Category: Langdale

BC Ferries at your door

Travel in Style

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I love a holiday where the travel itself is part of the adventure. The Sunshine Coast is a special place that requires you get out of your normal routine. How many places do you go that require you to travel by air or by boat? As soon as that ferry pulls away from the dock or that float plane takes off, your holiday is underway. Take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the view.

Here in Canada, our low-key nature tends to understate things by calling our bodies of water “inlets” and “sounds”. Anywhere else in the world, Howe Sound would be described as a majestic fjord on the Pacific Ocean. Glaciers carved these inlets and sounds at the end of the last ice age where the water is as almost as deep as the Coast Mountains are high. Snow caps these striking mountains 10 or 11 months out of the year adding to the visual effect. Green and blue are the colours of life and the green forest of Douglas fir, hemlock and cedar cover the mountains like a warm blanket all year long. On a sunny day, the water is the deepest shade of blue surrounded by a bright blue sky. Yes, we do believe we’ve moved to paradise.

Take the time to go outside on the upper deck of your ferry and smell the salt air. Watch for signs of marine life. Pacific White-Sided dolphins, Dall’s porpoises, orca and grey whales all visit Howe Sound from time to time. Harbour seals and river otters live here in abundance. Bald eagles and blue herons feed here regularly as do many other sea birds.

Before you know it, you’re here. Only a 40 minutes sailing from West Vancouver or a 15 minute float plane from downtown Vancouver. Come by car, bike or on foot. Arcturus Retreat B&B is located 1km from the Langdale Ferry Terminal. Come relax on your private balcony and enjoy the view.

Sprockids Mountain Bike Park – March 24, 2013

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Today was a day to celebrate community volunteers. Sprockids Mountain Bike Park is a place I’ve written about a lot. Last year it celebrated its 20th anniversary sharing our amazing forests with kids through the love of mountain biking. Teaching kids to ride safely with family and friends in a sanctioned park with educational components. This system is now used across Canada.  Here it is 2km from my front door and I place where I love to hike.

  

Sprockids Mountain Bike Park – shovels ready
Capilano University’s Mountain Bike Operations students organized the day to install over 30 signs throughout the park. Students, families and some diehard trail fairies spent the morning digging and carrying signs. Never get lost again! I’ve often been hesitant to direct guests to this park because of limited signage and maps in a complex system of trails making it an easy place to become disoriented. This is a great addition and will be very helpful to hikers and bikers alike.

I decided to try it out with a short hike in an area I haven’t been to for a while. These pictures are all from Skoolz Out which is just above the Skills Park. The question isn’t “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it make a sound?”…the question is “If a tree falls in the forest, what can we make with it?”
I would love to see someone bank on this.

Some very fun bridges
Yes, that long “bridge” is one tall tree…rootball still in tact at the end

That boulder at the end of the jump is taller than me!

 As I hiked, I could here some bikers above me. I decided to wait and see what is was like to jump off this. I expected someone to just launch over it and fly down the trail. Turns out, all these jumps and bridges are great teachers and confidence builders. Three young teenagers rode down and all came to a stop either beside or on top of this jump. They studied it…rode past it to check the landing…and discussed. Three different times one of them would ride up to jump it and stop at the last minute…not ready for the leap…talking to themselves that it was about being there mentally.  Finally one of them did it, and they all celebrated for a minute. A brief pause before taking off together to find the next challenge.

I finished my hike just in time for the skills demonstration. After a morning of digging holes to install signs, the kids were treated to a free lunch from the Lions Club burger trailer. Then they hit the skills park for some serious jumps from Coastal Crew and friends. They were flying…25 feet off the ground. Sorry, no good pictures, but they were impressive. The really fun part was after one of the older kids would jump, an eager 4-8 year old would ride from the same starting point and off to the next small run with a couple of junior size berms. The little guys were just as thrilled to show off in front of the audience and just as proud to ride successfully. The older guys cheered them on as much as they did for their friends making the huge jumps. What a great day.

