Strathcona Wilderness Institute (SWI) Society is offering several September programs in Strathcona Park thanks to volunteer guides.
The Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre, managed by SWI, at the Paradise Meadows trailhead adjacent to Mt. Washington’s Raven Lodge, is the centre for SWI programs and is open almost every day for Park and trail information.
On Saturday Sept. 6, join Mary Finnan for a guided hike around the Kwai Lake Loop, an eight-hour, 16 km long hike. Registration is limited to 12 people - contact coordinator@strathconapark.org. No pets please on this outing which will start at 8 a.m. from the Wilderness Centre.
On Sunday Sept. 7 starting at 1 p.m., expert naturalist Alison Maingon will guide a Mushroom ID Hike around the Lake Helen Mackenzie Loop. “I will give a short intro to mushrooms outside the Centre then set out to Battleship Lake, “ says Alison. “The forested slopes above Paradise Meadows have a wealth of fall mushrooms potentially visible along the trails to Battleship Lake and around to Helen McKenzie- for example the Gypsy mushroom (Rozerites caperatus) or the Woolly chanterelle ( Gomphus kauffmanii).” The round trip is about 8.5 km and will take about 3 hours including stops.
The next weekend, a choice of two hikes are offered. On Saturday Sept. 13, join SWI volunteer Jana Tomanek for a dog-friendly Nature Hike to Lady Lake. Pre-register at coordinator@strathconapark.org for this 11 km, 5 hr. slowly-paced hike which will start at 9 a.m. from the Wilderness Centre. Leashes are required for pets in this area, and well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome.
Also on September 13 starting at 10 a.m. Marie Maccagno of the Comox District Mountaineering Club will guide a hike to Divers Lake. Meet at the Centre for this 11 km, moderate hike which should take about 5 hours. Pre-register at coordinator@strathconapark.org.