Weaver Lake

Weaver Lake

 As part of Bronwyn's birthday celebrations I took her camping the weekend after her birthday to Weaver Lake. Weaver lake is a very picturesque forestry campground just east of Harrison. I had taken a trip there a week or so before (Mark initially spent a weekend there in April, we have quickly become regulars!) and enjoyed some solitary rest and relaxation. It really does feel like an out-of-the-way place and is relatively small and quiet. A bit on the rustic side, but that (and the steep hill to get to the lake) helps to keep out the hordes. It is a relatively short drive from Vancouver (about 2 and half hours). You take Hwy 7 to Harrison Mills and turn left on Morris Valley Rd. Then you drive about 11kms and turn left at the entrance to Weaver Lake. The recreational area, as it is called, is about 2kms from the turn off up a steeply inclined forest service road. (Yeah, I know, I'm going all 'travel guide' in my descriptions!). The steep incline is actually very steep, quite a long slow climb. I had my foot to the floor and the van was barely going 15km/hr. I began to fear that I'd soon start to go backwards and not get to the top. Mark had already warned me about this hill and I'd experienced it on my previous trip. It's do-able, but it definitely heats up the engine.

Beautiful cedar on lakeside trail

We got our favourite campsite. This site is  not adjacent to any other campsite and backs onto a wooded, marshy area. There is even a trail leading from the campsite that takes you through the forest into a fast-running creek. The campground is relatively cut off but I could get cell reception if I walked 5 minutes or so and climbed a  hill. That is one of the other nice things about this campground, you are not cut off and yet you are not available all the time either.

Some photos? Okay then...

Weaver Lake

Trusty camper van at the entrance to our campsite

Hunting for frogs

Lakeside trail

Bronwyn and I experienced rain for most of our trip. It began falling on Friday evening and did not stop until just before we left (typical!). At some points it was really coming down hard, bouncing of the roof of the van and turning the campsite into a muddy swamp. Our hair and clothes got soaked through and we remained that way for much of the trip. But at least we could mostly dry out in the van. The good thing is that we are rainy day people and so we had fun despite the downpours. It is great to have one-on-one time with Bronwyn without the distraction of computer/TV or anything else. She is such good company and we shared quite a few laughs. We had a running joke about my obsession with sandwiches. It's not an obsession, but it is true that I usually mention sandwiches; making them or eating them, when I talk of any outing. She constantly pointed this out, "I think you just like saying the word sandwich!" she exclaimed. She also told me that I was an awesome mum, "Because you are making all these great memories for me." There an additional reward for me, if I needed one.

Fishing for water striders

Did I mention it rained?

On my previous trip I did the 5.5km hike that goes all the way around the lake. Named Denham's Trail, it is a beautiful and varied hike. It took me around 3 hours and I didn't come across another person all along the route. I wasn't able to do the lake walk with Bronwyn because it was just raining too hard. It's not a difficult walk and it is quite beautiful, offering some great views of the lake when you get higher up. There were some interesting bridge constructions all along the way and I think I counted at least 5 different styles of wooden bridge. The forest floor was a sea of ferns and the trail was lined with ripening salmon berries and other bushes and low level trees. I came across small clearings on the route where wild flowers grew: seablush, blue-eyed grass, and white trilliums and other wild flowers. (See link below). The middle of the trail was quite overgrown and appeared to be seldom used. I began to feel a little uneasy during this part of the hike: on my own, I couldn't see much of the path through the thick bushes. The path appeared to follow through sort of clearing that allowed the forest understory to grow thick and close. Or maybe it was a previously logged area? I was essentially 3km in and out and the trail was barely visible. I worried there might be bears around on the hunt for berries and began to worry myself with thoughts of being hunted by some careful (and hungry) predator. But then I worried that said predator might sense my fear and being even more predatory. Told myself to calm down, and I did.

A bridge construction over the swampy ground

Another wooden bridge

The trail at the middle section, barely visible.

Last weekend Mark took River to Weaver Lake for his first camping trip of the year. River was so excited to go. He had a fabulous trip and is constantly asking to go back. Mark took the kayak and they spent some time on the lake. They didn't quite get completely washed out like Bronwyn and I! Children are made for the outdoors and it is so wonderful to see how much fun they have.

Mark and River's campsite

Ready for the kayak

This is a useful site if you are looking for the names/pictures of wildflowers in British Columbia Wildflowers of BC

I've back dated this post for the sake of chronology because I haven't been updating as regularly as I should. One of the problems with journaling (or blogging/journaling) is trying to keep up with events and keep them chronological!