Standard Car pooling rates<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday, September 8th<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kick Off the season at our Annual Blackberry Festival. Meet at the Group Camp Site #1<\/strong> of Ruckle Park at 12 noon \u2013 bring your lunch as well as a bowl and a spoon<\/strong> for some blackberry treats! If you wish, feel free to bring along any blackberry treats to share with the group. This would also be a good chance for you to pay your annual dues if you have not already done so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There will also be a hike, walk and ramble before lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n HIKE<\/strong> \u2013 Blackberry festival; Hikers meet at the group campsite area <\/strong>for a short hike before returning forlunch and blackberries. Meet at Art Spring to car pool, departing at 9:40 or gather at the lower parking area to designate a leader and to set out just after 10:00. Return to the Group Campsite area just before noon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WALK \u2013 <\/strong>Blackberry festival; Walkers meet at the group campsite area<\/strong> for a short hike before returning for blackberries and ice cream. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 9:40 or gather at the lower parking area at 10:00 am to choose your leader for a short walk. Return to the day use picnic area for lunch (where we had the strawberries) just before noon. Remember your bowl and spoon,and garden. Bring berries or treat if you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RAMBLE \u2013 <\/strong>Who would like to lead a ramble? Beginning with a short ramble before the blackberry festival on September 16 or any Tuesday thereafter?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday, September 15th<\/strong> WALK<\/strong> –<\/strong> Angie will lead on Reginald Hill Conservancy, a gradual climb to the top for lunch with a view. Meet at ArtSpring to carpool, departing 10:00 am or at Clarinda Road at 10:20. Park on Clarinda Road near the intersection with Bridgeman Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RAMBLE – <\/strong>Meet at Artspring at 10:30 and carpool to Brinkworthy and walk around there then drive to Portlock Park for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sunday, September 22nd<\/strong> HIKE – <\/strong>Chris Hatfield Trail, Ruckle Park: meet at ArtSpring to car pool departing at 1:00 or at the trailhead at the end of Meyer Road to set out at 1:20<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday, September 22nd<\/strong> WALK – <\/strong>Sheila will lead a moderately vigorous walk to the top of Mount Erskine from Trustees Trail on the least intense route. Distance: 3.5 km, Elevation: 200 m, Time: 3hr. Lunch with great views, at the top. Meet at ArtSpring for 10:00 am departure or at the trailhead (end of Trustees Trail) at 10:15 am. <\/p>\n\n\n\n RAMBLE – <\/strong>Meet at Artspring at 10:30 and carpool to Broadwell and Sunday, September 27th<\/strong> The Tsawout lands are closed for construction, so here is an amended hike description: Reginald Hill and Doukhobor Point. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool departing at 1:00 or at the corner of Clarinda and Bridgeman Road to set out at 1:20. Up through the NCC lands to the Reginald Hill summit and back via Doukhobor Point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday, September 29th<\/strong> WALK – <\/strong>Alison will lead a walk on the Cupples trail, a mainly easy trail with rope assist on a short, steep slope followed by the Jack Foster trail to have lunch on the beach. The Jack Foster trail includes one long descent where the trail is rough and somewhat eroded. Depart from ArtSpring at 10:00 am or meet Alison at 10:15 am at the parking area at the Jack Foster trailhead, intersection of Sunset and Southey Point Roads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ————————It\u2019s not too soon to volunteer to lead an October Walk.————————<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n RAMBLE – <\/strong>Meet at ArtSpring at 10:30 to carpool to Country Grocer and walk toward the cemetery Volunteers are needed to lead hikes on October 6th and October 13th.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n We need leaders for October 13 and October 20.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Please email sspence@telus.net<\/a> with your walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sunday, October 4th<\/strong> Tuesday, October 6th<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n HIKE<\/strong> -Leslie Gardiner will lead a moderate difficulty hike in Bryant Hill Park and Andreas Vogt Nature Reserve via the Bryant Hill Linear Park (aka Connector Trail). Total distance 6km with 300 metres of elevation gain. Numerous ups and downs and lots of fallen leaves making the trails a bit slippery so poles are advised. Meet at ArtSpring to carpool (with $2 for the driver) for 9:45am departure or at the trailhead parking lot for Peter Arnell Park (Stewart Road) for 10:00am start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WALK<\/strong> – Sheila will lead a walk Merganser Pond in Ruckle Park and beyond to King\u2019s Cove and or the big tree. Lunch at King\u2019s Cove or Merganzer Pond. The first section of the trail has some exposed roots and rock. Meet at ArtSpring to carpool ($4) for 10:00 am departure or meet at the Ruckle Park gate parking area (the yellow park gate) at 10:30. Distance: about 4 km. Elevation change is minimal (less than 100 metres). Time about 3;5 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RAMBLE<\/strong> – Meet at ArtSpring at 10:30 and carpool to the far end of Kitchen Rd. Sunday, October 11th<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n HIKE – NB. Note the change. <\/strong> The hike on Sunday October 11 will be in Ruckle Park.\u00a0 Meet at Art Spring in the lower parking lot off Jackson Avenue and McPhillips departing at 1:00 pm, or at the parking area just above the barn in Ruckle Park to set out at 1:20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday, October 13th<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n HIKE<\/strong> – Bob Keates will lead a hike to Stocking Lake and Heart Lake. Meet at Portlock Park to car-pool, departing at 8:40, to drive on the 9:35 ferry. Follow Hwy 1 to Davis Rd N, turn left and the parking area is just off on the second left (Batty Drive). Good trail up, ascending steadily about 360 m, pleasant forested trail past Stocking Lake leading to a lunch spot on Heart Lake. Descent is steep in parts, poles recommended. Expect to return on the 3:35 ferry. If you have bear spray, please bring it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WALK<\/strong> – Alison will lead<\/strong> will lead our walk the Chris Hatfield Trail out to Cusheon Cove. For lunch we\u2019ll backtrack a bit to take the inland trail out to Yeo Point, avoiding the narrow shoreline trail. On our return we may be able enjoy the gentle slope up the old logging road depending whether fallen trees have been removed. RAMBLE<\/strong> – Meet at ArtSpring at 10:30 to carpool to Canvasback. Sunday, October 18th<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n HIKE<\/strong> – Howard Horel and Andreas Vogt. