A joint trip with Friends of Cypress Provincial Park – Aug 30, 2019 Trip Report by leader Lyn Grants Twelve participants were not daunted by the mist and light rain and, of course, all made it to the peak-alas to curtains of mist which completely obscured the views. Many whiskey jacks (Canada Jays) flew in immediately to join and entertain us. Entertained as we were, we were also alarmed to learn that their food caches are not “refrigerated” as they…
Four Nature Vancouver members walked on the 9:55 ferry to Langdale and had a lovely hike around Langdale Falls and Sidewinder trail. The drizzle stopped around 1pm – the damp weather made for shiny leaves and especially vibrant colours . The woods are varied and beautiful, the abundance and variety of beautiful, colourful large mushroom was an unexpected bonus for an August trip, and we’ve never seen so many Indian Pipe! We opted to do the route in a clockwise…
Trip Report by Leader Anne Leathem There were eight eager hikers who climbed Black Mountain to view the Lions and the Vancouver skyline on a gorgeous sunny day. We hiked across the plateau in the cool trees enjoying the slight breeze. We stopped for photos and to admire the white rhododendron and copperbush flowers. We had an avid botanist and a dedicated photographer recording flora and fungi. The Chipmunks and Ravens entertained us on the Bluff and a Raven managed to…
Leaders: Eva Nagy and Anne George Trip report by Eva Nagy On 13th July 2019, we arrived at Cypress Bowl at 10 am to find a large crowd of hikers. On this popular day, the ski area management decided to do some earth moving job to repair the ski slopes. A huge pile of dirt occupied a large part of the parking lot. Some driving lanes were set aside for the earthmoving equipment, thereby cutting down considerably on the parking spaces available closer to the trailhead….
A joint event with Lighthouse Park Preservation Society Trip Report by Leader, David Cook On June 25, 2019, nineteen participants strolled along the trails of Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver. In the most pristine low elevation old-growth forest on the North Shore, we had an easily accessible opportunity to view this type of forest. While the main theme of the day was old-growth ecology and the characteristics of an old-growth forest, subthemes were plant dispersal, fire history and the valiant attempts of…
A joint event with Wild Bird Trust Trip Report by Leader, David Cook on June 22, 2019, nineteen participants walked the trails of this ecologically rehabilitated industrial site. We observed the amazing diversity of both native and non-native species. These species have been planted there or grown naturally from soils brought mainly from West End development sites of the City of Vancouver. In 1992, Vancouver Port Authority, who are the owners of the area, agreed to lease the flats to Environment…
On Friday June 7th, ten NV members and two guests spent a delightful 8 hours botanising during an 11 km hike around the Brohm Lake Interpretive Forest. Our route included a mix of steep climbs (Powerline Ridge, Tantalus Viewpoint, and Cheakamus Loop trails) and gentler strolls through beautiful mixed conifer-deciduous forest around the lake. The weather was better than expected, a pleasant temperature with lots of sunshine and some clouds, but no rain except on the drive up. We enjoyed…
Trip report by Teresa Gagné & Denis Laplante On 24 April 2019, Twenty four members of Nature Vancouver boarded a bus at the Duke Point ferry terminal for a day trip to view wild flowers, led by Teresa Gagné & Denis Laplante, and guided by local naturalists and wardens Genevieve Singleton and David Polster. We visited Honeymoon Bay Pink Fawn Lily Ecological Reserve, then Somenos Gary Oak Protected Area, and St Peter Quamichan church yard. After a quick lunch stop…
On 31 March 2019, seventeen members and four guests participated in the annual trip to Horth Hill Park, an easy walk from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. It was a clear and warm spring day. It was a beautiful ferry ride. In Active Pass, we saw about two hundred Bonaparte’s Gulls, no way near the numbers reported only a few days ago. Just outside the Ferry Terminal Parking area we were greeted by a very robust Red-flowering Currant in full bloom,…
On BC Family Day, 18 February, 2019, Teresa and Denis led a 5 hour walk on Bowen Island, joined by 5 others ranging in ages 6 to 60ish. We enjoyed a bright day with thin clouds, about zero celsius with no wind or precipitation. Kids set the pace and tone – great energy and low average speed. We stopped often to admire bark, lichens, moss, ice. We saw many birds: Double-crested Cormorant (in Horseshoe Bay), Tree Creeper, Kingfisher, Herons in…