Final Weekend?

The last 'official' day for the season for the Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre was a bit rainy & foggy! but still several intrepid visitors came from near & far. The weather was actually better up the mountain than down below in the Comox Valley which is often the case.

There will still be the occasional time that the Centre is staffed by volunteers - a few hours possible this weekend on Sept. 18 & 19, and Keith all day on Wed. Sept. 22 . There may be other days yet that volunteers can assist so keep checking for updates. Most of the interpretive plant signs out in the meadows have been removed for the season. Several blooms are still going strong: king gentian with its striking blue flowers, as well as ladies' tresses, alpine bistort, northern bedstraw, white bog orchid, and leafy aster. Happily BC Parks has found they have some funding for a few more signs, so Strathcona Wilderness Institute will be ordering more for next season.

A red squirrel has been snacking on mountain hemlock cones in the same spot outside the Centre for a couple of days - nibbling on the long purplish cones as if it was corn on the cob! This has apparently been a good year for squirrels because of a good crop of cones last winter.

Metal mesh on the boardwalk loop has now been fixed by the Parks Facility Operator so issues of slipperiness should now be resolved. The PFO is on duty till Oct. 15. Camping fees are in effect until Sept. 30.

Beautiful fall colours in the meadows should be increasing toward Thanksgiving weekend so nature notes will be continuing!