Christmas Hill and Swan Lake Loop, September 17, 2013

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September 17, 2013

Name:		Swan Lake and Christmas Hill
Date:		2013-09-17 9:30 am
Map: (valid until Mar 16, 2014)		View on Map
Distance:		5.86 kilometers
Elapsed Time:		1:55:05
Avg Speed:		3.1 km/h
Max Speed:		34.4 km/h
Avg Pace:		19' 38" per km
Min Altitude:		0 m
Max Altitude:		115 m
Start Time:		2013-09-17T16:30:32Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	48º 27' 57" N
	Longitude:	123º 22' 27" W
End Location:
	Latitude:	48º 27' 57" N
	Longitude:	123º 22' 27" W

INSTRUCTIONS

Car poolers meet at the Senior's Centre at 9:15. The drive to the Swan Lake parking lot is about 16 minutes, so anyone wanting to meet at the parking lot should be there by 9:35.

First we will take the trail up to Christmas Hill and do the loop around the top to enjoy the views of Victoria and Saanich. Then we will trek back to Swan Lake and do the lake loop clockwise, crossing the bridge, ending up at the Nature House and parking lot. There is an uphill climb to the top of Christmas Hill, but the loop around Swan lake is almost level. Christmas Hill will take about 1:00 and the lake loop will take about 0:45, for a total of about 1:45 to 2:00. The stone steps on Christmas Hill and the bridge across Swan Lake can be expected to be slippery when wet.  

How to get there:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=Swan+Lake+Rd&hl=en&ll=48.462108,-123.362174&spn=0.024559,0.055747&sll=48.467323,-123.374931&sspn=0.006139,0.013937&geocode=FSs14wIdwhCk-A%3BFamH4wIdE3Sl-A&vpsrc=6&mra=prev&t=m&z=15

Website: http://www.swanlake.bc.ca/

Trail Map: http://www.swanlake.bc.ca/pdf/Website-Trail-Map.pdf

Getting back on to McKenzie westbound when returning:

A few of us did this walk on March 12, 2012.  Here is the report.

The weather was extremely changeable for the hike today.  It was pouring when we got up and looked at the weather.  Then it turned into a nice sunny morning; then it clouded in as we went on the hike but stayed mainly clear and somewhat sunny.  We went to Christmas hill first, and then took the path the circumambulates the summit.

 There were spring flowers poking through..

and this moss looked a bit like the surface my tongue, although my tongue is much more browny.

It was windy and it did rain just as we got to the summit, but the rain eased off as we continued the hike.

The walk around Swan Lake was excellent, and again the weather cooperated.

We passed a group of hikers just after this point. Just burned them off...

Just as we got home it started to rain very heavily with hail and snow.  Then it eased off.  It's raining again now in the evening....etc.  etc...etc...

This is a great hike.  It's a bit muddy in some spots, but I suppose most places are after the rain we've had over the last few weeks, but the mud was no challenge to our new hiking boots!  We still haven't tried all the different trails around Christmas Hill, especially the Lake View trail.  We'll be trying those some other time.

Name:		Track 001
Date:		Jan 3, 2012 9:33 am
Map: (valid until Jul 1, 2012)		View on Map
Distance:		5.53 kilometers
Elapsed Time:		1:06:55
Avg Speed:		5.0 km/h
Max Speed:		21.1 km/h
Avg Pace:		12' 06" per km
Min Altitude:		0 m
Max Altitude:		102 m
Start Time:		2012-01-03T17:33:30Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	48.466009º N
	Longitude:	123.374080º W
End Location:
	Latitude:	48.465827º N
	Longitude:	123.374247º W

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