Hiking Towards a New Year

This past week I have enjoyed some wonderful hikes with friends most beginning down in the spring like green world and hiking up into the wonderful white world of snow. It’s just been totally awesome! The first hike, on Christmas morning, we encountered a little snow on the ground in some places as we made our way up to the cross. Hiking to the cross is a favourite of mine because it is close to home and only takes a couple of hours. You get great views of the bay and it is a spiritual place, a place that allows me to be quiet and reflect. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning of the day that marks the birth of Jesus.

At the Cross...one of my many "thin places"

Looking out across the bay

The second hike, to the same mountain, took place a couple of days later. We headed out in a light rain and we weren’t too far up the same trail when we ran into snow. It was deeper now and still coming down. By the time we reached the cross and headed up higher towards the summit the snow was quite deep.

Heading up to the cross - Hike #2

It was fun to find the trail among the trees and bushes. It was so quiet in the forest and it felt like the four of us were alone on the hill. Simply amazing. It was peaceful, we were playful and we were blessed to be able to be there in the snow.

My wonderful hiking pals enjoying the snow

It’s not often that we get snow here on the island and this past week has just been perfect. Snow up high on the mountains and yet down below the roads are bare. To me it’s the best of both worlds and is turning out to be the most perfect of winters.

Snow covered trails

It being a long weekend I was able to fit in a third hike and thankfully two of my hiking pals chose to head over to Saltspring Island where we hiked up Mount Erskine, a hill I have never climbed before. Wow! What a beautiful place. As we began the steep ascent we couldn’t help but stop and stare in awe at the huge wonderful arbutus trees. They were so colourful, some red, some orange where the bark had peeled away and others darker brown or black looking. Their twisted and bowing limbs formed many different arches and shapes.

Beautiful arbutus trees

Many shades of colour and different shapes

If the trees didn’t make the trail interesting enough there were also Fairy doors along the trail. Someone has taken the time to build and put in place magical fairy doors that filled me with childlike joy as we discovered more and more of them as we climbed.

Lovely Fairy Door

 Upon reaching the summit we were surrounded in low cloud so there would be no view but the wonderful white snow made up for it.  I believe I could really get into hiking through snow covered pathways. It really adds to the adventure and has the landscape looking totally different than its usual green self.

In the low cloud resting on the summit bench

It’s the perfect time of year to spend lots of time out in creation. As we come to the close of this year I always find it good to look back and reflect on the ups and downs that have happened. I am always thankful for all the blessings that have come into my life and I try to be thankful for the challenges that have come along as well. I know there is much to be learned from the struggles and trials that life brings to us. They are as important as the joys we receive from all of the good things.

Deciding what the view would have been had it been a clear day

I also take time to think about the coming year. I try and set some goals and think of things that I can try and change to make this coming year even better yet. It’s never easy but I find it important to continue to set goals that will help me to grow to be a better person, to learn from the lessons life’s struggles have brought to me and to use those experiences in a good way.

Creations art work

Like the mountains our bodies have form and are a base from which change is made over time.  Just as the seasons and weather bring changes to the mountain, it’s rocks and plant life, our experiences, our struggles and our blessings bring change to the person we are inside. We all change and grow through our lifetime. The bases of who we are will always be there, I am who I am but I have the ability to be better. Tomorrow I can be better than I was today and next year I can be better than I was this year. I can work towards making this world a better place for others and for the earth itself.



The view from my doorway - A mountain yet to be climbed this year.

 These next few days will be a time of reflection, a time to breathe deeply and to look ahead with anticipation of another wonderful year. Hopefully there will be time to climb another hill as it always is a time for personal thoughts. Most of my "ah ha" moments come from being in those "thin places" out in nature and especially on mountain tops.   

 

I found this quote the other day and it really spoke to me. 

In this coming year may we all find life's greatest blessings in the love we share with others, the adventures we have together and the memories we make. I am so blessed with wonderful family, amazing caring friends and so many love filled adventures. It all continues to amaze me. Blessings to everyone for a wonderful year in 2016!

