[Randy Chatterjee]

How about this for a new “regular” trip idea from Kim Mattison: Sunday afternoon paddle and picnic (and/or Raven Pub crawl) just south of Deep Cove off Strathcona Road (location here) at a little waterfront park with a sand/rock beach and nice open grassy field.

There is parking immediately there for about 5 cars, and nearby parking as well, and this is all without the crowds and parking trouble of Deep Cove.  Access to the water is relatively flat and across less than 100 feet of grass.  (This is a hidden gem, so share this outside the club at your peril. 😉

We will start this experiment THIS SUNDAY, May 10, at 4:00 PM with boat launching at 4:30.  Paddle for an hour or two, at the group’s consensus for duration and direction, or in two or more paths, and then reassemble at the Raven Pub.  When it gets warmer this spring and summer, we’ll plan post-paddle BBQ parties instead, or as well.

For this first Sunday, reply here on-line to RSVP or call Kim Mattinson at 778-895-4542 or Randy Chatterjee at 604-617-8624.  If you get lost on the way, please call either of us.  The link above and repeated here gives you a precise Google Map, but you can also key in 4610 Strathcona Road, North Vancouver into your TomTom or other nav device, or: 1) Take Mount Seymour Parkway toward Deep Cove.  2) Make a left onto Deep Cover Road as if you are headed to Deep Cove.  3) BUT IMMEDIATELY take your first right onto Strathcona Road.  4) Wind down this road for exactly .8 kilometres (25 seconds at neighbourhood speeds) toward the water and to a sharp left and then a sharp right.  There is obvious diagonal parking on the right and also an open view on the right (south) to the water.

Be there!  And maybe consider future Sundays there all summer long (with maybe a few different people leading or coordinating on different weeks).

[Nick Heath]

Hey great, Randy – good to go for Fri unless something happens. Just bring pfd rain gear (for spray) work gloves rubber boots or wet landing footwear and work boots. Lunch too, if so inclined. If you have a cordless grinder that will cut rebar fairly easily  that would be helpful – we haven’t bought one yet.

[Randy Chatterjee]

Friday works for me, and presumably to Tantalus.    “Canoe run”?  Should I bring a canoe?  I have one. – Randy

[Nick Heath]

Do you know a lusty, young outdoorsy person who would like to be paid to supplement our current ‘senior power’ group? $25 – 30 hr. for right person transport provided.  Job is mostly labouring – move rocks, dig holes, carry materials. About 10 days of work to be done in May/early June.

[Nick Heath]

Wed and Fri May 6 & 8 are scheduled work days. likely at Islet View Wed (Porteau launch site) and back to Tantalus Fri (Squamish launch site). Main effort will be canoe run clearing on the ‘beach’.  Lighter work also available – brushing, levelling, minor trail construction. Also site exploration for hazard trees, potential bear-proof food hang trees, potential toilet area etc. Weather looks good, too!

[Nick Heath]

Will do, Melissa! Pl keep checking here.

Steve Barnes was a trooper today as he, Mick and I attacked the giant boulder field of Tantalus Landing, (the second time for Mick and me). Ugh!  However, in spite of a failure of the brand new 1.5 ton lever hoist to work properly, we still manged to manhandle many rocks and we are already getting to see a clear canoe run taking shape .  All in all, a successful, if tiring, day. Much cloud some sun, some rain, some little bugs, too, but a breeze blew them away by noon. It tried to blow us away later , but we were wise to that one!

[Melissa Chaun]

Hi Nick,

I’m a little freer after the 17th but would like to keep posted on site prep work as I have a fairly flexible schedule. Thanks!

[Nick Heath]

Thks Steve- will email details to you. One more volunteer for Mon and we’ll be full! We’ll work on Tantalus Landing again.

[Steve Barnes]

Hi Nick, I can help out on Monday. I’ll phone you for details.

[Nick Heath]

I appreciate that some folks need more advance notice.  This week’s weather has been windy and blustery but now seems to be more settled. It makes it hard to set dates too far ahead!  Thks anyhow! There will be another time…

Update! 3 hardy SKABC members laboured hard to clear a canoe run through boulders covered with v slippery fucus at Tantalus Landing. Then, for a break, we trimmed a few branches. Nice site. Pretty stream and waterfall.  Not so nice landing  – yet!

Next trip Monday weather permitting.

[Randy Chatterjee]

A little more warning, please. I could have made it with another day’s warning.  I’d love to make the next work day.

[Nick Heath]

Thursday 30 Apr is the next outing. Tantalus Landing (bit of an oxymoron). This is just 3 NM from Squamish so if you were to launch there or maybe from Darrell Bay you could paddle there and back. However, a ride is offered in the skiff instead. Dress for immersion and spray. Pl let me know if coming. Nick 604 417 3447. Depart about 7:30 am.

[Nick Heath]

<h2>Free Holiday!! Expenses paid trip to W Coast Vancouver Island!!</h2>
Is there a catch? There always is at least one –  timeshare condos to tour?  investment opportunity? not at all – but there are two others conditions!

1) This is a volunteer (aka slave labour) work camp to clean up beach debris at Keith River, N Brooks.

2) You must join BCMTNA (for only $25).

Dates: 20 – 28 June 2015

Beaches to be cleaned are at Keith River, S of Lawn Pt.  Access is from Side Bay by kayak or other boat. Camp on the beach. Food provided! Travel funds provided! Helicopter or barge garbage removal transport provided!  Need max 20 willing, tough, strong self-reliant labourers! Get a tan! Meet a bear! Get personal with plastic!

This is funded by Vancouver Aquarium, using the last of the Govt of Japan funds given to the Govt of Canada for Tsunami debris remediation.

See http://www.bcmarinetrails.org for more.

[Nick Heath]

Too bad the dates clash, Randy. Thanks for the offer!. Reale from Nanaimo Paddlers has offered to lead a follow-up trip, too, if there are too many on this one, so I think a second trip is likely.

Hey, I might want to do it again, too! Bring pruners! Cheers!

[Nick Heath]

Be part of the inaugural Sea To Sky (Howe Sd) trip. The plan is to visit all 6 new sites, but we’ll be camping at just 2 sites – Bain Creek and Zorro Bay. The trip starts at Porteau Cove and ends at Squamish, just in time for the opening ceremony for the trail. Short car shuttle. Estimated  trip level is C2. First day is 12 NM (could be shortened) and the next 2 days are under 10 NM each. This is a paddle for hardy campers.  There are currently no amenities at the sites and by June that could still be so.  Also we’ll pass no stores , no restaurants, no bars, no gas stations even. Our small group might also include BCMTNA members and possibly members of other clubs who are not SKABC members. If there are more than about 6 paddlers we will split up and camp at different sites, although we might travel together at times.

[Author]

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