Glacier PROBUS Club in the Comox Valley - ACTIVITY GROUP NEWS:

Hiking Group - September 22nd

9/24/2023

After hiking to Drabble Lakes earlier in the month, this time we carried on up to the Mt Drabble summit. We almost had to change our destination early on, but Brian approached the big, intimidating machine and negotiated with the operator for our safe passage. The ascent to the summit included several steep rock faces to climb, with breaks through forests and beautiful meadows. Cake was served at the summit to mark the last day of summer and the end of a decade. Thanks to Mary, Brian and Lindsay we stayed on track and reached our destination.
Photos by Norma, Lindsay, Cathy, Sylvia and Bill.

Regular Walking: Tues. Sept. 19/23

9/21/2023

No pub to no pub, formerly pub to pub walk, starts from Oyster River Nature Park to Salmon Point and back. Moving through the forest parallel to Oyster River and then along the beach is always a favorite. Weather was calm. Debrief was at Milanos.

Hiking Group - September 16th

9/16/2023

Our hike to almost 500 meters above Ramparts on the way to Mt Washington is easy to sum up... good workout, great views.
Photos by Lindsay, Brenda, Stephen and Bill.

Regular Walking: Tues. Sept 12/23

9/13/2023

A little soft drizzle didn't stop us from walking from Lazo Road to Curtis Beach. No wind was a bonus! Saw many herons though it is a bit tricky capturing them on photos. Great to be out and we ended with conversation and coffee at Beninos.

Hiking Group - September 11th

9/11/2023

The expectations list for this Elk Falls hike included spawning salmon and chubby bears. We didn't see any salmon in the spawning channels or the lower part of the river. From the old power plant site to under the suspension bridge there were lots. As for the bears, we didn't see any, but we could tell that they had been hiking where we were not long before us.
Photos by Lindsay and Bill.

Intermediate Walking Group - September 11th

9/11/2023

Another lovely late-Fall excursion for the Intermediate Walkers as we tried the Bear Bait - River Trail loop from the Barber's Hole parking lot near Nymph Falls for the first time. This is a keeper and enjoyable to all.

Thanks to Karen B. and Dawn M. for the photos

Hiking Group - September 8th

9/9/2023

The Mount Seymour and Nugedzi Lakes hike is one of my favorites. The approach to the summit has the feel of climbing a mountain, with the route at times just marked by rock cairns. Different views open up as we climb. Reaching the summit requires about 200 meters less elevation gain than Mt Becher or Benson. And then there are the Nugedzi Lakes to enjoy on our way down. It was a great day on Quadra Island.
Photos by Cindy and Bill.

Birding Group - September 7th

9/8/2023

It is becoming a tradition to head to the Courtenay Airpark loop for our first outing of a new Probus Season. It's a location where we are guaranteed bird sightings at this time of the year, as birds start to pass through or to return to the Valley with the approach of Fall...and we were not disappointed! On this beautiful late-summer morning, we sighted 30 species. It was a good day, despite having to turn back before completing the loop in order to leave time to prepare for the afternoon Probus Gathering.
Species noted: Anna's Hummingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, American Robin, European Starling, American Crow, Northern Flicker, Belted Kingfisher, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Rock (Feral) Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, Canada Geese, Mallards, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Killdeer, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs.

Thanks to Bill S. and Dawn M. for photos.
Click on Bill's Airpark ebird checklist for full species details.

Hiking Group - September 5th

9/6/2023

About a dozen Hiking Group members were part of an impressive turnout at Innisfree Farm supporting the Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue. We heard first hand accounts that were enlightening and sometimes emotional of how Thierry Vrain, co-owner of Innisfree Farm, became separated from his hiking group on the way down from Mount Becher, and was found and rescued the next day. Paul Berry from CVGSAR presented information about his organization and how to avoid the need to call them for help.
Photos from Bob Wells Facebook post.

Hiking Group - September 4th

9/6/2023

Another in our river channel series. This time we hiked on the Trent River. We started at the Inland Highway and followed the channel upstream for almost 4 kilometers. We then returned downstream, and hiked the trail to the base of Trent River Falls. We only covered 10 kilometers all together, but hopping streams, skirting ponds, scrambling over rocks and boulders, and the steep descent and climb back up from the falls made for a good workout.
Photos by Cathy, Lindsay, Steve, Brenda and Bill.

Regular Walking: Tuesday Sept. 5th

9/5/2023

Another enjoyable walk along Marine Drive and to the Royston Seaside trail where we also ventured out towards the Royston Wrecks. Lovely views! Debrief was at the Royston Coffee Shop. Good company, good coffee and baked goods!

Intermediate Walkers - September 4th

9/4/2023

Today was perfect for a walk - the warm sun was out but our woodsy walk provided shade and we enjoyed the slight chill to the breezes. Woodsy walk? Well, the route chosen took us over the Bob Webb trail between Brazier and Burns Road and with all the chatter, we were there and back in no time! We were sharing the trail with other walkers, with bikers and with a woman exercising her horse - seems like everyone had the same idea on this late summer day.

Hiking Group - September 1st

9/3/2023

Lindsay scouted out and led this hike. Here's her report:
Our route took us from Ramparts to Drabble Lakes, an enjoyable 16 km jaunt on a spectacular day! We started with a 6km drive to the trailhead at the Strathcona Park boundary on a logging road before beginning our hike. A huge thank you to Christopher, Brian's son, for going ahead and removing any large rocks from the road to make it more easily passable for the rest of us. It was very pleasant (except for 2 wasp stings) walking through the forest to idyllic Mackenzie and Douglas Lakes. Points of interest there included occupied wilderness camping sites, an abandoned canoe strapped to a tree and a cabin which is maintained by the CDMC. From there we crossed Mackenzie Meadows, which fortunately was quite dry underfoot, before meeting up with the Plateau Trail which took us up up up to Drabble Lakes where we stopped for lunch and a well deserved rest. After a brief discussion of whether or not to do a loop which would have included climbing Mt. Drabble, the majority of us decided to head back the way we came and leave that ascent for a future outing. All in all was a great adventure and in my books, this hike would be rated as 'A Keeper'!
Photos by Lindsay, Cathy and Bill.

Hiking Group - August 30th

8/31/2023

It was a beautiful day as our hardy group of 4 set out. We easily made the Denman ferry and headed for the Hornby ferry. That ferry needed to be refueled which resulted in a small delay …..which resulted in missing the Hornby Bus! Going with the plan, we decided to hoof up the road to the trail. Perhaps we should have asked about the distance we were committing to. It was a long hot grind. But when we hit the trail all was forgiven. A lovely ramble up the Cliff Trail to Mt Geoffrey summit, and back along the Middle Bench Trail with great views and good company. Back to the Hornby ferry and return to the big Denman ferry……which was not operating due to a broken horn. The little ferry did its best but we had a long wait breathing in the fumes from the poop truck in front of us. Eventually the big ferry tooted, we loaded with the poop truck and were on our way! It definitely lived up to Bill's "all day adventure" description, but all in all a great day.
Photos by Tannis, Stuart and Bill.

Regular Walking: Tuesday August 22/23

8/27/2023

Thanks to Bill B our large walking group explored Washer Creek from Union Bay Community Hall. It involved forest trails and we walked up the creek bed. Beautiful rock formations and pools! At the end of our walk, we couldn't resist picking blackberries. Debrief was outside at one of our favorites, Royston Coffee Shop. Photo credit: Bill, Karen and Patti

Comox Valley, Club, Social, Activity Group, Probus, Glacier Club