Hiking
Hiking Group
Sept. 16, 2020
Hi Hikers,
It’s been a couple of weeks since we connected. I hope you are all well and have enjoyed the wonderful weather we had over the past couple months ++ and have been out enjoying the trails. Below you will see notes (and attached pics) from some of our group. Keep sending along your notes and pics to share with us.
If you haven’t teamed up with a pod, I am here to send out your offers to lead a hike – please let me know. It looks like we are in this for a number of months yet so we will have to continue to adapt how we socialize and keep our self healthy and fit.
Take care,
Stew
Monkey Puzzle Tree
Saw this humorous site on Chalet Rd in Deep Cove while walking this smoky Friday morning. Beautiful monkey tree adorned with a variety of stuffed monkeys ?
Mary
Thetis lake
Here’s a photo of our group last Friday. Left to Right, Lorraine, Kerrie, Margret, Bob and John.We hiked Craigflower Creek into Thetis Lake up to the view point overlooking the lake then along the Lewis Clark Trail. Much nicer weather than the previous week. We then stopped for coffee at the Nest Café, they are set up for takeout only, but have outdoor seating below the parking area.
Cheers, Craig
Fun Guys
Fridays hike with Mike and Mary through old royal oak golf course and beyond!
Duana
Fungi
A lovely Friday ramble with Bob and Duana McHugh – these colourful fungi growing on a stump alongside trail through the old Royal Oak Golf Course. Trails link to Beaver Lake and can be accessed behind Commonwealth Rec Centre.
Mary
Aug 25, 2020



“Bob, Duana, Marilyn, Lorne, Mary, and Mike atop lookout Wedgewood Point. Lovely hike through trails, parks, beaches, and roads of Wedgewood and Ten Mile Point area. Great way to say farewell to July 2020.”





Pictures from July 17
Pictures from Geoff
Pictures from July 10






Beautiful view from the top Bob and Margaret, Bob and Duana, Cathy, Stew



We have some pics sent in by Kerrie from the Jocyln Hill hike last Friday [June 19]:
“Here’s a photo of our Friday hike from Tia Chi Lookout, Rhoda demonstrated a typical Tai Chi pose the group “attempted” to follow her lead”
Also, from Mike from their Knocken Hill hike:
“Here are a few photos of our Knockan Hill hike with myself, Mary, Bob, Duana and Lorne enjoying the morning!???”
And, From Allan from the country ramble”
“We all seemed to have enjoyed the leisurely country ramble last Friday. While several of us had our cell phones it seems like we were all too busy talking to take any group photos!. However, as Estelle indicated, I did stop to take a photo (see attached) of a cute looking stall with duck eggs for sale.”
General:
- advance sign up for hikes in order of preference
- 6 hikers per group – physical distancing
- 1 group per trail-head – limitations for physical distancing, parking
- meet at trail-head as indicated in that week’s hike directions
Procedures:
- Monday – email goes out
- listing current week’s hikes and requesting hikers to sign up for hikes by Wednesday noon in order of preference
- Wednesday –
- noon – deadline for hikers to sign-up for current week’s hikes
- afternoon – email goes out
- confirmed hikes and groups listing hikers in groups sent to hikers
- request for leaders to suggest hikes for following week(s)
This week’s hikes: sign up for hikes by Wednesday noon
Cordova Bay Beach
Hike 1
Mount Doug Park from Cordova Beach Park – Friday June 5th hike. I will be leading a hike from Cordova Beach Park and through Mount Doug Park next Friday. We will meet at 9:15am at the Cordova Bay Beach Park (located near where Halliburton Road meets Cordova Bay Road). From the Park we will walk along a sand bar and the shoreline to the Mount Doug beach park. From there we will follow the Whittaker – Mercer trails to Blekinsop Road, cross the valley to the Lochside trail and then briefly visit Lohbrunner Park. After that we will walk along urban trails, go through McMinn Park, down the D’Arcy Lane stairs and back to Cordova Bay beach. Be prepared to walk on sand and wet rocks and, near the start, wade across a shallow channel (less than knee deep) but also bring appropriate foot wear for urban trails and Mount Doug Park. The hike will cover about 9.5Km and could take about 3.5 hours, depending on how long we spend admiring the views, flowers and wildlife. A map of the route is attached. I hope to see there, and consider bringing your camera! Allan
Hike 2
This is a reverse of hike 1 going in the opposite direction: We will start our group from McMinn Park at 9:00 and follow Allan’s route thru Broadmead-Mt Doug returning along the beach. Craig and Kerrie
– BTW we found on Saanich’s website and confirmed in person today that the washrooms are open at Mt Doug,
Mike Hill
Next Friday 5 June, Mick and Rhoda will lead our longer hike to Mike Hill over Sugarloaf in the Sooke Hills Wilderness area. This will be a 5.5hr hike to a new area with stunning scenery. It is quite challenging but not particularly difficult. As usual, proper footwear is essential and poles are recommended. Bring a lunch and a drink. Start point is at the mailboxes at 08:30. Here’s the good news! Because of a competing popular beach walk, we currently have room for 3 other members to join us on this longer hike. Call/email now to get your spot! 250 658 2702/ phillips.m@shaw.ca.
Upcoming Hikes:
Nothing scheduled as yet – look for my reminder Wednesday.
Mt. Doug hike – June 5, 2020
Darcy Lake hike – June 5, 2020
Mt Braden – May 29, 2020
Feb 14, 2020 – Bear Hill
Feb 14, 2020 – Partridge Hills
Saturna Island Group – Sept. 2018 Wow! Careful there!!
Views on the Galiano Hike
Royal Roads Hike – Oct. 2018 Goldstream – November 2018
Goldstream – November 2018 Matheson Lake Hike

