A Scouting Expedition

Hullo... Today I am on a scouting expedition...

There is a popular mountain hike from this spot... but I am not doing that... too many humans! 

Nope, we are going to head along the base of the mountain and see if we can connect up with another set of trails from the lake....

But first... we are going to find the little lake here...

Huh... this mountain trail has orange markers along it, that is beary helpful!

It makes it easier to follow the hiking trail instead of all sorts of mountain bike trails...

Here's the little lake...

And the end of the boardwalk that used to go across the lake...

See... from over there... it was quite cute apparently but... there were too many cars that would park along the side of the road to access the mountain trail, so the regional district built a fancy new parking lot with an outhouse too!

Too bad... I like boardwalks across lakes...

Still, it's nice and peaceful here.

Righteo... that's what we're heading for... the Outer Bypass...

These are handy signs...

And we're off!

I can hear what sounds like a waterfall upslope and this is quite a bit of water for June (yes... June!)

Somewhere up there... but we are going to stay focused on the trail... and not go bushwhacking...

Now that's a cute little coral mushroom!

Oh my goodness... look!!! Do you see it???

It's a berry... do you know what type??

I'll give you a hint... it's a **type of fish**berry!! More on those later....

Ooooh... a "real" columbine!! These are the ones that grow prolifically up by Gramma but... this is the first one I've seen down here.

They are pretty... 

Huh... the trail has turned into an old logging road... ah well...

I love the new growth on these fir trees... it's such a fresh, green colour.

Thank goodness for Google satellite view... we aren't quite there yet.... stay tuned!