This incarnation of the annual spring event is a 10+km hike through the Ministik Lake Bird Sanctuary, this time following a mix of horse-, snowmobile-, and quad trails through forest and along the southern shore of Ministik Lake.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
I expect the hike to take about 6-7 hours at a leisurely pace of maybe 1.5-2 km/h, allowing lots of stops for birdwatching (cough) or whatever. This should be the ideal time of year, being after the snow melts (confirmed!), but too early for mosquitoes.
The plan:
- Optional. We meet at Hwy 21 Restaurant at 8:00am for a trucker's breakfast. We leave spare vehicles here (plenty of room), and depart by 9:15am.
- We drive to the START trailhead, and unload people and gear. Everybody should be here at 9:30.
- Some of us shuttle vehicles to the END trailhead, then return to START.
- We count heads, do a quick pep talk, and start walking!
- To avoid losing people, we stay together on the trail (eg, within sight), except by arrangement otherwise. This means that if you're in front of the pack and don't see the designated leader when you turn around, stop and wait. (If you're waiting a long time, you screwed up.)
- We have lunch and sign the event logbook at "The Café", a very simple rest stop at posted coordinates, at roughly the 2/3 point of the hike. (No food service; bring lunch.)
- We arrive, tired but happy, at the END trailhead (~5pm) and give each other high fives.
- We retrieve cars from the START trailhead, and all go home. Or to another event.
The preparation:
This is a wilderness hike, and there's no easy exit from the middle portion. Cell reception is spotty.
Be prepared for any weather. This means bringing waterproof clothes even if the forecast is sunny and warm (forecasts can change) and sturdy footwear, preferably waterproof. Bring plenty of water to drink, especially if you expect to be huffing and puffing, and something for lunch.
Those are the bare essentials; I trust you already have some hiking experience and know what you'll need to ensure you have an enjoyable and safe day. I'm happy to answer questions, and there's a discussion about the event here.
