Back to Mount Finlayson

I have been on the summit of Mt Finlayson twice before. The first adventure was up the steep south side trail. A tough steep workout. On my second adventure I hiked up the longer northern trail with my cousin Jim. It was a much more pleasant hike. For today’s hike I would be alone and planned to travel the northern trail once again. The summit is registered in the summits-on-the air program and it happens to be inside the Goldstream Park, a park on the parks-on-the-air list. So, I could get credit for both by operating from the summit. And thus it was my goal for the day.

I left the hotel around 10:40 and made the 35-minute trip to the north trailhead in good time. No traffic delays were encountered and even the traffic lights were cooperating. When I arrived, there was one other car parked along the road but otherwise it was a quiet empty spot. I soon was on the trail and making my way along at a good clip. The trail was rated as a one hour hike, 45 minutes for the super fit! I made it in 51 minutes! I thought it was a very good time for me. I met one cyclist coming down as I was heading up, considering the stairs and rough streambeds along the route cycling seemed a bit odd. She commented that there were lots of mushrooms to see. On the way up I saw only a few but, on my return, they suddenly became more obvious.

Once I reached the summit there were a few others up there enjoying the views and talking about the steep trail. It is a lovely location with extensive southerly and easterly views. The NW is blocked by trees. I took a few minutes at the summit taking a few photos and then found a place on the eastern shoulder where I could set up my yagi. I soon had my radio on the air and started calling. I had two respond almost immediately to my first call. John a local Ham was clear and we had a short chat before I continued on. Next was a regular from the home area followed by a a regular in Sequim Washington. I chatted with him and encouraged him to check out the POTA program.  Next up was fellow club member Don and soon after Ken. By 17 minutes of calling, I had 12 in the log and contacts had slowed so I shutdown. A short and quick activation.

Just as I closed a chap wandered by asking about the radio conditions. He was a bit familiar with the propagation issues. He was a retired Air Canada pilot who now lived his winters in the Victoria area. He was from the Toronto area but only visits there in the summer months. We had a pleasant chat before he continued on his hike. I was now packed and ready to head back. I stopped to gather a few more summit photos and then set out for the car. I did see a lot more mushrooms on my return and I stopped to gather photos of some of the more interesting. I was back at the car in about 42 minutes. I was quite pleased with my speed on the trail today.

On the way home I took a short stop to photograph a house I had seen on MLS earlier this year. It was a 5-acre home with a large very well-endowed house. I had found it quite interesting when I was comparing prices between Victoria and home. It would likely have been a 5+ million dollar purchase on the mainland but here it was only 3m, not bad for 6 bedrooms each with ensuites, media room, coach house – ie. The type of house where the owners want only the best and then pay double more to make sure!  Done with that short detour the rest of the trip went quickly as I was ahead of rush-hour. A lovely day for a hike and a great view to enjoy.