Island Rambling Part 5: Mt. Frink and Albert Edward

Managed to sneek in another quick day in the hills. I wanted to head somewhere where I could have a few options of things to do if my Plan A didn't work out. I figured Paradise Meadows would be a good spot, and I could have a go at Mount Regan. If that didn't work, I could have a go at some of the other peaks in the area.

The hike in is great. Well marked trail, little elevation gain, no bushwacking. Above-Helen Mackenzie Lake on the way in.


Looking over to Mount Frink

Mount Regan. Originally I thought of having a look at this, but it seemed a little too committing, so I opted for Albert Edward instead.

Looking up the approach ridge on Albert Edward.

First, I headed over the plateau to Mount Frink. I had done a loop around here on skis a couple of springs ago.

View back to Albert Edward from Mount Frink.


Mount Regan from Albert Edward.

Overall a fun day. About 35km, and 13 hours later I was back at the car. I managed to sneak in a loop in through Paradise Meadows too-hopefully I can go with the kids there later in the summer.

Bee-keeping

This year we thought we would try our hand at some bee-keeping. In the past couple of years we have had so-so production on our fruit trees, so we thought we would see if we could help the pollination along with some Mason bees in the backyard. Plus, it would be good to get a little more familiar with tending bees for when we make the leap to raising honey bees.

We set up a little nest box in the backyard beside the cherry tree and apple tree. Mason bees are called "mason" bees because rather than building their own nests, they lay their eggs in small holes, and then pack dirt around the egg to seal it up. The nest boxes are the perfect size for them to fit in to and lay a row of eggs.

The coccoons. We put these out near the nest boxes during the first warm spell in the Spring.

A little Mason bee in the nest. They took fairly well to the nest. At first I wasn't sure whether or not they were going to, and a number of coccoons didn't hatch. A few weeks later, the openings on some the holes started to get filled over with mud from the bees. Mason bees don't sting at all, and don't make honey. They just pollinate.

A few of the holes covered over. We started with 20 coccoons. Not all of them hatched. About 10 holes got filled in, and I think there is 5 coccoons per hole, so will start with 50 next year.

Unwanted wasps under the roof of the house. Nice hive.

It's hard to say how well the Mason bees have worked. The cherries were in full bloom when the Mason bees were out, and they should have been busy. The weather fell apart during the apple blossoms. The bumblebees pollinated the blueberries and raspberries.

Looks like we may do ok for blueberries.


Should be a bumper crop for raspberries.

This is about the extent of the cherries on our 2 trees. I don't think pollination is an issue, but there is something eating the leaves and blossoms. The apples didn't fair well either. Funny enough there are a couple of branches from cheery trees extending on to our yard from our neighbours, and they have more cherries on those limbs than both our trees combined.

"Dead Animal Place"

Kids come up with some pretty great stuff sometimes. I don't know why, but Nemiah has some fascination with dead things. I think it might have started back when our first gold fish died, or when one of our newborn kittens "didn't make it". Digging a hole in the dirt in the backyard, and putting the pet to rest became a favorite story of hers.

We had a couple of other run-ins with dead animals which continued to be good fodder for Nemiah's stories. In both cases I was taking into the bushes to go to the potty, and I nearly set her on top of a dead animal carcass; once it was a dead heron, and the other time we inadvertantly stumbled into a dumping ground at the edge of town for dead deer.


Nemiah pointing to the deer carcasse that was dumped at the edge of town. We saw another 4 or 5 of them in the same ditch.

Leif loves birds. I think partly it is because it is the one thing he knows how to say. So I thought it would be a good outing for the kids to head out to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Coombs. They deal with rehabilitating birds and other animals that have been injured or need help.


We stopped by the beach to check out the seagulls that were out during the herring spawn. Leif loved it.




At the Wildlide Recovery Centre, they also have a museum, and this is the first thing you walk in to when you arrive. In it are displays of stuffed birds and animals, some with buttons to press and listen to the sounds the animals make. Nemiah was a little confused at why the animals were stuffed. "Daddy, why are all the animals dead?"


Nemiah and I practice our "cougar response" plan. Vancouver Island is home to lots of cougars (and plenty of cougar attacks), so I figure we should be prepared.



The kids loved the Centre, and it has turned into one of our regular stops when the kids are spending the day with Daddy. Nemiah affectionately refers to it as the "Dead Animal Place" from the big taxidermy display. I have been trying to get her to call it the Wildlife Recovery Centre, because it probably helps the spirits of the animals that are in there getting fixed up.

Island Rambling Part 4: King's Peak

Another weekend and more Island adventures. Headed up to Strathcona Park with a crew. We spent Saturday cragging at Crest Creek Crags. It was my first time there, and first time cragging for a while. Great place, and pretty well set up. We climbed a lot of fun routes.


Crest Lake

We camped out near Gold River, and then made an early start up King's Peak. This time of year was great, as the snow made for a quick ascent.

Charles getting crampons on for the climb up the gully to the North Glacier.

In the gully

Avalanche debris from a cornice that collapsed the day before we were there. There was still a bit left on the ridge.



Mount Elkhorn

Coming down the glacier

Island Rambling Part 3: Springer Peak

After great climbs on Saturday and Sunday, I took advantage to do a quick "after-work" climb on my way up-Island to Port McNeill. I have signed up for th Kusam Klimb later this month, and thought I would give the trail a dry run to check it out, and also for a bit of training.

Looking up from the trailhead up Springer Peak. The Kusam trail was built by a local named Bill West-Sells and is affectionately known as "Bill's" trail. About 6 years ago, Sayward starting running an adventure race up Bill's trail, and then down the backside of the mountain, for a total distance of 23 km and 5000ft elevation gain. While I was doing the hike I bumped in to Bill who was doing some preparations for this year's race in a few weeks.

Looking down into Johnstone Straight.

Mount H'Kusam

Mount Victoria

Looking down into Sayward and the Salmon River



Hard to see on the photo, but looking off to Mount Waddington on the mainland coast.

Island Rambling Part 2: Arrowsmith West Ridge

I signed up for a "double-header" ACC-trip on Sunday to head to the West Ridge on Mount Arrowsmith, then down the Nose. Rory had also signed up for both trips, so we car-camped near Cameron Lake to get an early start the second day.

Looking back across Port Alberni and Sproat Lake. Mount Klitsa, where we had gone the day before, is the snowy peak in left-centre.

In contrast to the snow climb on Klitsa, this trip was a pleasant scramble on rock.


At times the route seemed improbable, but was pretty mellow

We had a little bit of snow.

The group on top (Rory O'Connel photo)

Ian getting ready for the rappell down the Nose

Looking back up the Nose