Blog: I Think It's This Way » Wednesday Hike – Goldstream Park – Victoria, BC

Wednesday Hike – Goldstream Park – Victoria, BC

Kris — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 06:24:32 +0000

Wow, it’s practically Fall. Wow, the daylight is getting shorter. Wow, how many more times might I use the word ‘wow’? This week’s Wednesday outing was a nice sort of meandering around Goldstream Park near Victoria. For an after work hike, Goldstream is a little ways out of town and given the daylight situation, I figured we’d wing it a little bit in terms of route. We ended up choosing to take a pass on the Mt. Finlayson ascent and instead wandered around the lower reaches of the park. Nice big trees, Niagara Falls, and a blackberry feed at the nature house.

GPS Data: 3.4km – 1h24m – Garmin Website | GPX (right click to download)

Bill admiring some nice green carpet.

Goldstream River.

Creek bed artwork.

Leaf in the water at the bottom of Niagara Falls.

Bill admiring Niagara Falls west.

Wednesday Hike – Swan Lake / Christmas Hill – Victoria, BC

Kris — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 06:19:29 +0000

Pretty sure I saw some mosquitoes hatching tonight at Swan Lake. They may have also instantly become full grown mosquitoes, or maybe that’s how the mosquito life cycle works… more research I could do if I felt more inclined to do so. Aside from the mosquito stuff, tonight’s hike at Swan Lake and Christmas Hill was good as usual. Early evening light up at Christmas Hill never seems to result in great photos for me, which is a bit disappointing, but oh well. There were some good opportunities down at the lake including a grumpy looking cat.

GPS Data: 6.0km – 1h26m – Garmin Website | GPX (right click to download)

View over part of Victoria from the top of Christmas Hill.

Mr. Grumpy did not appreciate our interruption of his alone time at Swan Lake.

Watch out for Mr. Grumpy, Ms. Duck.

You've got something on your leg.

Wednesday Hike – Macaulay Point – Victoria, BC

Kris — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:10:31 +0000

You never know for sure what you’ll see on a hike. Tonight’s hike was at Macaulay Point, a place I have been to only once before. The highlight of the hike was definitely seeing an orca very close to shore. It didn’t do any TV orca tricks, which was slightly disappointing, but I can deal since this was only the second time I have seen a real, live orca. The hike / walk was pretty short at about 2.5km, but there were lots of cool things to look at… uhhh yeah, we saw a freakin orca.

GPS Data: 2.5km – 1h03m – Garmin Website | GPX (right click to download)

Rather beautiful night at Macaulay Point in Victoria.

Ummm... awesome night and a whale too!

Orca checking out the marker near the Macaulay Point jetty.

Orca close to shore near Macaulay Point with Metchosin in the background.

Ferry, outrigger canoes, orca.

Possible cause for concern, but pretty sure there's lots for whales to eat without resorting to fiberglass.

The Coho heading into Victoria from Port Angeles.

Beast chillin at Macaulay Point.

Washed up tree remnants.

Blackberries of varying rypeness.

Vine of some sort against a former gunnery installation at Macaulay Point.

Trevor, Christine, and Sheena at Macaulay Point on a very nice late summer evening.

Through the tunnel up to the lookout at Macaulay Point.

Looking across the Juan de Fuca Strait toward Washington State.

Ogden Point viewed from the lookout at Macaulay Point.

Another beast on the rocks at Macaulay Point.

Brown beast staring contest.

A vessel looking somewhat military oriented off the Esquimalt waterfront.

Peeps, dog, log, and rocks.

Late day sun at Macaulay Point with a glimpse of the Fort Rodd Hill lighthouse.

Climber go up.

Climber go down.

Macaulay Point dock.

Metchosin Hills and a dock near Macaulay Point.

Wednesday Hike – Partridge Hills – Victoria, BC

Kris — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:28:33 +0000

Somewhat hot, somewhat humid, but all in all an excellent night for some sort of activity. Since it’s Wednesday, it’s hike night and the destination was once again the Partridge Hills out near Durrance Lake. As with previous outings we started from the Durrance Lake parking lot and did an out and back route to the the highest spot we could find. The views were the same as previous outings, except the skies were a bit clearer, particularly in the direction of Mt. Baker.