Three Gentle Nudges

My soul has been craving to spend some time near the water, a time to just reflect on life and all that has been happening. When I reach that stressed flight mode it is usually to the water or the hills that I head.  Today I had a free afternoon and the sun was shining. Question was, should I go and stroll along the beach to be close to the water where the sounds of the waves allow me to still that inner voice or should I hike a trail, gain some elevation and find peace up high.

I decided a short trek up a steep trail that I hadn't done in over a year, would give me the closeness and views of the ocean that I craved and also some much needed exercise. The views of the ocean below as I hiked higher and higher were awesome and it felt good to be outdoors in nature.

The waves of the ocean like the waves in life

For some reason I ended up hiking up a different pathway and headed toward the summit instead of the look out over the bay. However, when the trail continued up and away from the water and into the trees, I decided to play it safe and head back down. I needed to be near the water, to hear the barking of the seal nearby and to see the sun reflecting off the water. Besides, there is so much wildlife around and seeing I had not brought my bear spray I felt it better to stay out in the open.

A calming water brings peacefulness

I have never been great on making decisions or changes in my life but for the past ten or twelve years I have relied on gentle nudgings from our creator to guide me. Always needing firm advice I have waited for three nudgings before making up my mind. These decisions have always been things that I have wanted but have wondered and been very hesitant about making them.



Somethings and words in life have sharp, pointed edges

These  past few weeks have been trying and filled with frustration and also sadness. Today I as I hiked I pondered all the events that had happened of late. As I turned to head back down, and stood looking out over the water it dawned on me that I had been given three nudgings, and not the usual gentle ones. This time it wasn't that I had asked the question or wanted the information but here it was staring me in the face over and over again. An honest conversation, the retirement of a colleague and the death of a loving friend each bringing regrets into my life. These nudgings clearly said that I need to make at attitude adjustment, and I needed to do it now. It will take energy and committment but I know it needs to be done and it's quite possible. Being positive about life's challenges is how we all need to journey through our days.

Light reflecting in "realization"

Coming back down I decided to go back the way I had in the past only the trail looked so different that I hiked up and down a few times before finally making the right decision in getting on the other trail heading home.

Journeying through or under the "lows" in life

It was a good hike, an easy short climb that I turned into a loop, and I returned feeling refreshed. Being out in nature is so important for our spiritual  and mental health. It connects us and grounds us, bringing so much good into our lives. Even though today's moment of "ah, I get it" wasn't exactly what I had headed up the hill for, it was needed and for that I am ever thankful.

Around the Corner

My buddy and I often have discussions on hiking here in Canada, where I was born and hiking in Scotland where he was born. He loves the openness of the hills and I jokingly tell him that it is better hiking here in the trees because you can’t see what’s around the corner or the view until you come out of the forest. Then you have these wonderful moments of awe, whereas in Scotland you can see where you are going and have a view the whole way to the summit, there is no mystery. The teasing though is all in good fun, both are beautiful places filled with mystery.

This past week we all travelled down to Lincoln City on the Oregon coast to explore the wonderful beaches and get some much needed respite from life. I loved the long vast open beach and the sound of the waves as they crash onto the shore.



The view of the beach upon our arrival

Our first morning out we walked/ran down the beach and back again for a total of 16kms.  We didn’t quite make it to the end though so drove back down later that evening when the tide was out. 

Heading down the beach

I love the soft beach sand, the cliffs and the huge stones that protrude along the shoreline. The yellow sandstone of the cliffs was so colourful and beautiful with it's different layers.



The colourful layers of sandstone

As we reached what was almost the end, there was a large but shallow cave and my adventurous spirit was tweaked.  I couldn’t wait to see what was around the corner and quickly ran to see what lay ahead.

Approaching what could be the end of the beach

My mouth opened in awe as there, around the corner were these beautiful free standing large rocks poking out of the sand. They were very huge and standing next to them we felt quite small.

Amazing!

A couple of them had openings and one had a tiny tunnel all the way through.  It was magical and I was so thrilled that we had come back to reach this place. My heart always fills with joy and thankfulness when I come across these places in nature that not only surprise me but have mystery in their creation.

The beginning of a tiny tunnel

 We explored the area, checking out the sea life that clung to the rocks and went as far as we could as the tide was coming in.

