Comox Valley Nature

Sunday, July 30,  SWI Hike to Hairtrigger Lake

This is a long, Level 2 Hike of about 16 kilometers return, and will take about 8 hours, but well worth the effort. Loys will lead this walk, which will feature the unusual plants and ecology of subalpine ponds. Bring water, wear study hiking boots, and pack a lunch. The weather can change quickly in the mountains, so dress in layers. This is a SWI fundraiser and donations to SWI will be accepted. Sorry, but no dogs please.

http://strathconapark.org/kwai-hairtrigger-lakes/

Saturday, July 29, 9:30 Public Walk at Little River Regional Park

Loys will lead todays public walk near the Little River ferry terminal. Meet at 9:30 am at park entrance on Wilkinson Road off Ellenor Road. This little park is rarely visited, except by the local residents. The park features two marsh areas, and is a good site for bird watching and just relaxing in general. The park is flat, as befits a foreshore area, and has no facilities.

For details about the park, check out the link below:

http://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/EN/main/community/parks-trails/comox-valley-parks/little-river-nature-park.html

Sunday, July 23, Wild Ginger and Shepherds Creek Trails, Buttle Lake

Strathcona Park is more than just Paradise Meadows. Today’s SWI walk will introduce you to the other side of the park, from the shores of Buttle Lake. We will meet at the Courtenay Country Market at 8 am to car pool through Campbell River and on to Buttle Lake.  If you are traveling direct, the trailhead is opposite the Ralph River Campsite, and we will be gathering there. Bring water and a snack, and dress for the weather and wear sturdy boots. No dogs please. There is no charge for this walk, but donations to SWI will be accepted

Sunday, July 16, Trees and Lichens in the Subalpine

Forester Margaret Symon will lead the combined SWI and CVN group around Paradise Meadows on an easy 2 to 2.5 hour walk today. Margaret will identify the trees and lichens. There is no charge for this walk, but donations to SWI will be accepted.

http://comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/nature-viewing-guide/5-forbidden-plateau-area/paradise-meadows-strathcona-provincial-park/

Saturday, July 15, Oyster Bay Regional Park

Loys will lead today’s Public walk. Oyster Bay Regional Park, aka Oyster Bay Shoreline Protection Park is a small park in the Strathcona Regional District. It features sand dunes and interesting foreshore vegetation. This little visited gem is an easy walk with stunning views across the Salish Sea to the Coast Range. Meet at the Courtenay Country Market to car pool.

http://www.strathconard.ca/oyster-bay-shoreline-protection-park

Sunday, July 9th,  SWI Walk, Trees in Paradise Meadows

Fred Newhouse will be leading today’s Strathcona Wilderness Institute walk. Paradise Meadows is sub-alpine at around 1,300 meters, and the tree species and growth patterns are sustainably different than their cousins at sea level.  Fred has spent most of his life in the woods in various roles with the forest service, consulting and managing a crown woodlot. Over the years, he has realized that like a vineyard, a forest can grow and mature in response to climate, site, soils and the cultural practice.

Car pool at pull out on Parkway at 9:30 or the SWI Cabin in the Nordic Ski area at 10 am. There is no charge for this walk, but donations to SWI will be accepted. No dogs please.

Saturday, July 8, 9:30 am, Headquarters Townsite Park Walk

This is an easy walk around Headquarters Townsite Park on level trails. The 8 hectare riparian forest site on the east bank of the Tsolum River was once an active centre for Comox Valley Logging between 1911 and 1950, and a few ruins still remain.  The Park is 2.5 km long from its southern end at Fitzgerald Road to its northern end at Headquarters Road and is level for most of the trail

We will meet at the Country Market for a car pool at 9:30 am, or at the trailhead on  Farnham Road at the bridge over the Tsolum River at 9:45 am.  There are no facilities at the Park, so bring water and dress for the weather. Park details are available at;

http://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/EN/main/community/parks-trails/comox-valley-parks/headquarters-townsite-park.html

Sunday, July 2, 1 pm SWI/CVN Paradise Meadows Early Flowers

This is to announce the opening of the Strathcona Wilderness Institute 2017 Season of Nature Walks at Paradise Meadows. The first one will be held on Sunday July 2nd at 1.00 pm, with Alison in the lead. The snow is gone from the loop trails in Paradise Meadows and there are several plants in bloom, notably Caltha Leptosepala ( white marsh marigold),   Dodecatheon Jeffreyi ( shooting star),  Kalmia microphylla ( western bog-laurel), Viola adunca ( early blue violet) to name a few.  Meet at the Wilderness Centre at 1.00 pm.

There is no charge, but you will be pestered to make a small donation to SWI. $5 to $10 donation suggested. Car pool at pull out on Parkway at 12:30 or at the SWI Cabin in the Nordic ski area at 1 pm. No dogs please.

http://comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/nature-viewing-guide/5-forbidden-plateau-area/paradise-meadows-strathcona-provincial-park/

Sunday  June 25 Public Walk Nymph Falls, 9:30 Forbidden Plateau Road.

Nymph Falls Park is not just for mushroom walks in the fall, but is a very popular walking park the year around. Loys will lead the group along the shores of Puntledge River on this very popular Public walk. Participants will meet at the main entrance of Nymph Falls Regional Park on Forbidden Plateau Road at 9:30.

The walk is on forest trails, and includes a gentle incline on the way out as you go upstream. This is a very popular swimming hole, and if the weather is warm you will want to have water with you and wear sturdy shoes. The walk will be about 3 hours long. The park has restrooms.

Note that there is no access to Forbidden Plateau Road from the new highway; you will have to access the road from Piercy Road.

A link to the Park trail map is here: http://www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/assets/Community/Documents/Parks/Nymph_Falls_map_30x21.pdf