Coastal Trek - Week #9 - July 25th - 31st

Weather - A little cloudier, a little windier, a little rainier, and a little cooler than usual. Highs in the low 20's or 70's, Lows in the teens or 50's.
Hikes - Day 1 - Seal Bay Nature Park and Nymph Falls
Length - 8 kilometers or 4.8 miles
Elevation change - 80 meters or 264 feet
Farmers Market, fern valley, spectacular falls, Bob the Stonehunter studio tour.
Day 2 - Sawchuk's Forest, Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park, Cathedral Grove
Length - 9 kilometers or 5.4 miles
Elevation change - 95 meters or 314 feet
George Sawchuks sculptures studio tour, moss laden canyons, crystal clear water falls, Cameron Lake, big-big trees.
Day 3 - Strathcona Provincial Park - Paradise Meadows to Lady Lake
Length - 13 kilometers or 7.8 miles
Elevation change - 261 meters or 861 feet
Sub-alpine hike, amazing bloom, white-bog orchids, heathers, arctic lupines, white rhododendrons, dwarf dogwood, mountain buttercup, asphodel, globeflower, queens cup, arnica, Lake Helen-Mackenzie, Battleship Lake, Kooso Lake, creeks, brown and rainbow trout.
Day 5 - Hornby Island - Helliwell and Big Tribune Bay Provincial Parks, Mt. Geoffrey
Length - 11 kilometers or 6.6 miles
Elevation change - 234 meters or 772 feet
Boat rides, purple star and pink sunflower fish, Helliwell bluffs, golden grasses, white sand beaches, ridge trail with incredible vistas of the ocean, islands and mountains.
Day 6 - Strathcona Park - Buttle Lake Parkway Tour
Length - a few short hikes totaling 6 kilometers or 3.6 miles
Elevation change - minimal
Rainy day sightseeing, Elk Falls Provincial Park, Deer Falls, Moose Falls, emerald lagoon, Lupine Falls, candy stick, lunch on the lake, Karst Creek reversing and disappearing waterfall.
Week Totals: 47 kilometers or 28 miles, 670 meters or 2211 feet.