Purple starfish, my childhood favourite

No worries though, we could return tomorrow when the tide would be lower to see what was around the next corner and return we did.



Colourful sea life

First thing in the morning we headed back and this time we were able to go around even another corner.  There were more stones and two wonderful caves.

Perfect place for a game of hide and seek!

One of them was very long and deep and it was fun to walk into the darkness not knowing how far away the end of the cave was. The light shining in from the opening didn’t reach way into the back but it did give us light to return by. As in life it is the "light" that brings us warmth and shows us the way.

Light to show us the way to return

As I explored the coast line, running from rock to rock, I couldn’t help but be thankful for all that life brings. Life is a lot like the trails and beaches. We never know what will be around the next corner; we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Life is a huge mystery and it is in the mystery that we can experience magical moments, find magical places in creation and be thankful for all that is.

Magical places

We had two glorious days on the beach exploring it in every direction and continuing to be in awe over it's wonders. On our return trip home, we stopped at Hug Point and once again I was filled with an inner joy and peacefulness as we explored the beach. It actually was suppose to be a very quick stop to just look at the beach and to share in a group hug.

Ah more wonderful caves!

 However, once I saw the beach, the caves and the waterfall I had to go and just see what was actually around the corner. Where did that wonderful flow of water come from?

Beautiful waterfall

I have always had a great sense of curiousity and yes at times it has gotten me into a bit of trouble but when out exploring curiousity can be a wonderful thing. I climbed up and was so thankful that I did for it was a fairty tale place of wonder.




An oasis of beauty and peacefulness


More exploring was required so around the corner I had to go. My eyes opened wide and I smiled with joy. Around the corner were more huge rocks, a circular cave and beautiful sandstone cliffs and they all needed exploring.

 

Amazing works of art in creation

As we reached the end there was a wonderful pathway in the stone around the cliff. One would have thought that it had been purposefully built. I ran up and around the next corner. Sadly I had to stop as the tide was coming in and our time was running out. I knew if I continued I would never be able to stop myself and we did need to return home that day.

I must admit that I often wish I knew the future and what tomorrow would bring. It would make life so much easier but I also know it would be very boring. The adventure of life is in the mystery of what is around that next corner. We just have to be curious enough to go and check it out.



On the "road"

There are so many pathways in life.



The pathway along the cliffs

Here at the beach and in our lives.

Through the sea grass

We have to be wise in our choosing but also curious enough to go and see what mystery is around the next corner. At evening close, as the sun sets we never know what the morning will bring, what pathway we may stumble across in a new day, what mystery lies around the next corner.

Sunset on the beach

Just like life, I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, I don’t know where I will be a year from now or what I will be doing. Life is a beautiful mystery filled with so many wonderful blessings.  I am so thankful that I am physically able to get out and explore beaches and trails, that I can climb hills and peek around the corner. I am so very thankful for friends that share their adventures with me. Life truly is filled with blessing upon blessing.

Adding to creations art work

I left there not knowing what was around that next corner on the rock road. Maybe that is a good thing. If I ever return there will be something new to explore and who knows what could be around that corner. The "not knowing" allows our imagination to dream of wonderful, inspiring places in nature that will surprise us.

What is around that nex corner?

Thank you Duncan and Joan for a wonderful four days of discovering some of life's mysteries, for laughter over past stories and discussions on what pathway life will take us on next. It's an amazing adventure we're on and I'm so thankful for the friendships, the mysteries and especially those "corners".

So long Oregon coast until we meet again! 

Dreams and Older Brothers Who Make Them Possible

Earlier this year I joined a Vancouver Island Hiking group on Facebook and from reading their posts I learned of many different mountains on this island that people hike. It inspired me and had me wanting to hike many of them. However, most are over night trips which I don't have the gear to do or the partner to hike with, so I focused on the day hikes.  The one hike I really wanted to do was to hike up Mount Benson from Witchcraft lake. A short but steep hike with 360 degree view from the summit.

Mount Benson Park

The problem was finding the time and the partner to hike with. Its only a five hour hike but I knew it was steep with the summit sitting at 3,356 feet, it was like bagging a Canadian munro!  A month before this I joined an evening group that was hiking up Roberts Roost, which is a lower hill on the side of Mount Benson. I struggled to get to the top even though it wasn't that long or steep. It had never happened to me before. I had to sit and rest while others kindly waited for me. I was really embarrassed and disappointed in myself. It had me second guessing my ability to hike up Mount Benson.

