The dry summer is gone and we are ready to celebrate. The Cowichan Lake Trail Blazers Society has reached another milestone of for our Fairservice Fun trail network. But before I spill the beans and reveal where we are at, let’s look back a bit.
Over 30 volunteers met at Bald Mountain on May 7 to remove invasive Scottish broom from the trails. Cowichan Lake Trail Blazer Society volunteers joined forces with Youbou Community Association, the Retreads hiking group, Save Our Holmes, Cowichan Lake and River Stewards, Fire Smart, and the CVRD to make a difference on Mother’s Day weekend. The weather cooperated and we filled 3 bins full of broom. Mark Eraut of the Cabin Collection Development donated 2 bins and CVRD provided the third. Thanks everyone for a great effort!
April was dedicated to refurbishing a cherished hiking trail in Youbou that commemorates a young man who died too soon. Volunteers spent April 2 and 16 on the Christopher Rock trail cutting away fallen logs, creating switchbacks and bypasses, and creating a new entryway. The next step will be adding signage. Thanks to the Cowichan Lake Trail Blazers who were shouldering tools: Werner, Rick, Scott, Brennan, Alex, Dylan, Donna, Robb, Chelsea, Steve, Fred, Julia, Randall, Cindy, and Mike. Youbou volunteers joining in were: Eva, Susanne, Patricia, Klaus, Cindy, Allison, Julie, Allan, Julia, and Randall.
Our Master Trail Plan for Christopher Rock has been approved and we are ready to start work! Join the Cowichan Lake Trail Blazers on Saturdays at 10 am, on April 2, 16, and 30, behind the Youbou Community Hall. Bring rake, lopper, shovel, pick, gloves, and a can-do attitude!
At our Annual General Meeting, we elected 4 board members: Chelsea, Julia, Manfred, and Donna, who will each serve a three-year term until 2025. The board subsequently elected our executive board: President, Julia; Vice President, Nic; Secretary, Donna; and Treasurer, Fred. We also heard a recap of our very successful year in 2021 and learned about the exciting plans for 2022.
On March 26 and 17, eight dedicated trail blazers participated in the Level 2 Trail Building workshop conducted by Mark Wood of Trail Holistics. The group met in the mornings to discuss approaches to more complex trail building. In the afternoons they were in the woods learning bushcraft, building a bike jump from wood. We dare you to try it!
