climbs and eventually joins Thompson Road, but we parked at the sandpit about half way up.  The old logging road that starts here is a more attractive route through the forest and it too joins Thompson Road and gives hikers a chance to do a circular hike.  Our lunch spot is at the top of Eagle Mountain which is only reached after a very steep climb, but the view from the grassy bluff on the west side at the top is well worth the effort.

JD.

The sweeping view looking north-west from the top of Eagle Mountain.  Dick Island is in the centre with the Texada Quarry in the distance on the right.

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 24th May.

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

Please note that the Ballpark may be busy this Saturday so we will park at the far end of the parking area.

Last week we drove up Bell Rd. and turned off onto the Masyk Farm Rd. parking at the first wide spot suitable for parking.  The hike route took us north then south on the old logging road that passes Black Mt. trail and down to the viewpoint that looks east out over Malaspina Strait to Nelson Island and Jervis Inlet.  It makes a very pleasant spot for lunch on a hike with just forest all along the route there and back. 

 

My photo is from the hike two weeks ago when we found ourselves sharing a mountain top with several very tame grouse. The males were booming not far away, but remained silent when they were close to us.  They have an interesting mating display in which they spread the feathers on each side of the neck to expose a patch of red or orange skin and fan their tails like a peacock.  They sometimes exhibit very curious reactions to humans who get down on the ground very close to them as you can see in this video on YouTube.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km4SPzuuXbI

JD.

  

 

Sometimes bird photography is so easy!  This Blue Grouse on Flicker Mt. was not in the least bit bothered by the human interest. 

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 17th May.

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

Not far to the east of Bobs Lake are a couple of small conical peaks one of which was given the name Flicker Mountain a few years ago when we first cut a trail to the top.  Last week we hiked there from the road junction at the foot of Mt Davies for a change.  Usually the hike that goes to the peak starts on the gas line and heads south along the right of way before swinging east and around the north shore of the lake. All morning we could hear the familiar deep booming sound of male grouse, but its not often we get to see one or more at the same time although every now and then a mother is seen with one or more chicks.  We had just settled down for lunch when a male grouse was spotted and the dogs had to be restrained before they could reach the remarkably unperturbed bird. When the photographers had finished shooting I did my best to shoo it away, and the lunch proceeded. I thought that was that, but as we headed down the steep bluffs we came upon two more males both of which were also quite happy about being photographed. 

I suppose we could rename the peak Grouse Mountain, but I guess not as that name has been taken already. 

JD.

     

     A very tame male Blue Grouse on top of Flicker Mountain.  

Next Hike

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

Last week we drove south past Davie Bay to the concrete bridge over lower Stromberg Creek, then up to the parking place for the falls viewing. This time there was very little water in the creek so no point in taking the trail to see the falls, but this was the start of our hike. The road on from this point begins to rise quite steeply and keeps rising with only one very short descent for the next hour or so of hiking. The chosen lunch spot was one we had never visited before, but just selected from a viewing on Google Earth of the western slopes of Mt. Davies. It was clearly a steep open area a little south of the Vancouver Island Hydro lines at an elevation of about 340 metres. Reaching it meant finding a route through a section of wooded hillside with areas of evergreen huckleberry, but this proved to be fairly easy and we were rewarded with a viewpoint of Georgia Strait extending from Lasqueti north to Hornby and Denman Islands.
JD.

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 3rd May.

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

Last week we drove south to park on the gas line right of way at the cathodic protection station near First Lake.  Taking the main road south the short distance to the driveway that used to be part of the Mouat Bay logging company's main haul road we stopped to check if the trout were spawning in the creek.  No sign of them, but the gravels and the water flow look to be perfect for them just there, a spot they have been known to use in the past.  At the sharp curve in the road we forked left and headed uphill towards Third Lake. This old logging road is now covered by moss and grass and and looks very attractive as it slowly reverts to forest again.  

The trail to the top of Plateau Mt. is steep and rough in places, but once the more or less flat and forest covered top is reached walking in any direction is quite easy.  The day remained dry and sunny as we ate lunch at one of the various viewpoints — this one looking west towards Vancouver Island.

JD.

   

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Happy hikers on top of Plateau Mountain near Third Lake.