 

Thankfully one day on the hiking group site it was posted that a group was hiking up Mount Benson to raise funds for Nepal. Perfect! I checked my calendar and I was free. I decided this was my chance to hike it and be in a group because of safety from bears. I asked my usual hiking friend and she really wanted to hike it as well but she was unable to due to health issues. As a single person I don't have a constant partner around to hike with but I really wanted to do this before the weather changed and it became too wet and slippery. I decided I would go it alone although I have never been comfortable hiking solo. I knew the Nepal folks would be on the mountain so it would be safe.  However, five days before the day, my friends called and thankfully said they would hike it with me and so off we went!

Witchcraft Lake

 It was quite the grind going up and many times I had to stop and breathe. They were so great and patiently waited along the trail for me. The trail was very steep but rather nice in amongst the trees. Worst thing was all the roots along the way. Two and half hours later we made it to the summit.

Happily at the summit

The views were just amazing from up there. I never knew our island had so much uninahbitated land and so many beautiful mountains. All I could wonder was what it must be like to hike them and what was on the other side.


So many amazing mountains in the distance

Coming down was not an easy feat. It was steep and so covered in tree roots but we managed. I do believe we took the longest and steepest route there was up to the summit and again back down.

Back down over the tree roots.

I am so thankful and greatful to my buddy, my older brother who lovingly adopted me three years ago, and his wonderful wife who puts up with our sibling antics. They made my dream come true today and he continues, as always, to teach me that all things are possible in life. We just have to have the desire and the will to try. It felt so good to finally hike up somewhere with great elevation. It is not only healthy for the body but so good for the heart and soul to fill one's heart's desires. I realize that I can still hike up some pretty great mountains and look forward to doing this again some day. (Maybe)

 

My adopted family enjoying the summit

So next year....well, hopefully Mount Arrowsmith or maybe Cape Scott Trail. Both are on the list, I'll just have to see what opportunities life brings.

Geocaching

I only started seriously hiking a few years ago and what really got me out there on the trails was geocaching. Now I know most hikers just groan when they hear that the person they are with geo caches. I don't blame them. However I do try to keep the two seperate and don't cache when hiking with a group.
It began when I was given a  hand held gps. I had heard about caching and logged onto the site. Well within a few months I was totally addicted. The best thing about caching is how it has gotten me out on the trails. I have gone places I never would have years ago because I just didn't know they existed. Now I look at the map, see a patch of caches and know that there must be a trail there.
I do try and do some serious hiking and have managed to explore many hills and parks here on the island and a few in other places but mostly I geocache with a couple of friends.
In three years I have found over 600 caches, some most just regular plastic containers, some in little tiny tubes. Thankfully some folks are very creative in their cache building which really adds some entertainment to the hike.

The attic of this house was full of keys and one was to find the correct key to open the door!

A few weekends ago I was up in Comox and my geocaching friend and I went to Seal Bay Park. It is a beautiful park located very close to the town. It is full of many pathways all very well marked and all very level. We were not looking for elevation on this day. The trails are open to all but certain trails allow for horses and bikes.It's a great place to bring the family.




Lovely trails in among the forested land

We spent three hours in the park and only managed to cover half of it. Mind you we were stopping along the way looking for some treasures. The caches were lots of fun especially those placed by one person. You just never know what you may find.



The hanging vulture!



We did manage to find quite a few differnt styles before we headed down to the beach for our lunch. If I hadn't started caching I would never have found all these beautiful places out in nature.

Beautiful views at the beach along with a seal or two.

I can't wait to go back and do the other half of the park as I am sure there are a few more fun caches to be found.



A snowman in summer?

And a reindeer too!

Caching may not be for everyone but it certainly is good family outdoor entertainment and I can't wait til my grandchildren are old enough to go exploring for treasure boxes with Nana! It's not just the caching, it is showing them all of the beautiful places on this island. They already hike being carried in packs but won't they be surprised when their a few years older and they find a snowman in the middle of summer!