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 Fall 2022 & Winter 2023

Date

Hike

Hike Area

Hike Rating

Leader(s)

Nov 30

Dodd Narrows/ Cable Bay

Nanaimo

Dave

Dec 7

Cottonwood Ridge

Youbou

Julia & Randall

Dec 14

Cowichan Estuary/Dike

Duncan

Pat

Dec 21

Pine Point

Youbou

Jean

Dec 28

Lakeview Park to Beaver Lake

Lake Cowichan

Pat

Sat. Jan 1

Mystery Hike

Local

Cliff & Willa

Jan 4

Mesachie Forest Loop

Mesachie

Mike & Carroll

Jan 11

Stoltz Park Trail

Lake Cowichan

Julia & Randall

Jan 18

Marble Bay

Lake Cowichan

Pat

Jan 25

CVT: South from Renfrew Rd.

Shawnigan Lake

Dave A.

Feb 1

Holden Lake/Hemmer Park

Nanaimo

Mike & Carroll

Feb 8

Cobble Hill

Julia & Randall

Feb 15

Duncan Urban

Duncan

Lorna

Feb 22

Mystery Hike

Werner

Mar 1

Baldy Mt.

Shawnigan

Mike & Carroll

Mar 8

Mt. Tzouhalem Ridge Trail

Duncan

Dave A.

Mar 15

Fair Service Fun

Lake Cowichan

Julia & Randall

Mar 22

Mt. Sicker

Duncan

Steve

Mar 29

Christie Falls

Ladysmith

Cliff & Kathryn

	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.