Ferry Trail – January 30, 2013

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A break in the rain today, so I headed for the forest.  There is a trailhead right at the end of the street which I have written about before, but it has been a while since I hiked here. Every sunny day possible…a treat in January…I’ve chosen to walk at the beach. Today was more of a warm and foggy winter day, so I headed to the forest.

To my surprise, the amazing trail fairies have been very busy. I often avoid this trail in the rainy season as part of it becomes a stream. Someone has been adding gravel improving some of the muddier parts in a big way. I was very surprised to see signage and trail markings to greet me…in hot pink. The trail was really in good shape, thanks to some unknown but special volunteers.

once mighty giant

 I know it’s hard to tell without a frame of reference, but this was once a huge forest giant.  See the skinny trees on the right edge of the photo?  This moss covered stump is easily 3 people’s outstretched arms around.

 Most of the lower part of this area are young alders, but this stately giant stretches wide and proud.

This trail connects Sprockids Mountain Bike Park to the Langdale Ferry Terminal and is the final stretch of day 5 of BC Bike Race. All downhill and a great finish for 500 lucky riders.  For me…its just the trail closest to home.

busy precious trail fairies

 You just don’t see many hot pink trail markers……

This is the sign under the hydro lines clearly showing both the way down to Langdale or the way over to the Elphinstone Trails and Sprockids Park.  This is also the break between mostly young alder psuedo forest and the firs and cedars of the real forest further up the mountain. I love how green it is even in the middle of winter.  Ferns are huge and everything is moist and full of life. I won’t wait so long for my next visit to the Ferry Trail just beyond my doorstep.

BC Bike Race – July 5, 2012

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BC Bike Race is an amazing 7 day adventure bringing 500 mountain bike riders in search of some of the world’s best singletrack.  Every year there are a combination of world class racers, international adventurers, and weekend warriors who tackle the course.  Three of the seven days are spent right here on BC’s Sunshine Coast.  I caught part of Wednesday’s action…the longest course of the tour at 63km and 2,100m of elevation change…when they hit the finish line in Sechelt.  Have you ever seen 500 identical tents in a row in one field?  Assembled & disassembled daily?
Today was my favourite part of the race, though,…and for many of the riders as well.  It’s a ‘short’ course at 40km, but a serious climb from Sechelt up and over Roberts Creek and Mt. Elphinstone to finish with 7km of straight downhill into Langdale.  This last section of riding is the part of Mt. Elphinstone that I often hike…around Sprockids Mountain Bike Park.  The riders emerge from the rainforest a block from my house and cruise down our steep hill to the ferry terminal.
Yes! – thrilled to emerge from the forest toward the finish line

Neighbourhood kids came out to watch and cheer along the street.  Many of the riders waved and appreciated the young fans.  One man even stopped to chat with the kids while he waited for his teammate to emerge from the forest.  Pretty cool…and inspiring for the kids.

As one rider popped over the hill, all I heard was “Wow..look at that!”.  The view opens into the deep blue water of Howe Sound, heavily forested Gambier Island, and the Coast Mountains in the backdrop.  Yes, this is the view I’m lucky enough to see every day when I leave the house.

2 person team excited to cross the finish line

The finish line buzzes with activity as the racers shower…bike shower first of course…then personal shower, food, new clothes, medical tent if necessary and off to catch the ferry to the campsite in Squamish.

In line for the bike showers – lots of mud!

Langdale Trail – June 23, 2012

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I can’t believe a nearly a month has gone by since I have had a good hike in the forest.  We’ve had lots of rain and I’ve let work and meetings take too much priority.  I had a sunny afternoon to myself and made the most of it.  I decided to go exploring in my own backyard.
Langdale Trail – easy & level hike
Our street ends a block from the house and is the beginning of a trail through the forest.  This is the first trail I ever explored on the Sunshine Coast.  My neighbour, Jo, took the ladies of our cul-de-sac on a guided tour to share an easy trail we could all hike.  Jo passed away last fall, and I was thinking of her today and thankful that she shared this trail with me and starting my hiking trips.

