walking

DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST Times Colonist Sunday, July 7 2024

 Kathy Haesevoets at the Leech Tunnel near the CRD’s Sooke Lake Reservoir. The Capital Regional District (CRD) built the tunnel linking the Leech River to the Sooke Lake Reservoir in 1987, but it has never been used. According to the CRD Regional Water Supply 2022 master plan, the tunnel is expected to come into service by 2042. Although Canadians use more water per capita than other countries around the world, many in the Capital Region have embraced water conservation through measures such as letting lawns go brown in summer and planting less water-hungry plants, driving down consumption from 559 litres per capita per day in 1998 to 337 litres in 2022 — among the lowest in the province for a major metropolitan area. That’s happened despite a population growth of between 1 and 1.5 per cent per year, said Kathy Haesevoets, an information technician with CRD Integrated Water Services, who notes that if consumption drops to 300 litres a day, the CRD could put off supplementing the Sooke Lake Reservoir with the backup plan — Leech River-area water — for 20 years. Elk/Beaver Lake became the growing city’s water source in 1872. The two lakes, once separate, were joined with the damming of Colquitz Creek. Filter beds were installed in 1896 after residents complained of finding fish and tadpoles in their drinking water.  

When residents turned on their taps in 1905, the water was flowing from reservoirs in the Goldstream area, which still has four surface-water reservoirs, with a volume of approximately 10 million cubic metres and a catchment area of 2,109 hectares. In 2007 and 2010, the CRD purchased land from private forest land holders that forms the catchment area around the Leech River to ensure access to the water source and prevent any contamination from industrial or agricultural use. That property, which had been 95 per cent harvested, according to the CRD, has more than 400 kilometres of roads, and is currently undergoing restoration to remove old logging infrastructure, upgrade main roads and deactivate and rehabilitate excess roads.

 The ability of the CRD to own and manage 98 per cent of the land that drains into the Sooke and Goldstream water supply reservoirs — the catchment area — makes the system unusual, as most municipalities rely on public lakes for their water.  

To ensure the water is safe for human consumption, it’s run through a three-step disinfection process that starts with the use of ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and parasites. A low dose (1.5 to 2.5 mg/litre) of chlorine is added next, to kill viruses. Ammonia is added as a final step to prevent bacterial contamination as the water travels through the distribution system pipes.

Labels: crd, kapoor, leech, watershed

Kapoor Regional Park Miscellaneous Items 

Kapoor Regional Park Jackson Williams / Christopher Causton, Chair CRD Regional Parks Committee / Old Wolf Creek CRD Parks Goal Statement: To ensure park values and visitor opportunities are protected and sustained through the use of best management practices in all facets of park development and management, and to contribute to regional environmental, social, and economic sustainability. *https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/parks-pdf/sea-to-sea-management-plan.pdf?sfvrsn=46ce6cca_2 The management plan has received strong public support. The planning process has involved years of extensive input from the public, First Nations, governments, interest groups, as well as a Management Plan 

Advisory Group. *On behalf of the Parks Committee, I commend staff and the many groups, agencies and individuals who contributed to the management plan, which will guide decision-making for these parks. It moves our vision further along its way, and eventually, towards a lasting legacy we can all be proud of. p.37

 Visitor Experience 4.2.3 Kapoor is ideally located at the end of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, and is also the northwest anchor of the Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt. With this key location, park visitors will be able to experience a relatively wild and remote area with comparative ease. The primary focus will be on providing visitors with opportunities to enjoy compatible, nature-based recreational activities, such as swimming, hiking, biking, and equestrian use. Opportunities will also be provided for education and interpretation of the area’s natural and cultural history. Community engagement in projects and activities to commemorate the park’s rich cultural history will be particularly emphasized. 