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool, departing at 1:00 or at the parking area on Mereside Rd to set out at 1;20. Short steep section to start. The rest of the hike follows a forested trail with a number of short up and down sections rather than any one big climb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday, October 20th<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n HIKE<\/strong> – Alison McNeil will lead a hike on Mt. Erskine starting at Collins Road. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool departing at 9:45 or at the trailhead on Collins Rd (700 m after the turn off Rainbow rd) to set out at 10:00. About 320 m climb to the summit (steep to start) on mostly good trail, a couple of stony sections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n WALK<\/strong> – NB<\/strong> The parking location for Barb\u2019s Little Mountain Road to Wellbury Bay walk is changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Park at the Cul-De-Sac at the end of Little Mountain Road. Parking is easier there Barb with lead an easy walk from Little Mountain Road to the Welbury Bay trails on Scott Point Road. Parking is limited. Carpool ($2) from ArtSpring departing at 10:00 am. From Long Harbour Road turn left onto Quebec Drive, then after 600 metres turn right to stay on Quebec Drive, then in 250 m right onto Quebec Lane. Keep right onto Little Mountain Lane. Park near 195 Little Mountain Road (Lea\u2019s cottage) where Barb will meet us. Distance: 3.5 km. Elevation: < 100 metres. Duration: abt 3 hours .<\/p>\n\n\n\n RAMBLE<\/strong> – Meet at ArtSpring at 10:30 to carpool to the Labyrinth, ramble around there then drive to Portlock for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sunday, October 25th<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n HIKE – <\/strong>Channel Ridge starting at Merganser. Meet at ArtSpring to car pool departing at 1:00 or at the trailhead on Merganser to set out an 1:15. We will take the channel ridge crest trail to John Meyer’s bench. and return on mid-level trails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday, October 27th<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n HIKE – <\/strong>Joint outing with the Walkers: Mushroom walk guided by Vail Patterson; details to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WALK<\/strong> – Nature outing for walkers and hikers: Mushroom walk guided by Vail Patterson; details to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RAMBLE –<\/strong> TBA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Volunteers are needed to lead hikes in November – dates Nov 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n —<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2026 Archives<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2025 Archives<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2024 Archives<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2023 Archives<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$2: Ganges to Duke\u2019s Road\/Arnell Park\/North End or similar short trips
$3: Ganges to Fulford Harbour or similar-length trips
$4: travel on unpaved roads or from Ganges to south of Fulford Harbour or Ruckle Park
$5: when travelling on Musgrave Road, Mountain Road
Off island: $0.30 per km per passenger plus shared ferry costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n——————————————————–<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
BLACKBERRY FESTIVAL Tuesday, September 8th<\/strong> ——————————————————— <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
HIKE<\/strong> – Terri Leslie will lead a hike on Mt Erskine starting at Trustees Trail. Meet at ArtSpring to carpool, departing at 9:45 or at the trailhead on Trustees Trail to set out at 10:00. Good trails and great viewpoints towards Vancouver Island, 250 m net elevation gain with some minor ups and downs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HIKE – <\/strong>Ashley Hilliard will lead a hike to the summit of Mt Bruce via the Alvin Indridson Nature Reserve. About 200 m elevation gain on generally good trails. Meet to carpool at ArtSpring departing at 0945 or at 10:05 at Drummond Park to consolidate vehicles before proceeding in a group up Musgrave Road to the trailhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
leave our cars there and ramble around Channel Ridge.
Lunch at water tower<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HIKE – <\/strong>Weather for tomorrow is uncertain, with heavy overnight rain extending into the morning.Please check your email first thing tomorrow for an update on the status of this hike.In any case the best plan may be to delay the start of the hike by one hour to avoid most of the morning rain. Meet at Art Spring to carpool, departing at 10<\/strong>:45 or at the trailhead on Armand Way to set out at 11<\/strong>:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
as long as we want then back again.
Lunch at Portlock<\/p>\n\n\n\nOCTOBER EVENTS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hike – <\/strong>Burgoyne Bay; meet at ArtSpring to car pool departing at 1:00 or at Burgoyne Bay to set out at 1:20. Start out on 20 to join 23, branching to a snack spot, elevation gain 280m; follow 23 to the junction with 21 and backdown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walk toward the Fulford-Ganges Rd as far as we like, back to the cars and drive to 456 Dukes Rd and eat lunch on my deck or in my basement (weather to decide?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carpooling ($4) and departure from ArtSpring at 10:00am or meet at the trail head at the end of Meyer Road at 10:30am. Total distance is 3.5 km, elevation gain is 85 metres, walking time about 2 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take your lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and it is by the trail head.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNOVEMBER EVENTS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nARCHIVES<\/kbd><\/mark> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n