Roche Cove - Matheson Lake Tuesday November 12, 2013

Directions

Journey to park is about 30 mins. Car poolers should leave the centre at 9:15. Those meeting at the car park should be there at 9:45.

We'll use the same car park as for our previous trips to Roche Cove (picture below).

This time we'll take the Galloping Goose because the summer trail will probably be too wet.  We'll take the loop trail to the left (clockwise round the lake).

Click for map of the trail.

Directions Map

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Journey to park is about 30 mins. Car poolers should leave the centre at 9:15. Those meeting at the car park should be there at 9:45.

Track

View Roche Cove, Matheson Creek Trail and Matheson Lake Loop (counterclockwise) - July 30, 2013 in a larger map

Pictures

Details

Name:		Roche Cove, Matheson Creek Trail and Matheson Lake Loop Counterclockwise
Date:		2013-07-30 9:40 am
Map: (valid until Jan 26, 2014)		View on Map
Distance:		8.30 kilometers
Elapsed Time:		2:46:22
Avg Speed:		3.0 km/h
Max Speed:		6.6 km/h
Avg Pace:		20' 03" per km
Min Altitude:		9 m
Max Altitude:		49 m
Start Time:		2013-07-30T16:40:48Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	48º 22' 28" N
	Longitude:	123º 37' 59" W
End Location:
	Latitude:	48º 22' 27" N
	Longitude:	123º 38' 00" W

Here are Dwayne's pics of the previous hike.

The lake is, of course, brilliant, and we saw a turtle sunning itself.

The spring flowers were abundant and fascinating, and below is the bridge we crossed just as we were closing the loop round the lake.

Here's the track we did.  The weather was good, and this is a great hike!!

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?msid=209938729472309822028.0004bf00662141e053834&msa=0&ll=48.367346,-123.613943&spn=0.027684,0.063729&iwloc=0004bf0067dfd8d80b5d1

Name:		Roche Cove Matheson Lake
Date:		May 1, 2012 9:45 am
Map: (valid until Oct 28, 2012)		View on Map
Distance:		9.81 kilometers
Elapsed Time:		2:09:15
Avg Speed:		4.6 km/h
Max Speed:		20.5 km/h
Avg Pace:		13' 11" per km
Min Altitude:		13 m
Max Altitude:		65 m
Start Time:		2012-05-01T16:45:39Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	48.374312º N
	Longitude:	123.633224º W
End Location:
	Latitude:	48.374305º N
	Longitude:	123.633297º W

April 30, 2013, East Sooke Park Mt Maguire to Coppermine

Dwayne has scoped out this great hike taking in Mount Maguire and the Coppermine at East Sooke Park.   Dwayne is leading the hike - having done the recon, the track, and the pictures.

Directions
The drive out is about 40 minutes, so leave the Senior's Centre at 9:15 and arrive on Coppermine Rd at 9:55. Park where the pavement ends.
Park at the end of the pavement on Coppermine Rd (400m to trail)

The gps track was made from the end of the pavement on Coppermine Rd. The round trip total distance was 4.34 km (hiking time about 1:30). ing. It was the same route up and down.

Getting there:

Google map

View Larger Map


Track (GPS TRACK)


View East Sooke Park via Coppermine Rd in a larger map

Here is some hiking info for East Sooke Park.

Here's my rating of trails from the most difficult, which in ESP is the Coast Trail.

1. Road

2. Good trail, not too much up and down.

3. Good trail, quite a bit of up and down.

4. Lots of up and down, rock staircases.

5. Continuous up and down, the most difficult. ie the coast trail.

This route is very easy to the old coppermine site and the only difficult part is the short hike up the Mt Maguire trail.

You can access the trail at the end of Coppermine Rd. The pavement ends and there is a coarse gravel section that is about 200m long. 

Gordon Rd continues as the Coppermine Trail. You will pass a driveway on the right, that is the only house on Gordon Rd. About 4 minutes up Gordon Road you will come to the Park entrance sign.

Continuing on another minute or so there is a vertical pipe blocking vehicles from driving on the trail. 

From Gordon Rd a ten minute walk on the road, difficulty 1, will get you to the intersection of the Anderson Cove Trail and the Coppermine Trail.

Continuing down the Coppermine Trail you are at the mine site in another 12 minutes.

Back to the intersection of the Anderson Cove and Coppermine trails, it is 5 minutes to where the Mt Maguire Trail starts.

The Mt Maguire Trail took about 12 minutes. Mt Maguire is the highest point you can hike to in the park.

Total time from the end of Gordon Rd to the coppermine, to Mt Maguire and back to Gordon Rd was about 90 minutes. All trails are a 1, meaning they are old roads, except for the trail to the top of Mt Maguire which is a difficulty 4. It is relatively short.

Sept 10, 2013, Pearson College Revisited

Slideshow


Pictures

Track

View Pearson College - September 10, 2013 in a larger map

Directions

If you are car pooling, you should meet other car poolers at 9:15 at the centre. Otherwise meet at the car park at 9:45.


Previous hikes

Dwayne has sorted out a route taking us past the waterfront, the observatory, and the waterfall.
This was a really good hike, and the weather was great.  The eight of us even got to lounge in the sun while gawping at the whale skeleton.

The waterfall was fab...

and we walked on the Barde Knockie Tail.

A hike at Pearson College isn't complete without a visit to the Milky Way, the observatory, and the 5 star loo complete with lights, drapes, hot and cold water (maybe) in the summer, and a fully organic thunder box.

Click here for the track. We'll be following this route!

Many thanks to Dwayne for the track!

Driving directions

This is neat - if you click on "view larger map" and click the 3D button just next to the title "Driving Directions to Lester B Pearson College" - you get an aerial view of the journey - it's like you're flying, Man!



