Busy Day

Perhaps the hottest day yet at Paradise Meadows - and a busy day with two programs - photographer Chris Carter & a history slide show with Lindsay Elms. If you missed either presentation, some of Chris' work can be seen upstairs at the Centre, and Lindsay's book 'Beyond Nootka' as well as postcards of Strathcona Park mountains are for sale there.

Busy day with visitors as well - from Washington to Missouri in the USA,  from Switzerland to Germany in Europe , and from Israel in the Middle East!

Hikers are reporting some snow in meadows past Kwai Lake, with the trail to Circlet fairly clear, Circlet Lake free of ice and just a few tent platforms not yet cleared at the campsite. The trail to Cruickshank Canyon lookout is reported to have some snow around the farthest lakes with possible difficulty route-finding. Many hikers have been successfully hiking up Mt Albert Edward despite snow cover on some of the sections.

Amphitheatre Lake photo by Tim Penney

A preview of next Saturday's hike to Amphitheatre Lake has been posted on the Comox District Mountaineering Club website here.

Mt Allan Brooks: Through the Generations

A great trip to Mt Allan Brooks with a great group from as far afield as Nanaimo & Campbell River. The 7-1/2 hr. hike traversed through sub-alpine meadow, then bushwacking uphill, up heather slopes, some steeper scrambling, over a few snow slopes to reach the summit with a spectacular panorama of Strathcona Park mountains.

 'Heart Pond' on route before ascending uphill through bushy woods

 Panorama looking northeast- from Divers Lake to Lake Helen Mackenzie

thanks to John for the photo!

 The group on the summit of Mt Allan Brooks

 Tom - happy to be on the summit!

 Julian Brooks gives a brief history of the naming of the mountain for both his grandfather & father:  Major Allan Cyril Brooks, noted ornithologist & artist; and Allan Cecil Brooks (Jr), biologist & teacher.

 Penstemon at the top of Mt Allan Brooks

 Subalpine meadows below

 Common butterwort along the Lake Helen Mackenzie trail

Thanks to guides Steve & Marlene Smith for guiding the hike - a tough route but a very worthwhile day!

Art, Nature, History Weekend

Several spectacular sunny days in a row up at Paradise Meadows - and many more predicted!

Several visitors have been taking advantage of the wheelchairs on hand at the Centre - they are free to borrow during opening hours, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

There are still a lot of snowy sections past Kwai Lake, so always  be prepared for conditions and do not go farther than your ability. A couple of days ago a hiker coming down from Mt. Albert Edward continued too far northward along the shoulder rather than coming off toward Circlet Lake, ending up much too far north & triggering a late-night search by CVGSAR, luckily with a happy ending. Map & compass or GPS are always advisable in the backcountry.

Several hikers have successfully completed the Augerpoint Traverse in the past week - reports of conditions are on the Club Tread website. This classic route goes from the Paradise Meadows area across to Buttle Lake.

Paradise Meadows Panorama copyright Chris Carter

On Sunday Aug. 28th there are two programs scheduled at the Wilderness Centre:

At 10 a.m., join an Art & Nature Talk & Walk with well-known nature photographer Chris Carter on “Great Photo-Ops in Paradise Meadows”. Chris will give an indoor talk about photographic compositions, illustrating with his own work; and then take an excursion into the meadows. Several of Chris’ panoramic compositions are on display and for sale at the Centre.

Old Cabin at Kwai Lake

At 1 pm. join Strathcona Wilderness Institute director Lindsay Elms for an indoor History Talk on “Stories of Strathcona Park”. Elms is an experienced mountaineer & author of ‘Beyond Nootka: a Historical Perspective of Vancouver Island Mountains’. Copies of this fascinating history are available for sale at the Centre.