There were eight hikers and two dogs for this highly varied walk to Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay. It was a warm and sunny day for a hike and a swim. We hiked up the old, eroded logging road to the lake and enjoyed the view and the quiet for a while before continuing along the creek and down the switchbacks to Small Inlet. The Inlet was beautiful and serene, with no boats at anchor, but we decided to go to Waiatt Bay for lunch. It was a very low tide, with quite a lot of boats in the bay, and few people on the trail hiking up to the lake. We returned to Small Inlet by the portage trail and the bubbling spring before hiking back up the hill to Newton Lake. By this time, there were quite a few swimmers at the lake, but we had the rock bluff on the north side to ourselves for a wonderfully refreshing splash in the lake, before returning down the logging road to the vehicles.  14.4 km;  6 hours.

– Julie and Debbie

Click on the photos to enlarge

Hiking – Newton Lake and Waiatt Bay – 14 Aug 2019

Twelve of us and two dogs headed out to the Stramberg north grove of big trees.  It was one of those dog days of August, sunny and hot.  The first section of the route, an old logging road which was deactivated when it became park land, was a pleasant stroll, a grassy, mossy path. When we reached Stramberg Creek, it was flowing deeper than usual at this time of year.  So we waded across the clear, cool stream.  Then some of us and the dogs were attacked by ground-nesting wasps.  With the help of some ointment on the bites, we continued on.  The trail was clear and well flagged so we made good time and had lunch at the north grove.  After lunch the group split as some returned while others opted for continuing on the trail to the Stramberg big trees, which we normally reach by the trail from the south and east side of the Lake.  The return trip was uneventful, but warm and quick since swimming in Stramberg Lake was the next objective.  The cool, clear waters were very refreshing.  12.1 km;  5½ hours.

– Norris

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos

(Click on the photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Stramberg Creek & North Grove – 7 Aug 2019

Six of us hiked the classic Morte Lake loop.  The day was sunny and not too hot for the hike.  The berries and mushroom were doing well.  We admired the view of Morte Lake from the east beach before continuing up the newly routed trail, which avoids the steep, eroded section up to the bluff.  We had planned to stop at the northwest beach, but that was fully occupied with children from the Homewood summer camp.  We continued on to the southwest beach, which we had to ourselves.  Most of us stayed for lunch and some swam in the beautiful green water over the white sand.  We continued along the south shore to complete the loop around the lake.  As we returned lots of people were heading out to the lake for a swim.  We crossed over the creek and returned to the vehicles via the Lower Deadfifsh mountain bike trail.   10.0 km;  4 hours.

– Julie and Debbie

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 24 July 2019

Seven hikers and Kona (the dog) enjoyed a four-hour hike on this loop with a side hike up Eileen’s Bluff. The weather was sunny, high of 26°C, with a slight NW breeze which was welcome on the open ridge bluffs. Starting at the Thompson trailhead, we hiked to the first viewpoint, stopping to admire the views to the east and north, and proceeded on a route north down the open ridge, dropped off the ridge at the big moss-covered maple tree and continued on a deer route through the forest to the old B&B trail. After a short distance on this trail, we headed north on a little used trail, at one point crossing a steep gully spanned by a very large old log. At the end of this trail, a rough route climbs west up the open ridge of Eileen’s Bluff to a steep drop-off at the top, overlooking part of John Marlowe’s woodlot. Here we stopped by a small pond for a snack in the shade and admired the view east across the islands to the mainland mountains. Retracing our steps to the B&B trail, we proceeded south up the trail through the cool forest along the stream gully. Along the way the group admired a couple of decaying alder logs lined with pearly-white oyster mushrooms. At the T-junction with Thompson Trail, we proceeded south to the second viewpoint turnoff and followed this trail up to the top of the ridge for our lunch break, with more spectacular views east. Instead of retracing our steps, we followed a sketchy route east and north down the ridge to intersect Thompson Trail near the first viewpoint intersection. From there, it was only a few minutes down the trail to the vehicles on Thompson Road. On the way we watched an ambitious brown-striped garter snake attempting to swallow a full-sized slug.   5.3 km;  3½ hours.

– Janis

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos

Hiking -Thompson/B&B Trail Loop – 22 May 2019