Sea to Sky Sojurn — Dec. 2019
Sherry Shuffle Sojurn — Dec. 2019
Hiking Group
This group is for members who want a rigorous hike, with varying degrees of difficulty, lasting 2-3 hours. In addition to a regular hike we may also schedule an alternate, longer more rigorous hike. Members should be reasonably fit, wear hiking shoes or boots, bring water and a snack. Many bring hiking poles on the more hilly hikes. After the hike, coffee is our reward! The hiking group meets Fridays at 8:50 am. at the Fowler Road parking lot.
The group relies upon members to suggest and lead hikes. When proposing a Hike, please refer to the schedule and provide the date & destination. When submitting your specific hike details for group circulation, kindly aim to have these e-mailed to me latest by the Wednesday afternoon before hike day.
When considering to lead a hike, you may find that our list of hikes will be of use. The data has been compiled by Mick Phillips and, while not exhaustive, provides a comprehensive list of locations tackled over the years by the CB55+ Group. We’re indebted to Mick for pulling this together for us. A number of these will be quite familiar to most of the Group however, for those members less so, a quick “google” will provide you with more detail. That said, if anyone has other fresh ideas on where we could hike, please do feel free to bring them forward. As with new leaders, new destinations will always be welcomed.
Contact: Stew Arnold at stewart.arnold@shaw.ca or Craig Hilborne at hilbornes@gmail.com
Protocol: Change of Plan/Cancel: We are a well prepared group and while the numbers may decrease in inclement weather we seldom change plans or cancel. But, occasionally it may be prudent to do so. What we will do is if conditions are in doubt, the hike leader and myself will make an assessment and if there is a change send out an email by 8:00 am. If no message, no change. Please check your email before heading out.
Protocol: Proceeding Directly to Trail-head: If you are proceeding directly to the trail-head please advise the hike leader and/or myself in advance and leave a contact number if you have one. The hike leader and/or myself will include a contact number in the weekly hike notice. This requirement is necessary in case something comes up on the way to the trial-head, either with you or the rest of the group. I realize that there are places where cell coverage is not good but we will do the best we can.
Thanks,
mobile: 250-361-7250