*** Although the entire park is open to public use, travel on the road right of way north of Old Wolf Creek to the Greater Victoria Water Supply Area gate will not be encouraged in order to maintain a buffer to the Water Supply Area and to gravel extraction and forestry activities on adjacent private lands *** The central area of the park is a former log sort covered with Scotch broom. An annual broom cutting program should be maintained to keep the area clear for an emergency evacuation and staging area. = predated?: Complete the Galloping Goose Regional Trail to the Old Wolf Creek Bridge Phase 3 To be determined based on management concerns and visitor needs = 

ADDENDUM Sheilds Lake, Peden Lake, Grassy Lake, and Crabapple Lake have historically been used as camping sites. A cabin, built by area hikers, is located at the south end of Peden Lake. All other standing structures, with the exception of the historic fire look-out tower at the summit of Mount Manuel Quimper, have burnt down or been dismantled. SEE ALSO: The University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry offers scholarships to forestry students through the Kapoor Singh Siddoo Foundation, established in nineteen sixty seven. Read more about the KSSF legacy here: https://getinvolved.forestry.ubc.ca/2017/05/an-enduring-legacy-supports-forestry-students/ and more about the lands that were logged in Sooke here: https://www.sookenewsmirror.com/community/entrepreneurial-sikhs-created-successful-sawmill-operation/ 

BELOW; Elida Peers "The Galloping Goose Trail ends at a clearing which is the former site of the Cameron Lumber Company’s sawmill. The Kapoor station kiosk, bench and toilets are at the clearing. The town site of Leechtown is another half a kilometer along, closer to the Capital Regional District Water Services gates and fences. While at the clearing take a moment to read the historical information about this area. Continue along the trail across the bridge over Wolf Creek and look for a rough trail to the left that leads toward Sooke River. Deep Pool is a natural swimming spot located at the confluence of Leech River and Sooke River. This can be a lovely place for a swim as well as the possibility of fording the rivers when the water levels are low. The pool was named by the Leechtown." 

*** Downtown Leechtown” GPS Coordinates 48°29'42.02"N 123°42'46.45"W

Labels: crd, kapoor, leechtown

Wednesday I walked 7½km total, out and back, along the Elk/Beaver Lake Park trail on the western side of the lakes.

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The trail is built over the right-of-way of the old Victoria & Sidney (V&S) Railway. It tracks the lakeside for most of its length.

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Shawn ? was walking with his lady friend, Barbara.

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The weather was overcast but most pleasant for walking with some light, occasional drizzle.

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My phone decided to disconnect from the network for some reason but restarting it reconnected it.

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Five years ago, April 12 2013, I did a pro bono survey of the Elk/Beaver Lake Park Pond outflow culvert which flows into Colquitz Creek.

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At that time it was determined the flooding of trails in the park was not as the Capital Regional District (CRD) was reporting but due to this culvert being plugged with debris. The CRD claimed the flooding was caused by beaver dams in the ponds. No beaver sightings have been made in this area for over thirty years. There were no beaver dams in the ponds during the time this survey was done by Bill Irvine in 2013.

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April 2013 Youtube VIDEO by WJI

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As of April 2018, it appears the level of the ponds has been reduced by approximately 500mm (20inches) over the intervening five years. Apparently, this has been accomplished by cleaning out the plugged culvert.

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This is good. Presumably there are no more complaints about dogs getting their feet wet (like in the original complaint that made the local newspaper) and the water foul are as abundant as ever. Everyone and everything should now be content. Thank you CRD.

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Labels: crd, elk/beaver lake regional park, walked

RE: Banning E-bikes from Regional Trails

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After having a myocardial infarction (heart attack) in 2002 at age 65yrs, Victoria's foremost heart specialist told me I needed more cardio exercise.
"Get your heart rate up to 120bpm for twenty minutes at least twice a week," were Dr. Mildenberger's definitive instructions. For the next five years my wife and I walked every trail on southern Vancouver Island and some as far as the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo Area.

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When the Vancouver Island section of Great Trail opened in 2017, we felt it incumbent upon us to be one of the first to walk it. My wife (76) and I did this walk June 27, 2017 and walked the three kilimetres up to the Goldstream Suspension Bridge and back. What a marvelous piece of engineering it is. We have since walked the trail to the bridge and back an additional two times.

