Langdale Trail - June 23, 2012

I can't believe a nearly a month has gone by since I have had a good hike in the forest.  We've had lots of rain and I've let work and meetings take too much priority.  I had a sunny afternoon to myself and made the most of it.  I decided to go exploring in my own backyard.

Langdale Trail - easy & level hike

Our street ends a block from the house and is the beginning of a trail through the forest.  This is the first trail I ever explored on the Sunshine Coast.  My neighbour, Jo, took the ladies of our cul-de-sac on a guided tour to share an easy trail we could all hike.  Jo passed away last fall, and I was thinking of her today and thankful that she shared this trail with me and starting my hiking trips.

The trees here are fairly young...new growth I'm sure after logging.  These are skinny, fast growing trees...maybe alder.  Almost all deciduous...the mighty Douglas fir and yellow cedar are further up the mountain.  Looking straight up at the sky the leaves rustled in the slight breeze.  The walk was very peaceful with birds singing and enjoying the sunshine.

Salmon berries are ready to eat

 The trail is lined with what I believe are salmon berries.  They are orange and turn red when ripe.  A delicious snack along the way.

Ten days from now this trail will be the end of stage 5 of the BC Bike Race.  500 riders from around the world will fly down the trail descending from much higher on Mt. Elphinstone as they race to the finish line at the ferry terminal below.  I look forward to cheering them on.

Mt Elphinstone Snow - March 23, 2012

Today we really turned the corner into spring. Sunshine and warmer temperatures were enough to get just about anyone outside. Daylight hours are extending with every passing day giving us even more opportunities. Not only was the fabulous weather calling me outside, but this was catch up time with my good friend and motivator Char. Our schedules haven't allowed us to spend much time together lately, so I was excited to have time 1 on 1 to chat.

Of course, hiking with a fitness coach and personal trainer means you are going to get a good workout. We attempted to hike Torrent up to The Ridge which is both aggressive cardio and a fabulous reward of unique terrain at the top. Unfortunately, I missed a turn somewhere so we just kept going up the yellow trail. This trail eventually reaches the summit, but that means 4 hours in each direction. Too much time for an average Friday for these two busy women.

This was our turnaround point. I figured that if we had hiked high enough to find snow on a 10 degree (that's 50F) day, we had done our climbing for the day. I'm not in fitness trainer shape, but just knowing that I was able to have a consistent conversation during a fairly aggressive climb means I have improved a lot over a couple of years. I know I will sleep well tonight and hopefully dream of the grand cedars & firs that accompanied our journey.

Here is to more Friday afternoons with good friends.

Mt. Elphinstone - September 27, 2011

Fall has arrived on the Sunshine Coast. Yesterday we had our first major storm which left me and my neighbours without electricity for many hours while hydro crews collected tree branches from the power lines. Today the sun returned, so I decided to celebrate the afternoon with a hike on Mt. Elphinstone

Is this the coolest looking tree or what? Spiral bark pattern with remnants of the forest fire 80+ years ago. Take a look at the boardwalk at the base of the tree. I've really started paying attention to the actual trails. Who builds wooden platforms like this in the middle of the forest? Nature loving, hard working volunteers who have great passion for mountain biking, that's who. Great work and kudos for sharing it with us hikers.

I was very impressed with the forest today. We've had over 2" of rain the past couple of days, so I was a bit worried the trails would be muddy. Not a bit! There were small branches and pine needles scattered everywhere from the high winds but the trails were in fine shape. The forest floor soaks in moisture like you wouldn't believe.

Recent rains mean the forest is exceptionally green this time of year. Moss is growing on fallen logs, ferns are sprucing up, and everything has new life with slightly cooler temperatures and plenty of moisture. I need to have someone teach me about the edible mushrooms.

This picture doesn't really do it justice. You have to get out there and see for yourself. Sunshine was streaming in through the towering branches, birds were singing, and I was the only human in sight. It's magical to take an hour in the middle of the afternoon to be quiet, get a good cardio workout, and be immersed in the natural environment...less than 5 minutes from my front door.

Spring - May 1, 2011

Well it took a while, but spring has fully arrived on BC's Sunshine Coast. April went by so fast with a bit too much rain and cool temps. But here we are with gorgeous sunshine.

