Six of us hiked this loop starting from North Gowlland Road.  The recent welcome rain made the bushes wet and the day humid.  We hiked North Gowlland Trail up to Rousseau Ridge with a short break for elevenses and to enjoy the view..  From there we descended the mossy bluffs toward Gowlland Harbour Rd, with a few short steep sections into the forest and back up on the ridge.  Each ridge has great views of Discovery Passage and the Vancouver Island mountains, which were in cloud for us.  We stopped for a leisurely lunch on the third and lowest bluff.  We continued our descent to a logging road heading east and then picked up a route over lower, but still open bluffs taking us back to North Gowlland Trail.  We enjoyed the three very old Douglas firs, the Three Sisters, on the way back to make our loop.  Since we did this loop about 15 months ago, the flags have been removed, making the route finding trickier.   6.8 km; 3¼ hours.

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Hiking – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 13 Sept 2023

Since it was forecast to be another hot August day, we decided to beat the heat and start early – 7:30.  So eight of us began the long hike uphill at 18°C.  Although the creek was dry, we crossed on the new bridge.  After stopping briefly at the unofficial viewpoint looking northeast, we continued on the trail past the Lily Pond and noted the low water level and that the usually marshy areas were completely dry.  The viewpoint to the southeast had good visibility over Rebecca Spit and the Salish Sea.  We continued along the undulating trail to Nugedzi Lake, and even though it was only 10:00 am, we had lunch and several went swimming.  The water was warm.  After the leisurely break, we ventured on to the western overlook up Discovery Passage and toward Vancouver Island.  From there we noted the smoke and clouds from the fire at Mt. Con Reid in Strathcona Park.

Turning back, we detoured to Little Nugedzi Lake, yet another picturesque lake on a beautiful day.  From there we began the long-feeling trek back across Nugedzi Plateau and down the steep logging road to the vehicles.  Then up to 26°C.  (11 km, 5¼ hours)

Norris

Thanks to Neil and Norris for the photos

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Hiking – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 16 Aug 2023

It has been three years since the Club undertook this wonderful hike and four years since a swim was part of the fun! So, seven hikers set a good pace to get things started up the cobbly slope to the Small Inlet Park boundary. It was a soggy go through the thick patches of salal, thanks to our overdue rainy spell, but the sun was out and the day was perfect. The absence of birdsong was quickly noted and seen as a harbinger of the passing of summer.

We rested briefly at Newton Lake and then resumed our uphill hike to the switchbacks that descend quickly to Small Inlet. Here we started to cross paths with numerous boater/hikers on their way to Newton Lake’s inviting waters. We walked the tide flats from the first beach access to the trail head for Waiatt Bay. A brief stop was made to marvel at the bubbling water feature for which we still have no interpretive information. We must conscript a geologist for the next visit to the area!

A short hop through beautifully lit forest brought us to very busy Waiatt Bay. We ate lunch and watched the coming and going of a dozen people, dogs and skiffs between the many moored boats and our beach. As the day heated up our group was motivated to pack up and head to the lake for our long awaited swim. The uphill climb from Small Inlet definitely built up the desire for some of us to jump in on our arrival lakeside, and enjoy the mid-summer “warm” water of Newton Lake. A refreshing dip enabled us to maintain a good pace through the long, rocky downhill trail to the parking lot.

Everyone agreed that it was a fantastic outing on a perfect summer day!  (12.7 km; 5 hours)

Vic

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Hiking – Newton Lake-Small Inlet-Waiatt Bay – 26 July 2023