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I cycled fairly regularly up to the age of 40yrs then took a 30year hiatus, taking up the activity again at age 70yrs in 2007. I now claim to be an expert on all southern Vancouver Island trails having cycled them all -- some repeatedly -- over the past 11 years.

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This walk gave me a good overview of the trail and its challenging topography and I knew it was too much trail for me to cycle -- even on my fine, Norco XFR hardtail. This is when I got the idea to rent an electric-assist bicycle (e-bike) from Oak Bay Bikes (OBB) in Langford. I cycled the 4km from OBB to Humpback Reservoir trailhead then another 4km up the Great Trail to Wolf Hill rest station. This included accomplishing the ride up "Seven-minute Hill" on Niagara Main service road. Electric-assist bikes are also useful for seniors to complete longer rides in excess of 25km.

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I would like to cycle the entire length of the Great Trail to Sooke Lake Road but will need an e-bike to do this. I recently read in the newspaper others want to ban e-bikes from regional trails.
Why?
There is in fact no such thing as an "electric bicycle". They are not like golf carts. There are no buttons to push which make them go. Either you pedal or you don't go. The correct terminology for these marvelous inventions is "electric-assist bicycles".

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Now, at age 81 years, my mind is willing but my body is weak(er). I still ride my Norco and also ride Victoria City U-bikes on level terrain. I ride the latter mainly to support the local entrepreneur's efforts to get more people out of their cars and onto bicycles.

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Therefore, I beseech you to continue to allow electric-assist bicycles to be used on regional trails. This in the interest of encouraging and facilitating older residents who may have given up on cycling as a way to improve their health to continue on this marvelous invention designed primarily for those who want and need them. Electric-assist bikes won't go over 20 miles per hour under motor power alone.

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Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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Yours aye, Bill

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P.S. It is my wish in future discussions regarding electric-assist bicycles on regional trails, you and your staff use the correct terminology: "electric-assist bicycles".

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Wolf Hill Rest Area Video
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ADDENDUM TO ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE
To my way of thinking it's just another stupid law by stupid bureaucrats -- if it is enacted. Kill every business venture for no particular reason other than they can. Who's going to buy a $4000 e-Bike that can't be ridden on a local trail?

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Just like the City of Victoria Ubike venture. We're the only jurisdiction on the planet to require a helmet of which there's not one left on any U-bicycle in the city. So much for that business investment.

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I could go on but will spare you. This is something you can check while in the civilized nation of France. No helmets required and share-bikes everywhere.

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Public bike rental was pioneered in La Rochelle in the 1970s. Now, public bike share schemes appear in towns and cities the world over.

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Labels: crd, cycled

This morning I walked 3333m (45min) from Cordova Bay Rd. northwest bound up through McMinn Park. I wanted to check out the route through this residential area as it relates to linking Cordova Bay beach access to Boulderwood Park.

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Mission was accomplished after emerging onto the Lochside Trail and finding Boulderwood Park trailhead directly across that pathway at Seapearl Plc. From here my route followed Lochside Drv southward to pick up the Kentwood Park trailhead (at Scottswood Ln.) and follow it westward to Amblewood Dr.

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Amblewood joins Royal Oak Dr. where today's route turned left at Firbank Ln which has another connector path through to Crofton Terrace. Crofton Ter. was the first road we connected with to start this walk; thus, bringing us full-circle back to our limo after a 3.3km loop.

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This was the abbreviated version of the route I wanted to cover but having made a previous engagement for 9:30a.m., this was the only option.

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As noted, the mission was accomplished.

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Labels: cordova, crd, walked

Monday we took the Capital Regional District's (CRD) annual watershed tour. We've taken it in past years but its amenities have been scaled back considerably. No more air-conditioned tour buses; no more tents at the dam-site and no more chairs at the dam-site.

The tents protected passengers from the elements while eating lunch and the chairs were to sit on while eating lunch. No more. Not a tent nor chair to be found.

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But, the price remains the same: Free. "You get what you pay for," is the new credo.