The trees here are fairly young…new growth I’m sure after logging.  These are skinny, fast growing trees…maybe alder.  Almost all deciduous…the mighty Douglas fir and yellow cedar are further up the mountain.  Looking straight up at the sky the leaves rustled in the slight breeze.  The walk was very peaceful with birds singing and enjoying the sunshine.

Salmon berries are ready to eat

 The trail is lined with what I believe are salmon berries.  They are orange and turn red when ripe.  A delicious snack along the way.

Ten days from now this trail will be the end of stage 5 of the BC Bike Race.  500 riders from around the world will fly down the trail descending from much higher on Mt. Elphinstone as they race to the finish line at the ferry terminal below.  I look forward to cheering them on.

Langdale Falls – March 16, 2012

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You know what it’s like when you have a week filled with meetings, presentations and stress? I hadn’t been able to hike all week, part bad weather and part too full a schedule. Friday was a day reserved for rejuvenating and getting out in nature. I looked forward with excitement to meeting the ladies for a hike.

It seems we all needed a bit of sunshine and fresh air, so we took a longer route and headed for Langdale Falls…up and over the falls and around to the powerlines before circling back up “Nuts” to our starting point. All together a great workout and just over 1.5 hours. “Nuts” is a short little trail segment, but it is a quad burner that is all uphill at the end of the hike. It’s a very pretty area, and that makes it a little easier. It’s a good measure of progress…a trail that you do a little faster each time…a little less winded each time.
There were many tree limbs down from the recent windstorm, but the forest is incredibly green. This spot is near Langdale Creek and is just full of moss. So many shades of green between the moss, ferns, and trees. Hello Middle Earth?

We have received a lot of rain the past couple of weeks so the creeks are all running full. There were stretches along Langdale Creek where we were stepping along rocks because the creek was higher than normal. It’s loud & powerful and pure. Just wait until the snow starts melting. There is a lot of fresh snow on Mt Elphinstone right now.
Just after this point in the hike is the most challenging. You need gloves as you back your way down a steep set of rocks only then to have to hike back up a steep section. Kudos to the team that attached ropes to this section. Having something else to hold on to while you climb this steep part is just the security blanket one needs to safely conquer this section of trail.


Langdale Falls up close.
Let’s hope there aren’t so many days before the next trip to the forest.

Sunshine Coast Art Crawl – October 23, 2011

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What a fantastic weekend! Too much to take in, but so much fun and perfect fall weather. Three all encompassing days of the 2nd Annual Sunshine Coast Art Crawl. 108 studios and galleries participating representing over 175 artists literally from Langdale to Lund.

Now I really don’t know anything about art. But I do know when I think something is beautiful…amazing….and sometimes a little weird. I know when something speaks to me and I know when I wish I could have something to look at every day.

The best thing about the art crawl is getting to see where artists work…where they draw their inspiration and learn just a little bit about their process. It is also about all different kinds of art: paintings, jewelry, sculpture, pottery, metalworks, furniture design, carving, glass blowing, leather, perfume…you name it…it was here. What is really amazing is the high level of quality in some of these artists I am lucky enough to call neighbors.

This is Tien showing off his silver jewelry creations and his perfumes and lotions.


Friday night we mixed in a bit of live music at the Gumboot Cafe…one of my favourite jazz groups: Mimosa. Three amazing women who write much of their own music and perform in at least 3 languages. Don’t miss an opportunity to hear these talented ladies perform. Lively music makes you want to get up and dance.

OK, back to the crawl… I managed to take in 23 studios this weekend and came home with a small painting that looks like it could have been inspired by the beach just down from our house.


23 studios may seem like scratching the surface with 108 studios participating. However, it isn’t about quantity….its about enjoying art and listening to the artist talk about what it means to him/her. It is about talking to other crawlers and hearing their stories of the day. I went to a similar number last year. This year I was able to see many new artists and return to a few of my favourites. There will be plenty more to enjoy in 2012. Mark your calendars now for an October weekend visit to the Sunshine Coast.


