Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 28th November.

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

Last week we drove towards Shingle Beach turning off on the left after Eagle Creek to a parking place about half way up to Thompson Road.  This is a circular hike so we don't have to back-track except on the very steep side road that takes us up to the top of the rounded landmark of Eagle Mountain. There are small grassy bluffs on the west side at the top and the view on a good day is quite spectacular.  

As you can see from my photo this week we were lucky this time and had a very good day.

JD.

Lunching on the top of Eagle Mountain with a view looking north-west. The forested island is Dick Island at Shelter Point and Surprise Mt. is just behind Texada Quarry.

Texada Trekkers Next Hike

Ther next hike will be on Saturday, 21st November.

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

Last week we had a good number of hikers and a dry day for a change, but there was some fog about at higher elevations than usual. Being optimistic by nature we decided to go for a hike with viewpoints and drove off towards Bobs Lake.  The Mt. Grant Trail starts in thick forest and taking the usual clockwise route from the first junction in the old logging roads it was a while before we reached the first viewpoint where we should have had a view to the north towards Jervis Inlet.  There was just too much fog however and this proved to be the case at almost every other viewpoint on this long winding trail.  When we stopped for lunch we were already past the summit and that viewpoint was relatively clear of fog and all but the very top of Mt. Davies was visible not too far away. 

My photo was taken on a recent hike when we crossed several small creeks which had been swelled by recent rains.  

JD.

A noisy little waterfall close by the route of our recent hike above Cook Bay.   

 

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 14th November.

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

Last weekend seemed to be an extra busy time for the many hunters who come to Texada to hunt deer as they are allowed, I believe, to shoot more then than at other times during the open season.  As hikers find it somewhat disconcerting to hear gunshots in the forest while trying to enjoy a few hours of quiet relaxation in the great outdoors we decided to do our hike as far away from the hunters as possible.  We had to drive south quite a long way until we came to the gate marking the start of the Cook Bay community property. We did pass some hunters camps along the way, but the private property beyond the gate is closed to hunters.  We parked just outside the gate and started hike which soon runs onto Crown land along an old logging road that climbs quite steeply away from the coast. 

The lunch spot was on a pleasant grassy bluff almost surrounded by forest, but with so much fog around the distance views  of Lasqueti Island and the sea were quite fleeting as the fog thinned and thicken with the light wind.  The hike was indeed very peaceful with just the sounds of the birds in the trees and one or two tree frogs to break the silence of the forest and we neither heard nor saw any hunters. 

JD.

Hiking along a misty forest trail high above Cook Bay.

Next Hike

The next hike will be on Saturday, 7th November.

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

Last week we were expecting to be hiking in the rain again, at least that was in the forecast and we were well prepared, but it turned out to be dry and sunny instead.  We drove to the parking place near Second Lake we had used the week before and started off walking south along the gas line.  However, by taking the first turning on the right we were on a different trail system for the rest of the hike.  A short side trail gave newcomers a quick look at Third Lake and then back onto the old logging road again and heading south west past a wetland area.  This is a pleasant winding route through the forest that does eventually reach Thompson Road just below the high viewpoint of Thompson Bluffs, but for us it was far enough to stop for lunch on top of a forested ridge with a view to the north with Black Mountain in the far distance.

There seemed to be hardly any edible mushrooms left this time and my photo is of a cluster of mature Pufball fungus that were full of powdery dark brown spores that drifted away from the jagged gaps in the outer skin at the gentle tap of a boot.  These ones are much too old for eating, but when very fresh and still firm and pure white inside they can be safely gathered and cooked.  

JD.

A cluster of a type of Puffball, probably a species of the genus Lycoperdon.  Edible, but only when they are young.