Landslide Lake Hike

For the past two years friends and I have planned an overnight hike somewhere on Vancouver Island. Our first hike was Cape Scott at the north end of the island and last year we conquered Mount Albert Edward in Strathcona Park. This year we decided to something with very little elevation gain and take it easy. 
We decided we would do four nights and five days, hiking into Landslide Lake and Foster Lake for two nights and then hike to Bedwell and Cream Lake for the next two nights. Both were located in Strathcona Park near Buttle Lake and can be done as day hikes but we enjoy camping out in the woods. What a lesson we all learned. 
We reached the trail head around 11 am on the Wednesday and were on the trail by 11:30. It was 8 kms to the first campground and 11kms to the second. With my 30+lb pack on my back I was aiming for the first campground, my friends thought we could make it to the second campground. 

This trail started out with a nice but steep switchback going up and up and continued on through a lovely treed forest with a continued gradual upward grade. There were rocks to cross, a few creeks and streams with many of them being dry.

The trail and it's surrounding were truly beautiful but my heavy pack was sadly causing me to struggle to get to that first campground. There was more elevation gain that I had imagined.  Yet I knew most good things in life take a bit of a perseverance so we continued on one step at a time. As we hiked I was given strength by the sights of trees growing over rocks and on rocks. It showed what one can do when one perseveres even in difficult situations. 

We reached the first campground in 3.5 hours and we were all exhaisted and decided to spend the night. This trail was not nearly as easy going as we had thought. We were also the oldest on the trail. Most folks going past us were in their twenty's or thirty's and three of us were over 55. Our leader was my friends 14 year old daughter who can certainly out hike us all. We quickly took a dip in the beautiful Elk River which was ice cold and cooled off our tired bodies. 

The next morning we headed out with our light day packs around 9:30 am. It was only another 5km's or so to the lake. The first hour of it was once again up some pretty steep mountain slopes which made us very thankful that we hadn't continued on with our heavy packs the day before. 

We shared a few laughs along the way about our nice flat hike for this year. Ah well it was all good and the waterfalls continued to get more beautiful with each one.

Each one offering us a cool breeze and respite from the hot sun. 

The views of the mountain tops were also fantastic. We truly were out in creation and trying to take it all in while continuing on up the trail. 

We came to a bridge and we could see in the distance a gap between the tree line... the lake! We were almost there. 

The next part of the hike was out in the hot sun, hiking along the side of the waterfall coming down from the lake. I found myself struggling at this point but we all continued on. 

Then we came to the view of another waterfall and realized we were not there yet! There was another waterfall and plateau in the distance.

Last year we had false summits well this year was "false" lakes! 

Once we arrived at the lake we soaked our feet in the cold water and just enjoyed our lunch with the beautiful view. We chatted with some young hikers and breathed in the peacefulness of the lake. 

Looking toward the end of the lake we could see the waterfall coming down from Foster Lake. I had hoped to hike up there as I had heard that the lake had icebergs and a glacier. I really wanted to see it but I was just too tired to carry on. I felt it would add another two hours or more to our hike and it was just too hot. 

So we headed back to camp. It was much easier going back and only took us three hours. We certainly are not known for our speed! It usually takes us twice as long as the younger folks to do these hikes. 

The waterfalls were just as wonderful with the light now reflecting off of them at different angles. The trees growing over the rocks were still there letting us know that all is possible. 

It was wonderful to see little bits of colour popping out among the green as we hiked. They too persevere and bloom in difficult situations. 

That evening we spoke with two young girls who had made it all the way to Foster Lake. It had only taken them 30 minutes to reach it and they said it was just amazing. I started to feel some regret at not pushing on. I knew we would never come and hike this again. I felt I should have put more effort into getting to the further lake. A chance I had now missed out on. 

As I sat there thinking about it I made myself focus on our accomplishment and not have regrets about the lake we didn't reach. I knew having regret would take away the happiness we all had from reaching Landslide Lake. 

It was a beautiful hike and a wonderful lake and I didn't want to diminish what we had accomplished. The beautiful sites we had seen and enjoyed. 