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Today's photo is of Doug MacFarlane, local historian extraordinaire. Doug -- like ourselves -- has taken the CRD Watershed tour before but we have not met while doing so. We have, however, met Doug on a few occasions while requesting historical, Vancouver Island information

Labels: crd, sooke, walked, watershed

Today we drove to the Capital Regional District's (CRD) Parks Headquarters on Atkins Road to renew our annual parking pass.

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While in the area we started walking southeast along the Esquimal & Nanaimo (E&N) Railway tracks from Westwind Rd.

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We walked 2 miles (3.3km) to Atkins Station on the Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) then crossed the train bridge to see how the paving of the E&N Rail Trail (ENRT) is progressing. It appears to be progressing exactly as it should.

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Just another, beautiful day in paradise.

Labels: crd, e+n, ggt, railtrails

Today we walked the Mill Hill Park from Thetis Lake. The trail head is at the off ramp from Highway 1 at Six Mile Road. We parked the limo in Thetis Lake Parking lot.

Labels: crd, walked

Thursday we drove 60km (37miles) to Shirley, BC. Now, no one has ever heard of Shirley, BC, so be advised it's a 1¼ hr. drive from Victoria out the Westcoast Rd. past Sooke, BC. Inasmuch as this was our first time to Sheringham Point Lighthouse we followed the directions posts online at the Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society's Lighthouse View Trail webpage.

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Directions from Victoria/Sooke Take Sooke Road (BC 14 – West Coast Road) west for approximately 15.6 kilometres beyond Sooke. You’ll enter the Shirley District at Anderson Road. Continue on West Coast Road watching for the yellow traffic sign that warns of the Fire Hall. When you see the Community Hall and Fire Hall on the left side of the road – watch for Sheringham Point Road, immediately past. Turn left. Continue 1 kilometre to the parking area on the right. Watch for the trail head sign.

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For those interested there's a short Youtube video here: Sheringham Lighthouse Trail Walk

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The parking lot shown at the opening in this video is the recommended one at the end of Sheringham Pt. Road. (off Westcoast Rd.) The road identified in the video as Woodhouse is actually Lighthouse Point Rd. Lighthouse Point Rd. is accessed from Westcoast Rd via Woodhaven then left onto Seaside Drv. Lighthouse Point Rd. is accessed through stone gates.

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The GPS Coordinates of Sheringham Lighthouse are: 48°22'36.30"N 123°55'15.64"W

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History and historic photos of Sheringham Point Lighthouse's glory days SHAW CABLE VIDEO

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After stopping in at Shirley Delicious bistro (what else could it be called), we're of the opinion no trip to the West Coast of Vancouver Island would be complete without doing so. Located beside Westcoast Road at Sheringham Pt. Rd., it could be missed if one is not paying attention. Heading westbound, it's just past the Shirley Fire Hall. It's unique in a few ways: its proprietor; its menu and its ambiance. Try it.

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P.S. There's an indoor seating area and access to outdoor patio at the rear.

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Afterward, we walked 2km at French Beach.

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Thursday night we dined at JaySue's with Sam & Irene. A pretty good day, I'd say.

Labels: crd, walked, westcoast

Today we walked around in Beaver Lake Ponds Park which is located at 720 Beaver Lake Road. Access from Beaver Lake Rd is onto Glencoe Rd which is also the entrance to the Capital Regional District's (CRD) maintenance yards and also the the Equestrian Centre. From here one can view the retriever pond from numerous vantage points along its eastern shore. The footpath depicted herein crosses Glenco Rd and connects the main Beaver Lake parking lot to the Interurban Multi-use Trail on the western side of Elk/Beaver lakes. This latter section of trail is approximately three-kilometres in length between Beaver Lake/Beaverdale roads and Brookleigh Road to the north.

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Contrary to recent reports there is no weir in the Beaver Lake retriever-ponds' outflow culvert and no recent beaver activity. The outflow culvert underneath the park footpath is -- and probably has been for years -- blocked with debris and sediments. There is a second such outflow culvert underneath Beaver Lake Road (mere metres' distance downstream) and it too is equally blocked, apparently due to poor maintenance practises.