GPS Data: 6.4km – 1h37m – Garmin Website | GPX (right click to download)

View from the top of the Partridge Hills towards Mill Bay.

Fair sized hike group for the Wednesday outing.

Partridge Hills grass with the Saanich Inlet in the background.

Grass / wheat at the top of the Partridge Hills.

Particularly good view of Mt. Baker.

Sunset at Mt. Tolmie after the Wednesday hike.

Red sky at sunset viewed from the top of Mt. Tolmie.

Mt. Tolmie sunset.

Yellow skies at sunset viewed from Mt. Tolmie.

Wednesday Hike – Royal Roads University – Victoria, BC

Kris — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:14:29 +0000

Not that long ago we did a Wednesday hike at Royal Roads University, on the exact same route we did tonight. When it’s good, why not repeat it? It’s late summer in Victoria, so things are looking pretty brown around town, but not in the forest, thankfully… the brownness is less appealing to me than the greenness. Kind of hoped we’d see another owl tonight, like last time, but no, although there were a variety of birds down at Esquimalt Lagoon. As usual, it was a great night for a hike.

GPS Data: 7.0km – 1h30m – Garmin Website | GPX (right click to download)

Part of the trail, through the trees of course, at Royal Roads.

Deciduous trees on the Royal Roads University grounds.

On of the buildings at Royal Roads University.

Non-trail down near Esquimalt Lagoon near Royal Roads University.

Mallard duck on the edge of the Equimalt Lagoon.

A couple Cormorants hanging out on a light post at Esquimalt Lagoon.

Hike and Bike – Cumberland, BC

Kris — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 06:10:35 +0000

Michelle and I closed out the weekend with another great day in Cumberland. We started off the day with a fun, longish hike in the hills between Cumberland and Comox Lake. Lots of uphill and downhill on a variety of surfaces, with the occasional nice view of the surrounding hills and valleys. Bryan, Kari, and Liz were good company and collectively we were probably a decent bear repellent. In the end we did see one bear heading into the forest in the opposite direction.

Bryan, Liz, and I ended up doing an afternoon mountain bike ride after lunch at the Wandering Moose. The ride was excellent, hitting up some of the best trails (cross-country) in Cumberland: Thirsty Beaver, Tea Pot, Blue Collar, and Crafty Butcher. Bryan had some issues, but I rode better than yesterday and it felt good.

Hike: about 15km
Mountain Bike Ride: about 14km

Bryan, Michelle, Kari, and Liz heading out on the hike.

A view of the east end of Comox Lake from a nearby viewpoint.

Mossy trail through the forest near Comox Lake.

Greenery amongst the moss.

Bryan and Kari in one of Cumberland's logged areas.

Bryan's new shoes.

The closest we might get to Mt. Albert Edward this year.

Deer antler found alongside the trail in Cumberland.

Trees, mountains, and snow near Comox Lake.

One of many huckleberries along the way.

The hike takes a deciduous detour in the second half.

Succulents amongst the moss near Cumberland?

Heading back down the hill toward Cumberland with Comox visible off in the distance.

Haven't seen a grouse in a while... since moving to BC.

Downhilly looking trail across the valley from one of our rest stops.

Kris (me), Michelle, Kari, Liz, and Bryan near the end of our 15km hike in the Cumberland hills.

XC Ride – Cumberland, BC

Kris — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 23:52:10 +0000

Left Victoria at about 7:30pm yesterday to head up to Cumberland for a weekend of mountain bike riding and other stuff. Thankful to have not had to do any evasive maneuvers to avoid deer on the highway. Somewhat sad to report that there was evidence that some deer had not been successfully maneuvered around by earlier travellers. This morning after a quick and tasty breakfast at the Old House Restaurant, it was off to Cumberland for some cross-country mountain biking.

It’s somewhat surprising how much the trail situation can change in an area where there is active logging. Ok, maybe the trail situation hasn’t changed much, but the feel of the trails like Blue Collar, which was previously a very nice densely treed, gradual downhill trail, has become a wide open dusty cut block. I know logging is an important industry, but I also know that I prefer green, treed trails. All things considered, the riding today was pretty good and we (Michelle, Liz, Kari, Bryan, and I) managed to ride some new / reclaimed old trail sort of southeast of the town (50:1 trail, Double Pumper, and some others).

