[Nick Heath]

Well, Roland, Mick and I went to Zorro Bay today, making an access trail and clearing and levelling about 3 or 4 tent sites in pleasant fairly level upland with sword ferns, vine maple, choke cherry and alder, with some other tree and plant species growing there too. Added to that was a perfectly usable pebble beach with no nasty boulders to move! A very nice site! However we must have been working hard because we broke a shovel a peavey and needed to replace the chain on the saw!

Next scheduled outing is Friday 22 May. Hope we will see some of our super SKABC crew again then!

[Nick Heath]

Yikes, it’s Victoria Day already and less than a month to go before the big opening. Tomorrow (Tues 19 May) Roland Stefani has kindly volunteered to join us – and we’ll likely tackle Thornbrough again – mostly levelling 2 tent sites, I expect.  Mick and I cleared the beach and started work on the tent sites on Thursday, so we have a good idea what needs doing on this steep forest slope to make a tent pad that won’t just wash out in the first winter rainstorm – or so we think! Also tomorrow we have a 0.5 m low tide, so we can look at fixing any obstructions at the bottom of the boat run.

Thanks for your support, SKABC!!

[Nick Heath]

Steve Barnes, Mick Allen and I had another great day today, working on lovely Islet View. This is a beauty. “Thanks, Team SKABC”  many future paddlers will say when they marvel at the smooth canoe run and the lovely upper beach and shaded tent sites. Wow!

Next outing Thu ( tomorrow). After that probably nothing until Tues 19 May. Thornbrough Channel is our likely destination.

[Steve Barnes]

Hi Nick, I can help on Wed (but not Thur or Sunday)

[Nick Heath]

Another good day, with Steve Barnes working super hard to show that Seniior Power ca move rocks!

We worked all day on the landing at Islet View. This is a lovely site but the superb view makes to hard to work there.

Might go out Tuesday tomorrow for a non-rcck moving day- our bodies need a break. Something easier like levelling tent sites and clearing trails with a chainsaw.

Not certain yet, but definitely Wed or Thu too for more rock moving.

Pl let me know if you can come out for one of these days.

Also Sunday looks good for low tide work to clean up the bottom of some canoe runs or to start to assess and clear Thornbrough Channel landing – which is mostly gravel,  but we need to get a good look to see what the best route is.

 

[Former Member]

Last chance for a Sunday afternoon paddle on a brilliant warm day from a quiet landing on a quieter cove just 20 minutes from the Second Narrows Bridge…and with an option to share a beer or dinner at the Raven Pub afterwards.

Meet just south of Deep Cove at 4610 Strathcona Road at a small waterside park around 4:00 and head out at 4:30 for paddle in Indian Arm.  Details are here: http://www.skabc.org/forums/topic/sunday-afternoon-paddles-from-strathcona-beach/.  RSVP by text or phone to Kim Mattinson at 778-895-4542 or Randy Chatterjee at 604-617-8624.

[Nick Heath]

Another super successful day Friday, with enthusiastic and highly effective work from Randy Chatterjee.  Thank you Randy!  So we have done the Tantalus Landing canoe run almost to the top with maybe a day or two left to complete it. This was the toughest nut of all, so we are pleased with progress.  Yeah SKABC!

We’ll head out   Mon (also Wed or Thu). Rock moving again! We will spend the day at Tantalus Landing or Islet View.  Please come to help – 1 or 2 max. No skill needed!

 

These are always subject to weather – mostly -we are more concerned about high wind which causes rough water. This morning we chose Tanatalus Landing because it was more sheltered water than Islet View. Those Squamish winds sure do blow of a morning!

[Former Member]

I do have a cordless sawzall that will easily cut rebar.  I will bring it.

[Former Member]

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.

[Former Member]

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!

[Former Member]

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!

[Author]

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