I can't believe 2 full weeks went by without a good hike. You can tell I'm out of practice...I forgot the camera! I managed to get out Friday with some good friendly encouragement and took to the trails on Mt Elphinstone. We came across some significant trail development. A whole new trail appeared in the last 2 weeks since I've been on the mountain! We decided to follow it down...serious work was done! So many cutbacks and some serious built up curves for the mountain bikes. This new trail (still unnamed) will be a great ride, but it's not a trail for a leisurely hike. Lots of up and down for jumps and some serious curves.

When we reached the bottom, we ran into a student and his dad headed up for a ride. We mentioned the new trail, and the student had been involved in building it. Turns out it was the final project for the Capilano University Mountain Bike Program students. They built the entire trail in the last couple of weeks. A rock feature, a water crossing, wooden jumps, and serious reinforced turns belonged to each group of students. Great to see students gaining practical skills and leaving a great gift to our trail system.

There is also a new sign at the entrance to the park announcing "Sprockids Bike Park". So much to explore....grab you bike (or your hiking boots) and get outside! It won't be so long till I get back on the trails.

Gibsons Creek - April 8, 2011

Spring has arrived! The first hike of the year with no jacket and fantastic sunshine. From the first moment of sun streaming on your face while you lay in bed, you know its going to be one of those fantastic Sunshine Coast days. Everything looks better and springs to life in the sun. That amazing deep blue water was back. No gray, no fog, no rain.....just wonderful sunshine. After a morning full of appointments and errands, I hastily made my way to meet the girls for an afternoon on Mount Elphinstone. I haven't made the group hike for about 2 weeks now, and the excitement of returning was evident. We chatted away the entire time...the sun giving everyone a burst of energy. We chose a familiar path today, Technical Ecstacy to Sidewinder and up to Gibsons Creek. Today wasn't so much about taking in the wonderful scenery (although it was certainly there). Today was about catching up, being glad to see each other, and getting a good cardio workout. Before we knew it, we were up the the bridge that crosses Gibsons Creek. Two months ago there were huge icicles hanging on these falls. Today the snowmelt and recent rains made for a great show as the creek swells with water. One of these days, I'll find out what is on the other side of that bridge. It is a landmark that makes for about a 1 hour roundtrip hike, so it is always our turnaround spot. As the days grow noticeably...sunset is almost 8pm already...I'll just have to find time for a longer hike and see where this trail goes. Sometimes I look at the bridges and the bike ramps on the trails and wonder about the diehard volunteers who built them. Think about the effort that it takes to hike in with the equipment...let alone the effort and the vision that it takes to build something like this. How did they decide that this is the spot to cross the creek? The ridge leading up to it is quite steep and offers a great view of the valley below. I'll just keep admiring their work and seeking out new trails on the mountain. Here is a THANK YOU and a hug to those who build great trails!

Langdale Falls - Feb 25, 2011

How could anyone get tired of this view? It is my favourite part of Arcturus Retreat B&B...just gazing out the window at Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains with Gambier Island on the left and Bowen Island on the right.

You just have to love a completely clear blue sky on a winter day. Anyone who lives through a rainy grey Vancouver area November & December knows just how good a day of winter sunshine makes you feel. Today was abnormally cold here in lotusland. We rarely dip below freezing here and just barely. Today's highs were below zero, but with this much sunshine...who cares? You just have to be outside.

Back to the forest trails on Mount Elphinstone for an afternoon hike. The trees here are majestic, and I am learning my way around the trails. While I usually take a one hour hike focused on a bit of cardio, you could hike here for hours and never cross where you've already been. It really is an amazing network of hiking and mountain bike trails.

Today we headed for Langdale Falls. With the cold temperatures, we were very curious what the condition of the falls would be.


What a treat! Some water was still flowing, but the ice formations were amazing. If you look at the very bottom of the picture, you can see the greenish/brownish colour where the ice must be many inches thick.

As I said, this is a sight not seen often as it just isn't cold enough, even in the heart of winter. This is after about 24 hours of sub-freezing temperatures. Don't let the cold weather keep you inside. Afterall, most Canadians would tell you that it's not really cold until you get to -30 or -40. Just bundle up and get your heart going with a good hike.

Mt Elphinstone - Feb 9, 2011

Another gorgeous warm winter day! I have been hiking these trails on Mt Elphinstone about twice a week for the last few weeks. I am starting to know my way around, but there is so much more to explore. It is a fabulous way to spend an afternoon with the sun streaming in.

