Yarns from the Tarns ~ Comox District Mountaineering Club

LIFETIME MEMBER AWARD!

It is with respect and admiration that Juanita was presented with a Lifetime Membership award at our January potluck. This award serves as a token of our profound appreciation for her outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication to the goals and values of the CDMC.

Since joining our club in 2011, Juanita has been a beacon of inspiration, tirelessly organizing trips, coordinating work parties, and consistently striving to enhance the safety, quality, and enjoyment of every hiker's experience. Her passion for the trails is shared with anyone who hikes with her, and her impact resonates not only within our club but also throughout the community of the Comox Valley and beyond.

Juanita's commitment to our club's mission and values has been exemplary. Starting in 2013, she began leading trips, quickly establishing herself as a trusted and respected leader among our members. Juanita served as President of the Board of Directors for many years, guiding our club with wisdom and dedication. Her role as Trips Coordinator has been instrumental, where she has continuously championed the maintenance and improvement of our trails, campgrounds, and essential infrastructure in collaboration with BC Parks, ensuring that future generations of hikers can enjoy these pristine environments. Moreover, Juanita has played a pivotal role in fostering and maintaining our excellent partnership relationship with BC Parks, a testament to her diplomatic skills and commitment to our shared goals of conservation and outdoor recreation.

Beyond her outstanding contributions to our club, Juanita's passion for serving her community extends to her role with the Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue team. Her recent achievement of receiving her Tracking Certification further underscores her commitment to serving and protecting others through her expertise and dedication to CVGSAR.

Juanita, we are immensely grateful and fortunate to have you as a cornerstone of our club, both on the trails and behind the scenes. Your passion, leadership, and tireless efforts have enriched the lives of countless hikers, and your legacy will continue to inspire us for years to come.

Congratulations, Juanita, and thank you for all that you have contributed!

100 year Challenge Completer - 28 hikes √

The Club had its first completer of the 2028 100 year Anniversary Challenge – here's a little article celebrating the first completer and hopefully inspiring many of you to work on your challenges more and to think about becoming a leader...

Our very own Janet Beggs, originally a physical education school teacher who now is a part-time counsellor at North Island College, completed the Daytrippers 2028 Challenge and was celebrated at the potluck earlier this year. When asked if she thought she would be the first person to complete the challenge when it was first announced, she said, “Heavens, no!” A self-proclaimed 'tortoise,' Janet feels her determination and slow and steady pace hiking also allowed her to slowly and steadily accomplish the feat of completing the hiking club's challenge.

The CDMC's two challenges were announced on April 1, 2022 – giving us all 6 years to complete one or both challenges before the 100 year anniversary. The challenges allow us to complete either 28 'Day Tripper' hikes, or 20 'Explorer' hikes, which are longer and/or more difficult. Janet Beggs, followed closely by Helen Jackson, a retired school teacher, started her first hike of the challenge on its opening day of April 1, 2022 and completed her final, 28th hike on July 26, 2023.

Janet joined the CDMC when she moved to the Comox Valley 18 years ago, and she has also been a board member for the last 7 years. Janet's been a trip leader for many years, which she said contributed to her completing the Challenge – she was able to post hikes that were on the list and had club members eager to sign up and hike with her. She finds being out in nature helps her be a better counsellor – she is calmer and happier and finds herself in awe each time she's up in the mountains, as she is connecting with something bigger than herself.

Janet says she loves the club because it gives her the opportunity to go hiking with “good people who value the outdoors like myself.“ She likes to be taken to places she hasn't seen, and share some of her favourite places with others who haven't been to them. Janet has always loved sports, and says hiking is her favourite activity, and being active in nature is a triple bonus! Janet exudes joy when she speaks of Strathcona Park and names Mt Drabble as her favourite hike. “It's challenging but doable, and gives gorgeous views of the Comox Glacier and Mount Albert Edward with a 360 degree view of Strathcona Park and the Salish Sea.” Janet speaks fondly of her final hike from the Challenger list: Mt Kitchener. She told Ken Filliter, our current club president, as the group neared the summit, that it was her 28th and final hike - Ken announced the achievement to the group as they had lunch on the top of Mt Kitchener! It was a memorable day for Janet and the club.

Since being an active member of the CDMC, Janet says she “takes better care of myself through yoga and nutrition.” And she notes that she's made good friends. Hiking and snowshoeing “gives me something to do, especially in winter. I feel grateful to be alive and am strengthened to deal with challenges. Being in the club counter balances the busyness of life.” Beggs noted that hiking also has increased her lung power and capacity helping with her playing of the euphonium in the local orchestra. One of her favourite memories in the club was hauling rocks to help install a new bridge at Moat Lake. She felt she was really contributing to Strathcona Park and was glad to be working with other generous and capable people to improve the park. One of the important features of the CDMC is that the club not only provides and leads hikes and snowshoes, but also works with BC Parks to help maintain and build trails and campsites, particularly in Strathcona Provincial Park.

So... if you haven't already, strap on your boots, print out the list and get hiking. You don't have to be a seasoned hiker to realize that the CDMC 2028 Hiking Challenge is a great way to spend the next 4 years! See you on the trails!

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

MB Guiding discount offer!

Mike Blake from MB Guiding has four Strathcona trips on the schedule that are focused on learning backpacking skills and include wilderness navigation content. CDMC members can use coupon code “cdmc2024” at the checkout to save 10%.

• Elk River Trail - Jun 23-25, 2024
• Flower Ridge Trail - June 26-28, 2024
• Augerpoint Traverse - Jul 29-Aug 1, 2024
• Augerpoint Traverse -Aug 26-29, 2024

email: mike@mbguiding.ca