It's the final countdown!!

Does everyone have their shit together? Have you checked your packs and tents and camelbacks and hiking boots and stove gas? Have you checked the ferry schedules? Joel, I'm leaving you in charge of the Kelowna contingent; Jon, you're on your own( remember, we're hiking, not camping this year!).

So far, no forest fires to dodge, probably due to the fact that there may still be snow on the ground on some places where it should have melted by now. Oh, and the weatherman is calling for a 40% chance of showers, so bring some sort of raingear and at least one tarp. Also, I have acquired a "2" man tent for myself, but if someone wants to hump a 4man up the mountain, be my guest. See you soon.

Tents

I'm planning on borrowing my neices 1 man tent,
otherwise I'll use my little one from diamondhead.
The only other one I have is a 4 man (with a fly!)
and if anyone wants to haul it up the mountain,
you're welcome to use it.

13 more days

Morty, you might want to bring that tarp with us,
if this weather doesn't turn around we're gonna
need it! At least it will be nice and cool for hiking.
I was happy to hear you guys are in such good shape
this year, you'll be able to carry my pack when I pass
out on the trail :)
Sorry Morty, I know you're used to eating Steak &
Lobster, but mec doesn't seem to sell that. We could
bring KD, but with no milk it might be kinda gross.
I'm only picking up dinner stuff from mec, everyone
is on their own for breakfast, lunch, and snacks, which
we could get all that stuff cheaper at Costco together as
long as we arrive in town early enough, while they're
still open. So...
Joel can you meet with Rob and Ainsley to decide when
you're leaving, find out if everyones coming, etc.
Thanks!

20 Days now

Judging from the amount of response to this blog it's gonna
be you and me, Morty....
My training regiment of beer and cigars might slow me down
a bit this year, but I'm pumped to go, it looks like a great spot.
I can grab the food packs from mec, but I need a head count.
Also if we want anything other than stroganoff.
What day are we heading to the island?
Does everyone have Friday off? If so maybe think about heading
here Thursday night, crash at my place and head to the island
early Friday?

Less than a month to go.

That's right, less than a month til hiking time. Are you excited? Are you psyched? Are you pumped? Are any of you still coming? I will assume that those of you on the other side of the pond have worked out the logistics of getting at least to the ferry. Will you be picking up food on the mainland or over here? No word yet on which way to the trail head, but a review from the Comox Distrct Mountaineering Club last year said they had to take the Beaver Creek route because the gate @ Comox Main was locked due to " Hazardous Fire Conditions". It may come down to a last minute phone call to see if the gate is locked. Either way, should be an interesting trip. If anyone's not able to make it this year, or if you have any details you'd like clarity on, please feel free to post, or at least email me. See you soon, bitches!

Food

I checked out some food on mec's website, the three that had ok/good reviews were the Alpineaire Kung Fu Chicken, the Mountain House Grilled Chicken w/Mashed Potato and the MH Beef Stroganoff. Joel, I can't remember which one we had with broccoli that you loved so much, so if you can remember, I'll try and find it again. Everyone check the MEC link and give opinions...

Map B

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The Route

From what I've read, it seems like the Frog Pond route will be the best. If anyone likes one of the other routes, then we should discuss which one we'll take. I added a couple of google maps of the drive to the Frog trail. It's not clear where the road ends, so Map A is where google shows the road ending, and Map B is where I would like to be able to drive to :) Just Zoom in you can sort of see a road up and around towards Century Sam Lake. Its around 35km's from the highway to point B, not sure how long it is from Morty's to Cumberland, but we should have time to get to the trailhead and set up camp before dark, even having to wait until after 6pm.

Map A

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Updates

Just some updates for everyone. First, I've replaced a useless link (not sure why i added it) with an extremely informative and detailed link. It has topo maps, pics and marks out 2 trails leading to the glacier (Frog ponds is quick and hard, Kookjai is slow and easy-ish). Also, a previous link (summitpost.org) is not linking, but I recommend you check it out manually. The real big issue is accessing the trail head from Comox Main Logging Road, as it runs through an "active" Timberwest parcel. All that Timberwest website says is access is restricted between 6am-6pm, 7 days a week. Some sites have claimed that public access is allowed during that timeframe if carring a VHF radio to monitor logging truck traffic. I'll try to contact Timberwest's PR dept for clarity on this, plus their policy for fire season access. Worst case scenario, there is a forest service road that links up to Comox Main outside Timberwest's land; the bad part is it starts at Beaver Creek, which is near Port Alberni. I skimmed over it with Google Maps and it seems doable, just lots of extra driving. Oh, and everyone should be able to post now, so gimme some feedback; or email me if i fucked that up again. Joel, can you forward the blog to Jer when you find his address? And let me know who's still able to make it.

The plan thus far

Here's my base plan for this years trip (god i hope i'm not walking by myself!). So, if you guys arrive friday before dark- you can do it,it's not that far of a drive- camp out at our place. We do a quick check of supplies, get shittered, and pass out. Saturday morning head north to Courtney (city, not chick) and pick up last minute supplies. They have a walmart, crappy-tire, lots of grocery stores and a couple outdoor equipment stores (and beer stores!!). Then we head east through Cumberland and into the southeast corner of Strathcona Park where the trail head is waiting for us. If we start hiking before noon at the latest (prefer 10 or 11), we should get to the camp by dinner, then have plenty of light to set up our tents. After breakfast on sunday we can spend the day exploring the glacier and looking for some of the nearby lakes like Mirren or Memory. Depending on time, energy, and/or possible injury (50' slide down a glacier, Ains?) we may shoot for Aureole Icefield or Cliffe Glacier. Monday is limp home day. Whatcha think?

Anyone wanna go for a walk?

Alright you lazy buggers! It's time to get serious about planning this trip. Who's in? Who's out? Who's even heard of Comox? Check the links, check the map (on bcparks site). The trail doesn't look long on the map compared to the other trails in Strathcona Park, but it's mostly elevation. Post some thoughts , questions, ideas, concerns, panic attacks, insults and anything else you think i won't ignore or delete, and lets get this trip on the road!

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island.... home of the unembodied feet washing up on shore. Also home to the beautiful Comox Glaciers, which will be our hike this year.