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Elk Beaver Lake Tuesday April 3, 2012

This was a great stretch of the legs, and the weather held up pretty well.  Here's our track for yesterday. Looks as if we did it a little faster than on Jan 17th!

Name:		Elk/Beaver April 2012
Date:		Apr 3, 2012 9:47 am
Map: (valid until Oct 1, 2012)		View on Map
Distance:		10.2 kilometers
Elapsed Time:		1:53:01
Avg Speed:		5.4 km/h
Max Speed:		16.6 km/h
Avg Pace:		11' 03" per km
Min Altitude:		52 m
Max Altitude:		79 m
Start Time:		2012-04-03T16:47:07Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	48.509253º N
	Longitude:	123.392073º W
End Location:
	Latitude:	48.509690º N
	Longitude:	123.390389º W

We thought the window-banger bird had just stopped its strange behaviour and moved on, but unfortunately not.  It was an evolutionary dead end. Lovely bird but a little bird-brained.

We're doing the Elk/Beaver Lake 10k clockwise  - hoping for decent weather and fairly dry walking.

When four of us did this hike on Jan 17, it was snowy but pleasant.

MotionX Track

Name:		Elk/Beaver lake 10K
Date:		Jan 17, 2012 9:51 am
Map: (valid until Jul 15, 2012)		View on Map
Distance:		10.2 kilometers
Elapsed Time:		1:59:24
Avg Speed:		5.1 km/h
Max Speed:		29.6 km/h
Avg Pace:		11' 42" per km
Min Altitude:		47 m
Max Altitude:		77 m
Start Time:		2012-01-17T17:51:03Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	48.524418º N
	Longitude:	123.389018º W
End Location:
	Latitude:	48.528084º N
	Longitude:	123.387052º W

DIRECTIONS

Elk/Beaver Lake

Click for Park brochure


10k hike clockwise from Beaver Beach Car Park (with washrooms, shelters, playground etc.). We will park adjacent to the playground equipment shown in this picture and start the hike from the tree shown in the picture.We'll stop for breaks on the way round the trail.

Directions from Victoria and map


BEAVER LAKE ENTRANCE
Follow the Pat Bay Highway from Victoria, and take the Royal Oak
Drive exit.Turn left on Royal Oak Drive to cross over the
highway, then right on Elk Lake Drive to reach the park entrance.
Allow approximately 20 minutes driving time from Victoria.

Google map from the centre



View Larger Map

Driving time is approximately 25 mins.  Car poolers will be leaving the centre at 9:15.  If meeting at the park, please be there at 9:40.

Glendale Trail, Layritz Park, Nov 19, 2013

Map

 

Details

 

Photos

Directions

Car poolers will be leaving the centre at 9:15 and should be leaving the small parking area at the West Saanich Road end of Elk Road at 9:31 (we strive for accuracy, Captain). If you're going on the walk, we'll see you either at the centre or at the starting point!

Previous hikes

This was a really nice walk and a new one for all of us although we had all visited parts of the route on other hikes.  Here's our track

Name:		Glendale Trail
Date:		Mar 27, 2012 9:34 am
Map: (valid until Sep 24, 2012)		View on Map
Distance:		7.41 kilometers
Elapsed Time:		1:19:00
Avg Speed:		5.6 km/h
Max Speed:		31.5 km/h
Avg Pace:		10' 39" per km
Min Altitude:		24 m
Max Altitude:		89 m
Start Time:		2012-03-27T16:34:57Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	48.510613º N
	Longitude:	123.414919º W
End Location:
	Latitude:	48.510552º N
	Longitude:	123.414883º W

This hike is right out of the Hike Victoria book; it's classified as an easy hike of about 1.5 hours. It's an out-and-back hike with a circuit round Layritz Park's wooded knoll (not too grassy I hope).  The loop includes a wetland (probably very wet, given the rain we've had) open fields, and a short, semi-rural roadway (whatever that is).

Google map to get there

View Larger Map

Christmas Hill and Swan Lake Loop March 20, 2012

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.

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:

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

MotionX-GPS Commonly Asked Questions

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Tuesday March 6, 2012 Mount Wells Regional Park

Directions, instructions

Our hike on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 will be in Mount Wells Regional Park.  Click here to see and or print the information sheet.

Car poolers will be leaving the centre at 9:15. If meeting at the car park next to Humpback Reservoir on Humpback Road - please be there at 9:35.


How to get there from Victoria:


Follow the Trans-Canada Highway from Victoria, and turn left on Sooke Lake Road. Turn left on Humpback Road. At the intersection with Irwin Road, stay right. Follow Humpback Road to the park
entrance on the right. Allow approximately 30 minutes driving time from Victoria.

Google map with directions from the centre: (Approximately 20 minute driving time from the centre)


View Larger Map

The hike to the summit is 1.3 km.

Hike Description from the official guide:


Hike on a steep and challenging trail to the 352-metre summit for sweeping views of Juan de Fuca Strait, Victoria and the Sooke Hills. The trail climbs through Douglas-fir forest and sensitive Garry oak ecosystems to open rocky hilltops dotted with arbutus trees, hairy manzanita and a mosaic of lush mosses. In the spring, native wildflowers such as camas, shooting star and satin flower carpet the slopes. Mount Wells is the only place in Canada where the endangered prairie lupine grows. Please stay on the trail and keep pets on the trail to protect this fragile habitat. Even if wildflowers are not visible, walking off trail can damage bulbs that lie dormant under thin soils. On your journey to the summit, you may see turkey vultures and band-tailed pigeons, or hear the drumming of ruffed grouse. The park is also an important wildlife refuge for animals such as black-tailed deer, red squirrels and alligator lizards.