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South Surrey, BC
Canada
625 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2011 : 07:47 AM
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The best trail map of the area that I found online is: http://www.sfu.ca/geog/geog351fall07/Group01/06_mr/pictures/GoldenEarsMap.pdf
The plan was to do Alders Flat (part way to Golden Ears). Jenny and I started the West Canyon trail at 8.13am. 
The trail was somewhat flat and wide for the first bit and then it got steeper and narrower. There was some rock hopping, balancing on logs and crossing streams, crossing on bridges and boardwalk.
       
Our first view: 
I fell down some rocks
A random balancing rock 
Jenny crossing a stream video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PrRpH7W8mk
We got to Alders Flat in 2 hours.
The first thing we saw was a hockey stick with a Canuck flag. 
It was hung at the top of a tree (it was pretty high, so someone did some climbing!)
Boo to trash and chopping down trees 
We decided that we'd carry on past Alders Flat for a bit. We made it another hour and a quarter down the West Canyon trail.   
So glad we did because we got to see some views (albeit somewhat socked in)  
The trail got more challenging to maneuver 
Logging relics from back in the day 
There was a flowing stream that was the trail for a bit 
We decided that it was getting too slow going and we were hitting snow, so we turned around and headed back to the spot where we had some views and had lunch. Then carried on to Alders Flat. Jenny picked up some empty propane canisters at Alders Flat that had been tied to a tree out and I was considering carrying some of the trash (Didn't have a bag and the stuff there was wet and disgusting. Note to self and others who go up this way - bring a bag to haul garbage out). We also came across Chris and Keith (both Club Treaders). Chris talked about a cool British Isles Canoe trip he manages http://www.spiritdancercanoejouirney.ca
We carried on back down the trail.
Came across this odd bluish rock 
We went back to our car parked at the West Canyon Parking refilled our water and had a snack. The plan was to do the bit of the Menzies trail to Gold Creek and then come back and do the rest of it.
The Menzies trail 
A View 
Gold Creek    
So we were heading down the Menzies trail past where it intercepts the West Canyon Trail (and the way to the parking lot) and we started to notice what appeared to be fresh bear foot prints heading down the trail in the same direction we were going. Then we came across bear scat. Jenny and I became nervous. So she got her bear banger out and I grabbed my bear spray so it was on hand should the need arise. We had been moving fast, but we slowed down and proceeded more cautiously.
Beautiful trail 
I took a photo here...
and then Jenny screamed because across this stream crossing we spotted an animal that looked like this (this is not our picture I found it online and looks pretty close to what we saw): http://www.flickr.com/photos/janvantwillert/3713170518/ trotting towards us around a corner except it was more greyish.
The wolf stopped and bolted back from where it came from. Jenny let off a bear banger just to make sure it wouldn't follow us. We decided between us following that bear on the trail and running into what we believe was a wolf we were going to play it safe and head back to the car. We discussed whether it was possible it was someone's dog, we didn't see anyone else on that trail (nor any cars at any of the Menzies trailheads), it didn't have a collar, it was big and looked exactly like a wolf. As soon as I got home I looked up whether it was possible it was a wolf and it appears it is very possible because apparently they are making a comeback in the area http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?k=879&id=05e69a1b-d6f8-4365-88e3-188830a72c57 and I came across a BC ministry of Environment document in the distribution and habitat section that they are in the Lower Mainland http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/trapping/docs/gray_wolf.pdf
Between the Alders Flat hike and the Menzies we had done 8 hours of hiking so we called it a day. Definitely an exciting end of a great hiking day!
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Edited by - idealistic74 on 06/18/2011 09:48 AM
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
127 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2011 : 11:14 AM
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Wow! Lyda,
Looks like you truly did have quite an adventure. The wolf story made me nervous just reading it in my office  . The creek crossing video was fun to watch - yay Jenny for figuring out the good route!
Hope to be able to hike with you soon. |
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133 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2011 : 4:40 PM
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It was nice to meet you. Keep the adventures! :-)
Did you notice the Canuck's flag at Alder Flats?
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Edited by - macraj on 06/17/2011 5:07 PM |
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Abbotsford, British Columbia
Canada
16 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2011 : 6:53 PM
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Love your pictures and looks like you had fun! We hiked the Evans Valley trail today and were really close reaching the snow caves when a helicopter came and a man inside used his megaphone to tell us that there was a bear 200m up in the direction we were headed! Thank goodness!
It was a bit scary because I would assume that the bears in that area would be hungry as we came across tons of salmonberry that was completely bare (because of the late spring). Hope he stays out of the city, the food is coming soon! |
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 Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13445 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2011 : 8:33 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by AnitaBrar88
Love your pictures and looks like you had fun! We hiked the Evans Valley trail today and were really close reaching the snow caves when a helicopter came and a man inside used his megaphone to tell us that there was a bear 200m up in the direction we were headed! Thank goodness!
It was a bit scary because I would assume that the bears in that area would be hungry as we came across tons of salmonberry that was completely bare (because of the late spring). Hope he stays out of the city, the food is coming soon!
Bears are very hungry coming out of hibernation and are to be treated with caution. They especially seek high protein sources.
Nice trip, Lyda. A good hike...
K |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13445 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2011 : 12:03 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by idealistic74
A random balancing rock
J
It is amazing that boulder has not come crashing down. I have watched over the last 7 years; even at the earliest it looked a little unstable. Since then lots of stream bed wall has eroded away leaving more of this exposed.
K |
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South Surrey, BC
Canada
625 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2011 : 09:57 AM
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Just learning how to use a GPS. The West Canyon trail trip and the bit of the Menzies we did:
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13445 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2011 : 10:06 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by idealistic74
Just learning how to use a GPS. The West Canyon trail trip and the bit of the Menzies we did:
Yes, the GPS is a fun and very helpful tool to find your way and get statistics. A few times it saved me from taking the wrong way back.
K |
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58 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2011 : 1:57 PM
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thanks for the tr
that wolf thing is kinda scary though, hmm |
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Alders Flat & Menzies in Golden Ears Thur June 16
