The Retreads Hiking Club is a program run in partnership between Cowichan Lake Recreation and local area hiking enthusiasts. The club welcomes all outdoor enthusiasts interested in fitness and fun to join in exploring the beautiful trails of the Cowichan Valley area and other parts of central Vancouver Island.

Although the club’s primary emphasis is on hiking the trails of the Cowichan Valley, from time to time the club does venture to other locales. All hikes are led by experienced leaders who know the trails being hiked. All hikes are pet free. The club hikes year round with hikes that vary in skill level/endurance from average to advanced. The club usually meets Wednesdays at Saywell Park in Lake Cowichan (next to the Visitor Information Centre) to begin each hike.

Hikes for Winter & Spring 2023

Date	Hike	Hike Area	Hike Rating	Leader(s)
Mar 29	Christie Falls	Ladysmith	2B	Cliff & Kathryn
Apr 5	Mt. Tzouhalem: Jitka’s Bench	Duncan E	3C	Julia B.
Apr 12	Robertson Falls	Mesachie	2B	Julia M. & Randall
Apr 19	Harewood Bluff	Nanaimo	2B	Tony M.
Apr 26	Beaver Lake Loop	Lake Cowichan W	1C	Cliff & Willa
May 3	Mt. Tzouhalem: Eco Reserve	Duncan E	2B	Lorna
May 10	Cherry Point	Duncan S	1B	Ken
May 17	Cottonwood Ridge	Youbou	3A	Julia M. & Randall
May 24	Mt. Richards: Sawden Pass	Duncan E	3B	Lorna & Leslie
May 31	Mt. Prevost: Hidden Peaks Loop	Duncan	2B	Mike & Carrol
June 7	CVT Glenora	Duncan W	1A	Dave A.
June 14	Holland Creek	Ladysmith	3B	Mike & Carrol
June 21	Stone Circle	Lake Cowichan	3B	Julia M. & Randall
June 28	Maple Mt.: Chilco Rd. to Smith Bay	Duncan E	2B	Lorna

	Part 1: INCLINE ELEVATION		Part 2: TERRAIN
1	Very small hills or very little stair climbing.	A	Almost entirely on groomed trails
2	Some moderate hills and/or stair climbing.	B	A signiﬁcant part of the route is on well groomed trails, very few obstacles.
3	Some signiﬁcant Hills and/or stair climbing.	C	A signiﬁcant part of the route is on somewhat difﬁcult terrain (rocky/rooted paths or soft sand).
4	Lots of signiﬁcant hills and/or stair climbing.	D	A signiﬁ cant part of the route is on difﬁ cult terrain.
		E	Majority of route is on very difﬁ cult terrain

Hiking Guidelines

In order to maximize fun and safety on the trail, the club follows the following guidelines:

All hikes are pet free
Registration with the hike leader at the start of the hike is mandatory
Hiking boots and appropriate clothing are essential plus a pack with water, snacks, lunch, first aid supplies, a whistle, etc (click here for a suggested packing list)
For safety reasons, when on the trail participants are expected to follow directions of the hike leader(s)
Hike leaders will determine the route of the hike
Hike leaders may at their discretion terminate the hike for safety reasons (e.g.: inclement weather or deteriorated trail conditions)
You are expected to hike within the group (e.g.: branching off the hiking route on your own is not permitted)
If you need to leave the hike before it terminates, you must co-ordinate this with the hike leader and arrange for at least one other person to accompany you back to the trail head
Leave nothing on the trail except your footprints

Full time membership offers you the following benefits:

Emailed pre-hike description of hikes
Savings on hiking fees
Invitation to quarterly planning meetings
Invitation to all social events

Members are encouraged to contribute to the club by volunteering to lead or co-lead hikes, suggesting new trails, or other ideas for hikes. Help with social events which are held from time to time is also appreciated.

For more information on the Retreads Hiking Club, to register or to inquire about membership expiry dates, contact Cowichan Lake Recreation at 250.749.6742 ext 0.