It is hard to convey just how green the forest is. Moss, ferns, groundcover and so many trees. It is just green and full of life. How can you feel anything but hopeful and inspired in this landscape?

When my friend emailed this morning to suggest the hike, I looked outside at the sunny day and said "How can I not go?" It was just the two of us today (three counting Kono, her dog). We had been climbing a decently steep section for a while, when my friend said "look how far you've come! You've been talking the whole time!" Now those of you that know me aren't suprised at all that I can talk a lot. What is special is that I could talk while climbing this terrain and not be completely out of breath. That is truly the accomplishment. This is infinitely better than any treadmill or road running workout you can ever have.



This wooden bridge on Sidewinder Trail is an example of a mountain bike feature in the trails. It makes the sharp corner much more fun.



This waterfall doesn't look very big in the photo. However it is probably about 15 feet high and is in a series of falls that is quite loud. I am standing on the bridge that crosses Gibsons Creek. It is a nice turnaround point for a 1 hour hike.

Can't wait for the next opportunity to explore more of these trails.

Langdale Falls - Jan 26, 2011

Today was absolutely beautiful with sunny skies that demanded I go outside. We've had a bit of rain and gray the past few days, so the sun is always refreshing.

I decided to hike on Mt. Elphinstone again. Lucky for me, I ran into my good friend Tony at the trailhead. He was excited to have a hiking buddy, and I was looking forward to what he would teach me about the forest. So we headed in for my first (of I'm sure will be many) trip to Langdale Falls.

I've seen the sign before, but had been told there were some steep sections on the way. Follow the pink and blue trail symbols and they lead you right to the waterfall.


This is a very good time of year to visit. We have had 200mm of rain this month and temps are warm this week so there is snowmelt feeding the streams as well. It is about a 40 minute hike in to the falls. Not too hard, but there are some good climbs and some narrow paths where you really don't want to fall.

The waterfall is impressive. You can hear it well before you arrive. It must be at least a 50m drop. Tony says it is a great place for a swim & shower in the summer. Great to cool off after a day's hike.

The forest on Mt Elphinstone is amazing. Tony taught me to identify a Douglas fir, a red cedar, and a hemlock. Having grown up in the prairies, I don't know my west coast trees. He also pointed out salmonberry and different kinds of ferns. The ecosystem is amazing and I hope to learn much more on many more walks through the forest. All this within 2km of my house.

Hiking on Mt Elphinstone - Jan 2, 2011

A bright sunny wintery day is the perfect time to explore the forest. This is one of the lower trails on Mt Elphinstone, which is the dominating landscape feature as you arrive on the Langdale ferry from West Vancouver. Lucky for me, the trailheads are only 2km from Arcturus Retreat B&B.

Most of these lower trails are built by avid mountain bikers and neighbor Sprockids Mountain Bike Park. It's not an official park, so signage isn't much more than a few reflectors and an occasional arrow for riders.

Nevertheless, there are some amazing trees in this forest. Note the vibrant colour on this tree...like none of its neighbours. That is Stan in front to show you just how large this tree is. So happy to have Stan join me for this hike! I don't know this area well enough yet to head in alone.

A tree with character like this just makes you wonder at what it has been witness to over the years. It has clearly seen all of the 20th century and I wonder how much more. This forest was logged in the early 1900's when Europeans first arrived. Port Mellon is only 10km away and was home to the first paper mill in the area.

We came across a trail called "Technical Ecstacy" which we just had to follow. Clearly a mountain bikers dream...lots of cutbacks, bridges, jumps, ramps, twists and turns. It is an easy walk, but you need to pay attention as this was clearly not built with the hiker in mind. A rider could come up quickly and definitely deserves the right of way.

It is hard to see in this picture, but you can see out to the Georgia Straight. It can be a bit dark in the forest, but light flows in at the top of the trees and is really quite a view when you come to an opening.

After travelling over the Christmas holiday, I am very aware of how green the forest is here. Other parts of North America are so brown this time of year with every plant in hibernation waiting for spring. Here on the Sunshine Coast, we are very luck to have green life everywhere all year long. Not only the trees, but the ferns and groundcover and moss all bring life to the forest floor.