Events

Bob Reynolds Comments Off

January Events

Sunday, January 4th

Hike – Mt. Maxwell Rim Trail. Meet at ArtSpring departing at 12:30 or at the trailhead at the top of Seymour Heights to set out at 12:45. Trails 1, 2, 6, 4 and 3.

Tuesday. January 6th.

Hike – N.B. Due to bad weather, today’s hike is rescheduled to Tuesday January 20th.

Walk – N.B. Due to bad weather, today’s walk is canceled.

Kathryn will lead the first walk of 2026 in Ruckle Park from the campground parking area to Grandma’s Beach and return. Lunch at Grandma’s Beach. The trail is well groomed and mainly level. Carpool from ArtSpring departing at 10:00 am or meet at Ruckle Park Campground parking lot at 10:15 am.

Ramble – TBA

Sunday, January 11th

HIKE CANCELED! Steady rain forecast through the day on Sunday. Tuesday looks more promising.

Maple Mountain Blue Trail. Meet at Art Spring to car pool, departing at 10:30, or at the Vesuvius ferry terminal to walk on the 10:50 ferry. Bring a lunch. Expect to return on the 2:20 ferry or possibly 3:35. Note earlier than usual start.

Tuesday, January 13th

Hike -Larry McIntyre will lead a hike to Mt Erskine from Toynbee Rd. The trail will take us through a managed forest, then Manzanita Ridge Nature Reserve, then into Mt Erskine provincial park. Lunch will be at the top with stunning views of Vancouver Island and north towards Tent and Penelekut Islands, This is a moderate hike, approx 5.2 km and 300m elevation gain, with a steep trail at the beginning to warm us up. Meet at ArtSpring to carpool departing at 9:45 or at the trailhead on Toynbee Rd to set out at 10:00. The trailhead is just after a sharp bend 0.5 km from the start of Toynbee. Try to park on the same side of the road. *** With the recent deluge, the trail will have lots of wet and muddy sections, so wear appropriate footwear. Some sections will be quite slippery so we’ll proceed cautiously through those sections.

Walk – Alison will lead a walk on Channel Ridge trails starting from the Merganser Place trail head, with lovely eastern views (weather dependent) and lunch at the “dog bench” lookout, arriving back by about 1 pm. Easy to moderate terrain. Meet at ArtSpring for a 10:00 am departure or at 10:15 am at the Merganser Place trail head (turn right off Broadwell on to Canvasback Place and take first left on to Merganser).
Reminder: Broadwell detour – fromVesuvius Bay Road, turn right onto Sunset Drive, then right at Channel Ridge Drive, and then left onto Broadwell.

Ramble – First ramble of 2026, Tuesday, January 13th
Looks as if we can ramble
Meet at ArtSpring at 10:30 to carpool to the far end of Beddis and ramble around the
circle, twice if we like.
Take your lunch
Marjie

Sunday, January 18th

Hike – Bryant Hill and Andreas Vogt, starting at Stewart Rd. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 12:30, or at the parking area on Stewart Rd at the trailhead for Peter Arnell Park to set out at 12:45..

Tuesday, January 20th
Hike – Bob Keates will lead a hike in Channel Ridge. To avoid the closure on Broadwell, there’s a new starting point for the hike on Tuesday 20th January. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 9:45 as usual, or at the trailhead opposite 1100 Sunset Drive to set out at 10:05.

Walk – Angie will lead a moderate walk on the Reginald Hill Conservation Area with lunch at the lookout. The route is a gradual climb. Meet at ArtSpring for 10:00 am departure or at Clarinda Road at 10:15. Park on Clarinda Road near the intersection with Bridgeman Road.

Ramble – We’ll meet at ArtSpring at 10:30
Carpool to Brinkworthy and walk around there.
Take your lunch.
Hope to see you all?

Sunday, January 25th

Hike – Burgoyne Bay trails 21, 23 and 22: meet at ArtSpring to car pool departing at 12:30, or at the trailhead in Burgoyne Bay to set out at 12:45.

Tuesday, January 27th

Hike – Lynn Thompson will lead a hike in the Crofton Lake area. Meet at Portlock Park to car pool, departing for Vesuvius at 9:10 to walk on the 9:35 ferry to Crofton. Expect to return on the 3:35 ferry although we might make it to the 2:20. If anyone needs a ride from Art Spring, please let me know.

