October 7th was mild and sunny providing great weather for the Alternate Hikers trip to Labour Day Lake. I say trip since the drive in and out was longer than the hike around the lake and, it was tougher.

The road into the lake, Cameron Main, was good for much of the distance but it has become overgrown in sections. There was work being done to trim back the encroaching bush but that just created different problems. Luckily the 4x4 vehicles had no problems although it was slow going in places.

Arriving at the end of the road we found we were not the first to arrive. There were already cars parked there, complete with roof racks for boats. Although we were a long way from Port Alberni we wouldn't be alone.

Each hike we do is mapped by a group member using his GPS. Bill fashioned an antenna which fits onto his hat ensuring that he gets the maximum possible satellites signal. This allows him to get accurate statistics and route information even in the forest. After a hike he transfers the information to his computer and creates a map and hike statistics which is distributed through email to everyone on the hike. These maps are available on our web site.

The trail follows the lake shore and occasionally provides access right to the waters edge. Some people told stories about fishermen in the past who knew the best fishing spots and proved it by the large number of fish they caught. Along the way the trail branches off to other nearby lakes. Bill explored these for short distances to give us good GPS locations on his map.

At the far end of the lake our progress slowed when we found blueberries along the trail. They were beautiful, ripe and juicy so we ate handfuls as appetizers before stopping for lunch.

A small rocky point with a view of the entire lake provided us with a comfortable lunch stop. The water was clear and shallow. A few fish entertained us by jumping just off shore. An important rule in this informal group is "what comes in goes out" so we repacked everything into our backpacks after lunch, ready for the last part of the hike.

Generally the trail is excellent, easy hiking. The total moving time was two hours and there were no difficult sections. There are some interesting bridges and boardwalks, complete with signs about their builders, to get past water obstacles.

Back at the starting point we returned to the parking area for the long trip back to Port Alberni. For those of us who'd never been to Labour Day Lake it was a great experience. As a group we decided to put in on our list for a return visit. Photos from the hike can be found on our web site described below.

As usual, we adjourned to Batstar for coffee and planning the next hike. Later, after many possibilities were discussed, we decided to return to the Teodoro Trail on October 21. The group will meet in the Athletic Hall parking lot for a 9:30 departure. Those wishing to join us should bring a lunch, good hiking boots or shoes, a hiking stick if needed and the desire to see some wonderful scenery. This is an uphill hike. A full description of the Teodoro Trail hike, including maps and photos, can be found on www.justabunchahikers.ca.