GPS Data: 19.6km – 3h16m – Garmin Website | GPX (right click to download)

Heading to breakfast at the Old House Restaurant.

Flowers in the garden at the Old House Resort and Spa.

Bryan prepping the electrical tape GPS bike mount.

Liz and Bryan heading towards some Cumberland trails and excruciating uphill.

Tis thistle season in Cumberland.

A rare smooth section of trail in Cumberland... too short though.

The trance controls en route to some Cumberland trails.

Kari and Bryan doin the walk on the excruciating climb.

Cleared land and some regrowth in the hills above Cumberland.

Break time at the start of Bear Buns.

Quiet day on this mini-lake above Cumberland.

Michelle doin it old skool near Sykes Bridge.

Michelle, Bryan, and Liz at Sykes Bridge on the trails near Cumberland.

Bryan in a holding pattern on Sykes Bridge in Cumberland.

Michelle and Kari on the way to Blue Collar Trail in Cumberland.

Bryan on what used to be part of Blue Collar in Cumberland.

Michelle on the former Blue Collar trail.

Crafty Butcher trail sign.

Bryan on a bridge / teeter-totter near the Double Pumper trail.

The latest in summer fashion by the Patch Big Store in Cumberland.

Wednesday Hike – Willows Beach / Cattle Point / Uplands Park – Victoria, BC

Kris — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 06:29:21 +0000

Very nice Wednesday hike in Oak Bay tonight with a surprising variety of wildlife (crows, seal, seagulls, engaged couple, etc.). We started in Estevan Village and headed toward Willows, then it was off to Cattle Point, and finally Uplands Park. There was some great sailboat watching from Cattle Point.

GPS Data: 5.4km – 1h11m – Garmin Website | GPX (right click to download)

The north end of Willows Beach.

Some Cattle Point flowers.

Wednesday night sailing off of Cattle Point.

A couple sail boats off of Cattle Point.

Wednesday night sailing action near Cattle Point and Willows Beach.

Cattle Point crow on a well used log.

T-rex conga line at Cattle Point.

Garry Oak tree at Uplands Park.

Beach art at Willows.

XC Ride – Hartland – Victoria, BC

Kris — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 00:39:22 +0000

Apparently a fancy new bike is not enough to make up for a neglected bike engine, and by that I mean me. To put it bluntly the trails at Hartland have successfully destroyed me on my last three rides out there. Prior to that (this year) there hadn’t been many rides, which is a significant part of my problem. As an added bonus to the general feeling of utter destruction, my bike handling skills are leaving something to be desired… no crashes, but it is not the greatest feeling when your handlebar ends are catching multiple trees in one ride. Must get it together.

GPS Data: 48.0km – 2h37m – Garmin Website | GPX (right click to download)

On the way out to the dump on the road near Prospect Lake.

Approaching the bottom of the switchbacks at Hartland... uhhhggg.

If your engine is busted like mine you might have the opportunity stop and take photos. Switchback #1.

Part of the switchbacks climb at Hartland. The camera seems to add the appearance of easiness to something that is far from easy.

What another rest stop... my engine is really busted.

Wednesday Hike – Francis King Park – Victoria, BC

Kris — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 06:28:47 +0000

Kind of hot today by Victoria standards. I can usually tell by the amount of sweat I generate on the bike commute home from work, or in the case of today the walk from the bus stop home. There was some sweat today. On the schedule for today was a Wednesday hike at Francis King Park, which I expected might offer a bit of a break from my imagined heat; this is because of the tall trees and general shady nature of the park.

Feeling some need to avoid repeating the one of the same routes we’ve done in the past at Francis King, I pretty much went with whatever seemed good whenever we encountered an intersection. Generally, it was north from the nature house to the high point of the park, then west, then south, then… wait where am I? Oh, just look at the map. we did cover a good portion of the trails in the park when all was said and done.

GPS Data: 5.5km – 1h18m – Garmin Website – GPX (right click to download)