Club Presentations

Consult the latest Muskrat Express for upcoming presentations.

2013 Field Trip List
Field trip participants must be current club members. Join now.

(Note: We are hoping that this list is incomplete and that we will be able to add more outings. If you can lead a trip that will help fill in some of the gaps please contact Jim or Fred)

Alkali Lake
Sunday, April 21st. Leader: Fred McMechan 392-7680
Meet at Scout Island Nature Centre at 9:00 am to arrange car-pooling. Enjoy this annual field trip to view bird species along the road to Alkali Lake. Be sure to bring a lunch with hot beverage, your binoculars or spotting scope. Birding will be done from the road so expect minimal walking.

Bike trip along Moon Road
Wednesday May 8th. Leaders: Rick Dawson 392-3370 and Margaret Waring 398-7724
Meet at Scout Island at 6:00 pm Wednesday evening. We will do an evening bike trip on Moon Road. We will park at the beginning of Moon road and cycle out past Doc English Bluff parking lot. Highlights include great views of the steep cliffs into the Fraser River, interesting geology at road cuts, many eagles and other birds.

Wycott Flats, Churn Creek Protected Area, hike
Saturday May 11th. Leader: Ordell Steen 398-5017.
Meet at the parking lot by A&W at the “Y” at 6:30 am. This hike will explore grasslands and dry forests within that portion of Churn Creek Protected Area on the north side of Churn Creek. Access to the trail head will require an approximately two hour drive from Williams Lake through Farwell Canyon and then south on forestry roads to Blackwater Lake. The hike will be a moderate difficulty hike of about 4 km (one way) on relatively gentle slopes to the old log house built by W. Wycott (“Stranger Wycott”) and an additional about 2 km to a terrace at the edge of Churn Creek canyon, about 100 m above the creek. The views of the canyon and Churn Flats on the other side are spectacular. Some people may camp overnight on May 11/12 near the trailhead. Contact Ordell Steen (398-5017) for further details. This will be a joint trip with the Friends of Churn Creek P.A. Society (contact Glen Davidson 398-5809).

Chilanko Marsh & Patterson Lake
Friday May 17th to May 19th. Leader: Jim Sims 296-3638.

Chilanko Marsh

Meet at Puntzi Lake Tanker Base at 9:30 am on Saturday morning (allow a minimum of 2 hours driving time from Williams Lake) or contact Jim if you want to meet him at the marsh on Friday night and camp out for the night. This is an annual bird species count conducted on the marsh and the surrounding riparian zone. The marsh provides an opportunity to see most of the waterfowl that are summer residents on Chilcotin lakes and marshes. Join us for a casual day long walk around the ponds as we search out the variety of bird species around the marsh. Following the birding you are welcome to gather at Jim's Eagle Lake cabin for Saturday night. Bring a tent or camper as there is limited space available. (the sauna will be warmed up) There will be a pot luck supper Saturday evening and a pancake breakfast Sunday morning. Sunday we will take a walk along the shore of Patterson Lake. Patterson Lake is a recently approved goal 2 Provincial Park. You are welcome to stay with Jim for the holiday Monday but you will be on your own for the rest for your meals. Please call Jim for more details if you plan on participating.

Frost Creek Birding
Saturday June 1st (morning). Leader: Cathy Koot 392-4250.
Meet at the SINC at 7:30 am to organize a car pool. We’d drive about 17 km and walk around the Colpitt Lake area looking and listening for water birds and forest birds. Sturdy footwear is recommended.

Williams Lake River Valley Birding
Sunday June 16th (morning). Leader: Phil Ranson 398-7110.
Meet at 8:00am in the lower parking lot (Frizzi Road past the transfer site and down into the river valley). Join with Phil for a morning walk in the river valley. Learn some of the bird songs of the many birds that will be nesting in the valley at this time of the year.

Voyageur Canoe Paddle on Rose Lake
Wednesday June 19th. Leader: Jim Sims 296-3638.
Meet at the public access on Allpress Road at 6:00pm. Bring an approved life jacket for all family members. Paddles can be provided. Listen to the Sora and the Virginia Rail as we paddle along the shore of the marsh on our way to the Black Tern colony.

Canoe/Kayak Jaunt around Helena Lake
Saturday July 6th. Leader: Cathy Koot 392-4250.
Canoe/kayak jaunt around Helena Lake, just west of Lac La Hache for a day trip. Meet at SINC at 8 am. Call Cathy at 250-392-4250 by July 5 to sign up. Please indicate if you have extra space in your vehicle or boat. All participants must wear approved life preservers at all times while in their boats. Bring your lunch, lots of water and sunscreen.

Viewland Mountain
July 20th. Leader: Sue Hemphill 250-620-3498 or 250-398-8532 or shemphill@midbc.com.
Please register ahead of time so you can be informed in the case of a change in plans. This is a good hike for anyone with walking ability - children 5 and up should be fine with it. We will meet in Horsefly at 9:30 am to carpool. Viewland Mountain is located between Quesnel Lake and Horsefly lake and the sub-alpine summit provides views of the Cariboo Mountains. The drive to the beginning of the trail is on good gravel road and will take 1.2 an hour. It is about an hour's hike to the top through forest (some stepping over downed logs) and a great view at the top. I will have some games and activities for children and adults that want to join in.

Niut Range Backpacking Trip
August 3rd to 5th. Leader: Jim Sims 296-3638.
You must register in advance to participate on this outing. This is an overnight backpacking trip into the alpine of the Niut Range. Final details are not confirmed at this time. Expect to see more details in the May newsletter.

One Eye Lake Weekend Camp
August 17th or 24th Leaders: Shary and Ben Stephen 989-5583.
Join Shary and Ben for a relaxing weekend camped at the beautiful recreation site on One-Eye Lake (West of Tatla Lake on highway 20). Venture out on the lake for a paddle in your canoe or kayak.

Copper Johnny Day Hike
Saturday September 14th. Leader: Peter Opie 392-1440.
Join us for a stroll through the new CCLUP Goal 2 protected area. Meet at SINC parking lot 8:00am. Rendezvous at 100 Mile 9:15. We will explore this new park south west of 100 Mile House which features eskers, pothole and alkali lakes and wetland complex. Wildlife viewing opportunities and moderate hiking. Bring a hearty lunch as well as water. Expect two hours travel each way.

Churn Creek Lone Cabin Creek hike
Saturday September 28th. Leader: Ordell Steen 398-5017.
Please contact the leader for meeting place and other information. This is a moderate to challenging hike in spectacular grassland landscapes of Churn Creek Protected Area. We will access our starting point from the Blackdome Mt road on the west side of the protected area and hike along Higginbottom Creek to a crossing of Lone Cabin Creek. Old trails then gently ascend the slopes on the south side of the Lone Cabin creek canyon to reach views of the Fraser River valley near the southern edge of the Protected Area. We will travel through a variety of grasslands, riparian ecosystems, old cabins, and some great scenery. Contact Ordell for details. This is a joint hike with the Friends of Churn Creek.

Junction Sheep Range
Saturday October 19th or 26th. Leader: Fred McMechan.
Meet at Scout Island at 8:00am. Bring a lunch, water bottle and your binoculars for this annual day long drive and hike into the park. This will be at the peak of the California Big-horned Sheep rut so look forward to seeing the sheep and perhaps you will be lucky and see or hear some head-butting.