Opening Week! - May 16th - 22nd

The season has begun!

Coastal Trek Week #1

Weather - Hot and sunny for the first few days, way above seasonal temperatures. High of 29 degrees (84 F)! A little moisture midweek (it is the rain forest after all!), some more sunshine.

Hikes - Day 1 - Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park/Wesley Ridge
Length: 15 kilometers Elevation change: +/- 600 meters
A new route up the ridge (steep!) to viewpoint with beautiful vistas of Mount Arrowsmith, Cameron Lake, Georgia Straight and the Coast Mountain Ranges.
Day 2 - Kw'as Park - Cortes Island
Length: 12 kilometers Elevation change: +/- 315 meters
Lots of oooows & ahhhhs, boat ride access, seals, porpoises, eagles, ocean, mountains, Oyster Festival. (Also see my previous post on this amazing spot!)
Day 3 - Puntledge River Trails to Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve
Length: 14 kilometers Elevation change: +/- 190 meters
Sunday stroll on easy, well groomed trails to spectacular beach on lake with unparalleled views of Comox Glacier. Some exploring through ecological reserve, eventually leading to top of bluffs surrounded by arbutus trees and manzinita bushes. Unexpected sightings of local wildlife around the lake!
Day 4 - Miracle Beach Provincial Park and Ripple Rock Trail
Combined length: 11 kilometers Elevation change: +/- 320 meters
Two hikes; an easy warm up walk on the beach, ospreys were spotted, up creek to a salmon counting fence, informative chat with fisheries officers enlightening us to why they count the 10's of thousands of coho smolts heading out to sea. Second hike on rough single track (and a very bouncy suspension bridge!), 300 year old giant Sitka spruce trees, high perch over the Seymour Narrows, observed tidal rapids and whirlpools at the site of famous Ripple Rock explosion.
Day 5 - Mt. Geoffrey/Heliwell&Big Tribune Parks - Hornby Island
Combined length: 19 kilometers Elevation change: +/- 375 meters Climbed to top of Hornby Island, viewed many eagles and vultures, spectacular scenery (Denman Island, Lambert Channel, the Vancouver Island Mountain Ranges and Comox Valley), very appropriately placed picnic lunch bench! Quick 15 minute shuttle across the island, pleasant stroll through extraordinarily diverse ecosystems, Canada Geese, a hundred seals sunbathing (no kidding!), barking sea lions, incredible sandstone and conglomerate cliffs. A visit to deserted white sand beach in Big Tribune Bay.
Day 6 - The Punisher to Medicine Bowls
Length: 11 kilometers Elevation change: +/- 532 meters
This one lived up to its name! Right from the lodge, descended narrow and winding single track over logs and roots to valley bottom, lunch atop gorge in Browns River while spring run off cascaded over water falls beside us. Up, up, up and back to lodge for a very well deserved steam room and hot tub soak!

Week totals: 82 kilometers and 2332 meters up and down!

An outstanding start to our summer program here at Coastal Trek, enjoyed by some very motivated and extremely enthusiastic hikers!