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Beaver Lake Ponds Park culvert VIDEO

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Elk/Beaver Lake Adjustable Weir video

Labels: crd, elk/beaver lake regional park, walked

Wednesday we walked 3km at Elk/Beaver Lake Park. After parking the limo in the main parking area to the south of Beaver Lake we walked the Pipeline Trail to Pipeline Rd. then northward again on the westside Main Trail to the Waterside Trail of Beaver Lake. We spoke with a walker who had just came from the northwest end of Elk Lake (Brookleigh Road). He reported no trail flooding in the area.

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This is why we visited the park this day: To checkout reports in the Time-Colonist (TC) stating a beaver dam & lodge was obstructing waterflow from the lake causing flooding of an unidentified section of trail. We saw no evidence of any beaver activity during this trip nor have we ever seen any in all the years we have frequented this park.

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Why the TC chose to publish a photo of someone's dog getting its feet wet and not a photo of the alleged beaver lodge is anyone's guess. perhaps because there is no such beaver lodge? Remember: beavers are not fish and do not live under water; beavers are mammals and live in lodges which are built above water on waterways where they breath air and raise their young.

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Here's a video showing how the weir is supposed to work. Note water is let out of the lake by raising the weir's gate thus permitting water to pass underneath. its adjustable gate. Elk/Beaver Lake Adjustable Weir video

Labels: crd, elk/beaver lake regional park, walked

Today we walked 6km roundtrip from the Elk/Beaver Lake Park parking lot on the Pipline Trail to the 7km Marker. This trail forms the western section of a 10km loop around the two lakes. Thus, we were in essence walking the trail in reverse (although in a clockwise direction) arriving first at the 8km Marker then the 7km.

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To our surprise, the Strawberry Festival was being held this very day filling all the available parking for the estimated 400 attendees. Free pony rides for the kids and strawberry shortcake seemed the only ingredients necessary to fill the place. We didn't hang around there long once our walk was completed but headed for the Red Barn on West Saanich Road for their soon-to-be-world-famous panini sandwich. Awesome meal!

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Yes, we did nail down the GPS coordinates for the Victoria & Sidney (V&S) Railway situated at the 8.03km point along the trail.
Here's the skinny on GPS coordinates for the V&S Pipline Trail monument: From the LG L7 camera and the Magellan 210 the coordinates are within a few metres of each other. This is close enough for what we're doing.
V&S Stop from GPS Track: N48°31.198', W123°23.877'
GPS LGL7 Coordinates V&S: 48°31'11.64"N 123°23'52.62"W

Dustin Creviston has a photo of the monument posted on Google.earth (Panoramio) and it is located 35m north from the position reported here. (Eds. Note) The POI recorded by the M210 was off by several metres.
V&S Marker Mapsend POI: N48°31.177' W123°23.879'

Labels: crd, railtrails, walked

Today we walked up Mill Hill under sunny skies. What another Beautiful fall day!

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It took only 20-minutes to peak which may be a record-time for us; beating our old time by a couple of minutes. But who's counting?

Labels: crd, walked

Today we hiked up Mill Hill and enjoyed the 360 degree views.

It took 22-minutes up and 20-minutes down. A good cardio exercise.

Here's a photo from today's hike.

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Sunday night six family members dined at Fireside Grill. A good celebration was enjoyed by all.

Labels: crd, walked

Today, we walked 2km up and down Mill Hill. Mill Hill is a 200m rock behind the CRD Headquarters off Atkins Road.

We took the Auburn Trail up and the Calypso Trail back down. It was another bright, sunny day but not too hot for a strenuous hike. It took us 18-minutes up (with three rests) and the roundtrip -- with generous time on top to enjoy the panoramic view -- took one-hour.

Afterward, we drove to Sooke, British Columbia for lunch at Mom's Cafe. The fish&chips are still as good as ever. We walked down to the sea at Ed MacGregor Park then headed home to Victoria.

Labels: crd, walked