Notch Hill

On our way home from Horne Lake, Nemiah wanted to "climb a mountain" with Daddy, so we stopped in at Notch Hill in Nanoose. This is a great lookout over Nanoose Bay and is also a neat Garry Oak ecosystem. Nemiah raced me most of the way up! It was a great Daddy-Daughter date.


Garry Oak

Overlooking Nanoose Bay


The duo

Nemiah happy to be climbing around in the arbutus trees

Spelunking at Horne Lake

We've been trying for the past couple of weeks to get out on a "big" adventure with the kids. Plan A has been a bike trip over to Gabriola Island, but we keep getting vetoed by the weather. I figured a Plan B of going to check out the Horne Lake caves might be a neat trip, and it probably wouldn't matter too much if it was raining or not. Kessa wasn't super excited about the idea, but in the end it turned out to be a grand adventure. We got to explore into the "Main Cave". There was a pretty tight squeeze to get into the main part of the cave, and then we were able to wind our way through a narrow passage, up a ladder, and a bit of easy scrambling around the rocks to get back to a waterfall. Overall we made it about 300 feet into the cave, which definitely gave the feeling like we were deep underground. I was suprised how much the kids enjoyed it. Leif was upset when it was time to come out!


It is a short walk in to the caves

Trillium

Getting suited up at the cave entrance

Looking into the entrance of the "Main Cave". There is one tight squeeze to get into the main chambers, but after that it was pretty roomy

This was a "serious" adventure

Ski Touring around Sutton Pass

One of the best kept secrets on the Island (oops, maybe I shouldn't be letting the cat out of the bag) is the ski touring around Sutton Pass between Port Alberni and Tofino. The area includes the Mackenzie and Maitland Ranges and is the ruggedest mountain area south of Strathcona Park. There is some fantastic summer mountaineering in the area, including Triple Peak, the Mackenzies, Steamboat, and Pogo. In the winter/spring, there is some great ski touring, including Adder Mountain, "Jack's Peak" and 5040 Peak, all off of Marion Creek. By Island standards, access is great making most peaks day trippable. Luckily (hopefully) the area is too rugged to be able to access by snowmoblile, and I have yet to see any other skiers while on trips up there. You can usually bet on having the place to yourself. Beware, it is a pretty wet place! The mountains probably get 5 to 6 meters of precipitation a year.


Triple Peak

Sunset over the Maitland Range

5040 Peak

Jack's Peak

Adder Mountain

Pogo Peak

En route to Adder Mountain

In and Around Town

The more time I spend in Nanaimo, the more I enjoy what the city has to offer. There are some pretty great spots really close by to our place. Winter is also a good time to stick closer to home. This year we've managed to have lots of fun adventures without much travel.

Buttertubs Marsh

Buttertubs Marsh is a perennial favorite with us. It is a great wetland nearby and is protected as a conservation area. Great place to birdwatch.

Views of Mt. Benson from Buttertubs



Bowen Park

For how close it is, I always think I should spend more time at Bowen Park. In the fall I did a bit of running through the trails there, and it also a good way to get over to Buttertubs. The Millstone River, which is drains most of the area around Nanaimo, runs right though the park. We were able to have a visit after one of the big storms this past fall, and the river was running quite high.

The Millstone River running near it's average annual flood level.

Exploring Bowen Park with GrannyPoppy


Goldstream Park

OK, not really in Nanaimo, but I had the kids by myself for the whole weekend (a first!) and we headed down for the day.


Was trying to share my enthusiasm with the kids about the rotting salmon. It was pleasantly stinky.

Trumpeter Swans at the base of Mt. Sicker


Neck Point

Another spot close by, right next to Piper's Lagoon. Although we prefer Piper's Lagoon we occasionally make it to Neck Point. It is our prime location for picking Blackberries in the summer. In the winter, we figured it would be a good spot to pick up seaweed for the garden.



Jack Point

Given that it is right next to a ferry terminal, the thin buffer makes it feel like you a little more isolated. It is a pretty nice spot to look out over to town, Protection Island and Gabriola. I also like the weathered sandstone.





Ammonite Falls

Tucked up against Mt. Benson, Ammonite Falls is a little elusive. Took a couple of tries before I found my way there. Named for the fossils, but I haven't been in low enough flow that I have wanted to get up an explore the cliff where the are. Recently rappelling down the falls (right down the middle!) seems to be a favorite past-time of some of the younger climbers in town.



Nanaimo Harbourfront

The family was away for a couple of weeks up in the Okanagan. I got into a great routine of heading out for a walk along the seawall along Nanaimo's harbourfront after dinner every night. It is less than 1 km from our place to the water, but it seems like we don't make it down there very often. I like that it is a real hub of activity: boats cruising around, water taxis ferrying over to Protection Island, 3 different BC ferry routes, floatplanes, and general bustle. Also great wildlife-usually see lots of Blue Herons, seals, otters.




Spring has sprung


Frank Ney. Former mayor (not that long ago) which brought such delights to Nanaimo as the bathtub races and endless strip malls. He also liked to dress up like a pirate.


The Bastion. Oldest building in town (built in 1853) was built as a Hudson Bay outpost

Swy-a-lana Lagoon


Old City

Nanaimo has some interesting artwork. At the Library.