Besides, it was a beautiful weekend. I started my crawl today in Davis Bay where there was a cluster of studios. I parked the car and got a nice walk in between visiting 7 studios. On the walk back to the car, I got this lovely view of the ocean. A perfect day for a little family time playing on the beach…and some feathered family feeding time as the tide started to inch its way back out.

Nope…not a bad way to spend a weekend.

Langdale Falls – Feb 25, 2011

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How could anyone get tired of this view? It is my favourite part of Arcturus Retreat B&B…just gazing out the window at Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains with Gambier Island on the left and Bowen Island on the right.

You just have to love a completely clear blue sky on a winter day. Anyone who lives through a rainy grey Vancouver area November & December knows just how good a day of winter sunshine makes you feel. Today was abnormally cold here in lotusland. We rarely dip below freezing here and just barely. Today’s highs were below zero, but with this much sunshine…who cares? You just have to be outside.

Back to the forest trails on Mount Elphinstone for an afternoon hike. The trees here are majestic, and I am learning my way around the trails. While I usually take a one hour hike focused on a bit of cardio, you could hike here for hours and never cross where you’ve already been. It really is an amazing network of hiking and mountain bike trails.

Today we headed for Langdale Falls. With the cold temperatures, we were very curious what the condition of the falls would be.

What a treat! Some water was still flowing, but the ice formations were amazing. If you look at the very bottom of the picture, you can see the greenish/brownish colour where the ice must be many inches thick.

As I said, this is a sight not seen often as it just isn’t cold enough, even in the heart of winter. This is after about 24 hours of sub-freezing temperatures. Don’t let the cold weather keep you inside. Afterall, most Canadians would tell you that it’s not really cold until you get to -30 or -40. Just bundle up and get your heart going with a good hike.

Mt Elphinstone – Feb 9, 2011

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Another gorgeous warm winter day! I have been hiking these trails on Mt Elphinstone about twice a week for the last few weeks. I am starting to know my way around, but there is so much more to explore. It is a fabulous way to spend an afternoon with the sun streaming in.

It is hard to convey just how green the forest is. Moss, ferns, groundcover and so many trees. It is just green and full of life. How can you feel anything but hopeful and inspired in this landscape?

When my friend emailed this morning to suggest the hike, I looked outside at the sunny day and said “How can I not go?” It was just the two of us today (three counting Kono, her dog). We had been climbing a decently steep section for a while, when my friend said “look how far you’ve come! You’ve been talking the whole time!” Now those of you that know me aren’t suprised at all that I can talk a lot. What is special is that I could talk while climbing this terrain and not be completely out of breath. That is truly the accomplishment. This is infinitely better than any treadmill or road running workout you can ever have.

This wooden bridge on Sidewinder Trail is an example of a mountain bike feature in the trails. It makes the sharp corner much more fun.

This waterfall doesn’t look very big in the photo. However it is probably about 15 feet high and is in a series of falls that is quite loud. I am standing on the bridge that crosses Gibsons Creek. It is a nice turnaround point for a 1 hour hike.

Can’t wait for the next opportunity to explore more of these trails.

Langdale Trail – Feb 1, 2011

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Welcome to February and welcome to more sunshine! I watched my first sunrise in a while today…now just before 8am. Not a cloud in the sky and a warm orange glow building above the Coast Mountains. I quickly decided a hike was in order today.


I decided to try the trail above Langdale…our street ends and the trail heads off into the forest. This tree is amazing. It has to be hundreds of years old. For comparison, the tree on the left is 2-3 feet in diameter. The dark patch in the center is like a small cave that I can completely sit inside. I just can’t imagine what this area looked like just 125 years ago before European settlers started logging.

I haven’t hiked this trail for a few months. With all the rain we’ve had lately, the upper part of the trail has become a stream. Nevertheless, I was inspired by the great weather so I hiked all the way to the powerlines. This was a first for me. Roundtrip was 2 hours and a good workout. Not steep, but enough to get the heart pumping. It was fun to see how the water works its way around all the rocks, branches and leaves…constantly flowing…constantly searching for the ocean.

I’ll be back, but maybe later this spring when the trail is dry.