That night we all decided there was no way we were going to have the energy to do the second hike to Bedwell. It was just too hot this summer and we were too tired and low on energy. 
In the morning we packed up our gear and headed back out finding a few caches along the way. We were back at our car in three hours and felt pretty good about this summer's hike. We would be back to do Bedwell another day. 
As we headed off to find some decent food I felt thankful for all that I was able to do. I continued to  put my focus on what I was able to see and take in and not on the goals not met. 

We had made it to the Lake that we had originally planned. Like the trees growing around and over the rocks we had persevered and were feeling very fulfilled. Life is too short to have regrets. They take away from all that there is and all that we are blessed with. We need to always focus on what we have accomplished and what blessings we have. It can make our lives as peaceful as the beautiful lake. 

























Over three days we hiked 28 km's and at least 600m of elevation. A job well done for some over 55 folk and their young trail blazer!

I wonder...

I wonder....words that often go through my mind. There is so much in our world to wonder about. At our church in our Sunday school program for children they use the Godly Play program which tells the stories and then has the children wonder about them and ask questions. What a wonderful way to learn about life and our world. There are so many unanswered questions in life so we all must have many times of wonder.
I have just returned from a trip through our lovely Rocky Mountains here in BC and Alberta. It was four days of just being surrounded by magnificent creation and beauty. 

 They are so amazing! We drove from Vancouver Island in BC out to Calgary Alberta going through four Provincial Parks all full of wonderful, some gigantic, towering mountains and the beauty of it was that no two were alike. 

There were many different shape sizes and colours of trees and rock.

 I could have just stared at them for hours. Many still had snow on the top and crevasses where the snow lay deep. 

Some were bowl shaped with deep snow, others had waterfalls pouring down their sides. 

As we drove along the words "I wonder" were constantly going through my mind. As a student I loved geography.

I loved learning about how the mountains and layers of rocks were formed. Sadly most of the detailed information has left me. So I couldn't help but wonder how these beautiful formations were created. 

Why some had sharp peaks, why others dropped off suddenly and why some were rounded on top. 

In some ways I think the mountains are so much like ourselves. We are all so very different and no two are 100 percent alike. 

We are all physically different and the circumstances of our life have helped to create our personalities. Just like the mountains different circumstances have created unique people. As with the mountains, we are all beautifully created and all wonderfully made and just as I wonder about the mountains we can also wonder about people.  What has made them become the people they are. Even though we may wonder about their choices or ways we can still accept them just as they are.

Just like these "Three Sisters" we can be created similar and yet differently and all live in peace side by side each of us with our own gifts and beauty. I truly believe we can have peace in this world...when and how will that happen? I can only wonder...

White Space

Many years ago at our church where I work we had two new people come to minister to us. Bulletins were reformatted to make them easier to read - as the minister said "white space" was added so that our eyes weren't over loaded. Our hallways were cleared of most of the bulletin boards and things were just all around tidied and cleaned up. What a change it made to our church. Things were brighter, more welcoming and much more calming. We had added what I now like to call "white space" - an area that is uncluttered by words and items that can cause our minds to be overwhelmed. Those days of keeping the church office and building clear taught me a lot and I find when I declutter my office I can work and think so much easier. 

Lately I have been cleaning up my house - getting rid of the knick knacks  (mainly due to my new feline friend) and trying to bring some of that white space into my home. I find my home much more restful and hopefully more inviting to those who come to visit. It's not perfect by any means. I have grandchildren and way too many toys for them to entertain themselves with but some things are just necessary.

This past Easter there were six services offered over three days at our church. I have never been one to skip Easter but this year I decided I needed to. I needed to have some time away from work and being busy. I needed to add some "white space" into my very full and busy life so I ran away to my "home away from home" in Comox. 

My daughter and son in law have a beautiful home there that is only a five minute walk from the ocean and a ten minute walk to some beautiful forest trails and I know I am always welcome to stay and visit. 

