CDMC ANNUAL BBQ!
It's everybody's favourite summer social. BBQ time. Celebrate the solstice, enjoy the smell of barbecue smoke, eat a delectable feast, and gather with friends new and old. This popular social event is a great opportunity to regale on winter snowshoes and plan your summer adventures.
- Sunday, June 22nd, 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Black Creek Community Centre – 2001 Black Creek Road
- $6 (cash only) donation per person is requested to go towards food and facility rental
- Bring a salad, side or dessert to share
Members are welcome to bring a guest, or even 2! Indicate your BBQ choice when you sign up: Veggie burger, Beef burger or Salmon burger. Baked potatoes will also be served with the fixings. Coffee, tea and juice will be provided. Please bring your own dishes, cutlery, and a glass or mug.
The event has been created on Meetup, so sign up online and indicate how many people will attend with you so we know how much food to get.
BEYOND THE SUMMIT - Tales of Resilience on Mount Logan and Mount Waddington
Enjoy an evening of film, books, and panel discussions about historical and future expeditions, and a fascinating display of historical mountaineering equipment.
Admission is free; cash donations will be accepted at the door. Proceeds will be offered as an honorarium for the presenters.
More information about the presentation can be found on the CDMC Meetup group events page, and seats can be reserved ahead of time at this link:
Snow Conditions
It's not yet summer and the alpine snowpack has been stubbornly sticking around. Anywhere above 1,000 metres we may encounter significant snow.
The website sentinel-hub.com, will identify snow areas although it doesn't indicate depth. Snow conditions will vary and be cautious of snow holes, high water and slippery conditions.
Another great resource is Avalanche Canada. In the spring and early summer, the avalanche danger is variable and can range from Low to High. Travelling early in the day is recommended, as conditions can change rapidly in short periods of time due to daytime warming.
When encountering summer snow remember sunglasses are a must and sun-screen highly recommended.
Be diligent and be prepared!
NOTICE OF MEETUP.COM UPDATE FOR MEMBERS
AS OF JUNE 15, 2025, FREE MEETUP ACCOUNTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CDMC MEETUP GROUP
If any of our current members have upgraded to Meetup+ accounts they have the following options:
- If the member uses Meetup only for CDMC, or otherwise has no specific need for the Meetup+ benefits, they can cancel Meetup+ subscription stay in CDMC group.
- If the member wants to keep their Meetup+ account then the member can create a second new "Free" account for use in the CDMC Group
- If neither 1. or 2. above options work, the Meetup+ account will be removed from the CDMC Meetup group to maintain the club policy of equal access by all members.
Meetup works hard to sell their paid Meetup+ account. However, this creates an unfair two tier membership group by providing Meetup+ members with priority status to the detriment of other members. The CDMC Meetup group is private, and consists of registered, paid members (currently 150 members); it is the CDMC's responsibility to ensure all members of the club have equal access to events. To ensure fair equal access only Free Meetup accounts will be accepted into the CDMC Meetup group.
If you have any questions about this update, please contact your CDMC Board of Directors at: comoxdistrictmountaineering@gmail.com
CDMC 2028 - 100 year Challenge
As part of the club's 100 year anniversary we're challenging CDMC members to complete either 20 "Explorer" hikes or 28 "Daytripper" hikes by 2028 - the club's 100 year anniversary. We'll honour those who complete the challenge at our annual potluck with a certificate of completion and a special award.
With summer fast approaching and the snow melting, it is time to start planning your trips. It's a great time to plan to catch up to Janet and Helen, who are our first 2 known completers of the challenge. Details for the CDMC 2028 Challenge on the website at: https://comoxhiking.com/members-only/#2028challenge
JOIN BROOMBUSTERS AT WORK!
‘Cut Broom in Bloom!’ ‘Slow. Broombusters at Work.’ = Actual signs of spring on Vancouver Island.
Can you spot the CDMC member/broombuster in this photo? She, along with numerous other volunteers, gets out to help tackle that highly invasive species, Scotch broom. They know that broom can be beaten.
The Comox Valley Broombusters organization has been active since 2010. Joining in some of their group sessions is a great way to learn the Do’s and Don’ts, enjoy the camaraderie, and take away a real sense of satisfaction. And yes, it is Julia holding the broom bouquet! She will confirm that everyone’s help--frequent or occasional—is warmly appreciated.
Check out broombusters.org/comox-valley/
Contact Bev Agur: cvbroombusters@gmail.com
2024 Photo contest winners -
Summer and Flora & Fauna
At the Potluck at the beginning the year, CDMC has a photo contest with four categories: People, Flora & Fauna, Summer, and Winter. Yarns from the Tarns will feature one or two each newsletter.
This newsletter's winning photos are:
- Summer: Petra Strougal
- Flora & Fauna: Cathy Beacham
Congrats to Petra and Cathy, and a thank-you to everybody who submitted photos.
Participate in next year's photo contest at the annual AGM!
Trail Transitions: What Spring Teaches Us About PatiencE
There’s something about spring hiking that keeps you humble. After the months of snow travel, layering systems, and short daylight hours, the first warm days of spring feel like an open invitation to the backcountry. But just as quickly, the trail reminds you: not so fast.
Spring is a season of in-betweens. One moment you’re walking through sun-dappled forest on dry trail; the next, you’re post-holing through knee-deep snow or bushwhacking around blowdown. The weather swings wildly, the snowline teases you at 800 meters and then reappears without warning, and your “should be melted by now” route turns into a soggy, energy-sapping trudge.
It’s easy to forget, after a long winter of dreaming about alpine ridges and high camps, that spring hiking demands a different mindset. It’s not quite the crisp efficiency of winter travel, and it’s not yet the free-flowing rhythm of summer. Instead, spring asks for patience. It asks us to slow down, to pay closer attention, and to be okay with turning around if conditions aren't quite right yet.
There’s value in that pause. In accepting that a trail might not go this time. In deciding to camp low instead of pushing for the ridge. In embracing the small joys: the first avalanche lilies poking through, the return of bird song, the trickle of meltwater everywhere. These aren’t consolation prizes—they’re the heartbeat of the season.
For many of us, spring is also when we shake off the rust—both physical and mental—from the winter months. We re-learn how to pack light but smart. We remember what it’s like to move through uneven, unpredictable terrain. We discover (again) that dry feet are a luxury. In a way, spring hikes are our transition, too.
So if you find yourself recalibrating your expectations this season, you’re not alone. The trail is teaching all of us, slowly and persistently, that adventure isn’t always about summits and mileage. Sometimes, it’s about adaptability. Sometimes, it’s about stopping at the melt line and watching the fog roll over the trees. And sometimes, it’s about trying again in a few weeks.
As we move from spring into summer, that patience pays off. Snowfields shrink, wildflowers bloom, and the alpine opens up—suddenly and gloriously. But for now, we’re in the middle space, where every trip is a bit of a gamble and every success feels just a little more earned.
Happy shoulder season, and see you out there—muddy boots, wet socks, wide smiles and all.
~ submitted by Julianna Wells
CDMC Upcoming Events
Looking for a hike to join? Check out our events page at https://www.meetup.com/comox-district-mountaineering-club/events.
Remember to add yourself to the waitlist if a trip you are interested in is full. Many times, people are unable to make a trip and cancel, opening up a spot for a waitlisted person.
Is there a hike you'd like to do, but it's not on the schedule? Contact a Trip Leader (listed under "Reference Documents" on the Member Login area of the website) and see if they are willing and available to book the trip, or start a new Discussion on the club's Discussion page on Meetup to get the conversation started!