Walk – Explore the wetland restoration of the Burgoyne farm meadows with Sue. Waterproof boots and poles are recommended as some of the trails are wet. Lunch at the Welconme Poles o0n the Beach. Carpool from ArtSpring at 10 am or meet at 10:15 at the first gate inside the park, right after the Welcome sign.

Ramble – Paul will lead. Meet at ArtSpring at 10:30 to carpool to the barn on Burgoyne Bay Rd
Take your lunch.
We’ll eat on the beach!

February Events

Volunteers are needed for the hikes on February 10th & 24th.

Volunteer needed for destination and walk February 24th

Sunday February 1st:
Channel Ridge starting at Broadwell. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 1:00, or at the trailhead at the top of Broadwell to set out at 1:15.

Tuesday, February 3rd

Hike – Larry McIntyre will lead a hike in Ruckle Park, roughly circumnavigating Ruckle’s working farm. We’ll begin at the parking lot just past the barns, and walk from there to Grandma’s Beach and then follow the shoreline for approximately 6 km, through the campground, the picnic area, then all the way to King’s Cove, where we’ll head inland to Merganser Pond, possibly detouring to view the giant Firs. Then we’ll follow the trail hugging the western border of the farm and return to the cars. This is a 9.8 km hike, 220m elevation gain, with a few slippery and rocky sections. Views of farm animals is pretty much guaranteed (turkeys and sheep) and there have been recent sightings of a raft of sea lions, but no promises. Meet to carpool from ArtSpring departing at 9:45 or meet at the parking lot just past the barns to set out at 10:05.

WALK – Kathryn will lead a walk in Ruckle Park from the campground parking to Grandma’s Beach and return. Lunch at Grandma’s Beach. The trail is well groomed and mainly level. Carpool from ArtSpring departing at 10:00 am or meet at Ruckle Park Campground parking lot at 10:20 am.

Sunday, February 8th Hike – Mt Erskine starting at Collins Rd. Up on Trail 1, down on trail 3. Meet at ArtSpring to car-pool departing at 1:00 or at the trailhead on Collins Rd to set out at 1:15.

Tuesday, February 10th

Hike – TBA

WALK – Carron will lead a walk on the trail though Jarrod’s Grove in the Cusheon Creek Reserve.There is only slight elevation gain/loss over an approx 2 km trail but walking sticks would be advised as there are a lot of slippery leaves underfoot. Lunch can be enjoyed at nearby Beddis Beach. Carpool from ArtSpring at 10:00 am or at the trailhead at 10:15. Directions: From the beach end of Beddis Road, bear right onto Cushion Place, then in a short distance, right onto Creekside Drive. Park on the left near the trail head sign

Ramble – TBA

Sunday, February 15th Hike – Maple Mountain Blue Trail. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 11:30, or at the Vesuvius ferry terminal to walk on the 12:05 ferry. Expect to return on the 3:35 ferry.

Tuesday, February 17th

Hike – Ashley Hilliard will lead a hike through the Alvin Indridson Nature Reserve and on to the Mt Bruce summit. Meet at ArtSpring to carpool , departing at 9:45. Or join at meeting place: Drummond Park to set out at 10:05 in vehicles that can travel Musgrave Road. Hike is weather dependent and will be confirmed by email the evening before.

WALK – Alison will lead a walk in Bryant Hill Park and Andreas Vogt Nature Reserve with potential for new spring growth. Elevation about 100 metres. Distance abt 3.5 km Lunch with a view. Carpool from ArtSpring for 10:00 am departure or meet at the trail head parking area at 10:15. Parking: At the end of Sarah Way, follow the gravel drive to the right to the parking area and trail head.

.Ramble – TBA

Sunday, February 22nd
Howard Horel and Andreas Vogt. Meet at Art Spring to car pool departing at 1:00 or at the trailhead on Mereside Rd to set out at 1:15.

February, 24th

Hike – TBA

Walk – Mary Lou will lead a moderate walk on the Chris Hatfield Trail in Ruckle Park from the trail head at the end of Meyer Road to Yeo Point and back. Much of the trail is fairly easy, except for the approach to the bridge over the creek and the rough, narrow section along the high shore portion. Lunch at Yeo Point. Carpool from ArtSpring parking lot departing at 10:00 am or meet at the parking area at end of Meyer Road at 10:15 am.

Ramble – TBA