I spent two days there hiking and caching and just taking in the beauty of our wonderful island. It restored me, helped me to relax, refocus and to just be happy. 

Our first hike was a small two hour stroll through the woods near their home. A lovely huge forested park where many go and walk their dogs. Yes it is also full of caches so a one hour stroll turned into a two hour hike much to my daughter's dismay. 

Saturday we went with friends up to Campbell River and hiked the Ripple Rock trail. The 8km trail is so beautiful and I certainly will return to hike it again. 

 It has a couple of steep parts but the views are well worth the climb. Between the view points you walk along a forested ridge looking down at the water.

 The trail takes you out to a view point that looks down on Seymour Narrows and Ripple rock. Ripple Rock is an underground mountain which in the past was causing problems with the shipping route. In 1958 they "blew" the top off of it in the largest non nuclear explosion ever. I guess they created their own "white space" so the ships could safely pass through. 

The waters in the narrows are memorizing to sit and watch as the small whirl pools come and go. It was a great hike with much to take in and enjoy and a wonderful way to end my time with my daughter. 

The rest of the weekend was spent at home with my family enjoying Easter breakfast together, an egg hunt and

even going to the Forest Museum to ride the train. 

It was a weekend that was full of blessings and good times. I was able to return to work feeling rested and restored. 

Our lives can get so full and so busy that we become overwhelmed with all that we need to do. It is so important for us to take time for ourselves and create some space in our lives. Whether it involves tidying up our living and working areas, taking time away from everything to go hike a trail or sitting quietly to meditate, or head out on a an adventure with friends. We all need that "white space" in our calendars and in our lives so that we can truly be present when we need to be. 

Our society has gotten so busy, so fast moving that at times things can just blur into each other. Some may feel guilty taking time out for themselves but I think we all need those breaks. If we walk into a room and it is full of stuff..how can we even begin to see what is actually there - it can be overwhelming. If our schedules are so full of commitments how can we breathe and feel peaceful. I hope that we can all find some "white space" - not only in our physical spaces but also in our lives. It truly will and does make a difference.

Storms of Life

It was a great weekend up in Comox even though the weather was very stormy.  Sara and I managed to go snowshoeing Saturday morning and were so blessed with the quiet nature often provides after the falling of fresh snow. 

We followed the path through the trees and out into the open. The Whiskey Jacks were very happy to see us and came down to greet us. 

The snow lay heavily on the tree branches and the world looked black and white even though the trees were green. 

The snow with its depth had shades of blue where holes had been made. It was just truly beautiful. 

It was a great place to just breathe and enjoy the quiet, let go the stresses that life often brings to us. Lately I have been trying to find ways to let go of the frustrations in my life, to just notice and move on. It isn't very easy except on days like to today when I was just totally taken away by the beautiful mountain scenes that surrounded us. 

We snowshoed for an hour and then headed back down the mountain. Within a couple of hours the wind had picked up and rain began to come down. I attempted a walk to the beach to see the waves in the storm but by the time I was across the street from the beach I was forced to turn back. The rain was stinging my face and I could barely move forward. I knew it wasn't fair to the dog that accompanied me so we headed back and ended up driving down in the car. 

I have never experienced such wind and rain. I so wanted to capture it in pictures but I couldn't hold the camera still enough to get any pictures plus I was drenched from just stepping outside the car. It continued to storm all through the night and we lost power a few times. It turned our world into complete darkness. In the morning the sun shone but the wind continued to blow although not nearly as fierce as it had the night before. 

 

The whole weekend just reminded me so much of all that life is full of. Peaceful beautiful moments filled with blessings and then the storms that come up and bring the darkness to our lives. Thankfully after the storms those wonderful calm moments return to us. 

I have to remember during those frustrating times in my life - not to let my feelings storm and bring darkness but to just let it go knowing that nothing good will come from releasing the storm inside. One just needs to focus and wait for the happy feelings that will eventually follow. 

photo courtesy of Sara Cole

We all know that there are more beautiful moments in life than dark stormy ones so just wait for them, they will come!