Few new trails we were hiking on

The end of March brought much better weather, for weekends at least, which is the most important for us. Working during week leaves us no choice but to go hiking on Saturdays.

For last three weeks we went on three different places. I am glad about that. Since November 2012, we went to 5 new trails and only one old and this is a trend I would like to continue during this year and those who are about to come. There are so many things to see in BC, I am afraid that a life time isn't long enough 😛

First one was on Bowen Island. It is another place "around a corner" as I like to say and easy accessible by car and ferry. What we did not expect is a snow on top of Mt Gardner which was our goal for that day. Mt Gardner could barely be called mountain. Only 719m above sea level, it is island's highest peak. There are actually two peaks – north and south summit – and our hiking started along the southern Skid Trail.

Not too hard and only partially steep trail, gave the impression that entire "adventure" would be an easy walk, just to gain mileage and endurance for future. Then, after some steep climbing we reached South summit – and got lost…

Nothing much to see up there, but that is the point. During winter island was, obviously, having some severe storms and most of the trees were broken, laying around under layer of melting snow. And trail… there was no trail at all, no one has been there since the last snow and we didn't have nothing to refer to. We weren't lost for real, according to map, the other side of trail was no more than 50m away but breaking the leg was not an option for us :left: So we zig-zagged for about half an hour until we heard some dogs barking. Followed that and found trail soon.

A view from a North Summit was stunning…

North Shore mountains and Vancouver on the right 😀
We returned along the north side of the island and except for a beginning (a lot of melting snow) the rest of trail was one of the most boring ones we've ever seen 😛

Two days ago we were visiting a friend in Sunshine Coast, area north-west from Vancouver. It will be nice to go to Terahedron Provincial Park, but right now there is a lot of snow there and we are not prepared for that kind of hike. Soon, a lot of trails will be closed anyway, snow will be melting and trails will be dangerous.

We decided to stay on a low ground and first we went to Cliff Gilker Park (about 3.5km) and then to Triangle Lake trail (6.6km overall).

Clif Gilker park is nice but it's only a park – no strenuous trails and tricky climbs.

Triangle lake trail is longer and more like other south BC trails. No snow but a bit cold wind from a coast despite the forest. Not much of a lake at the end but we were glad to be there 😛

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more photos here and here;

Until the next adventure, stay well 😀