438 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Good God, those black crickets!! I encountered one in a cave in the Nitinaht Valley once and got so startled that I lurched my head back and smoked the cave ceiling above. I literally saw stars afterwards.

 

Now I know why peeps wear helmets when exploring caves.

[todd]

I think they were more of the Rhaphidophoridae family I think Camel Crickets.

^Actual size maybe a bit bigger.

Edited by todd, 06 August 2016 - 02:26 PM.

[Mike K.]

Yeah, that's it.

Gross.

[todd]

Bats in the caves to but they seem to keep to themselves.

[VicHockeyFan]

Effective at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016, campfires will once again be allowed throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, except on the southern third of Vancouver Island within the South Island Natural Resource District.

 

To help protect public safety, campfires remain prohibited in areas south of Hindoo Creek (just north of Buckley Bay), and south of Strathcona Park and Nootka Sound. However, campfires are still permitted within the “Fog Zone” — a band of land two kilometres wide that runs from Owen Point near Port Renfrew to the district boundary of Port Hardy.

 

The Lower Mainland and the northern two-thirds of Vancouver Island received rain over the weekend, and much of it fell in areas where the campfire ban is being lifted. More rain is in the forecast, so members of the public are encouraged to visit: www.bcwildfire.ca to get the latest information about open fire prohibitions in their area.

 

The existing Category 2 and Category 3 open burning prohibitions within the Coastal Fire Centre remain in place. Category 2 open fires are not permitted within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdictional area. Category 3 open fires are only permitted within Haida Gwaii.

 

https://news.gov.bc....FLNR0193-001556

[On the Level]

"except on the southern third of Vancouver Island "

 

I guess that means we are out of luck.  Although, Env Canada  is predicting rain from Wednesday through Friday then cloud over the weekend.  The nice thing about weather forecasts is that they are like horoscopes.  If you don't like what it says, then check a different site....

[AllseeingEye]

The problem OTL is that prior to that we were in near-drought conditions especially on the south island; a day or two of rain won't make a dent.

 

The region needs a good 1-2 week drenching to replenish what we didn't have to start the season, i.e. a decent snow-pack (from the non-existent winter of 2015-16 that wasn't). I was hiking the upper Cowichan/Walbran Valley last weekend and was shocked at the low water levels of the river. From the perspective of not only a fisherman but just plain concerned citizen the situation there is not good and does not bode well for the resident fish species in the Cowichan watershed/eco-system.

[lanforod]

^ that doesn't have anything to do with campfires though.

[AllseeingEye]

It was a direct response to OTL's comment re: the immediate weather forecast......

[On the Level]

Agreed, it's been dry for too long and the lack of a snow pack didn't help.

Speaking of the snow pack, that's another option for camping that's free during the winter months for those so inclined. It needs some additional planning but you throw your gear on a sled and walk into some amazing areas. We were rained out last year but will try again this Feb...

[lanforod]

The lack of mosquitoes has been absolutely awesome.

[Bingo]

The lack of mosquitoes has been absolutely awesome.

 

Dang! I knew somebody would jinx that.

[LJ]

Yeah but we still have wasps, lots and lots of wasps.

[Bingo]

Yeah but we still have wasps, lots and lots of wasps.

And zombie bees, snakes in the drains, three legged racoons and a hungry cougar hanging around the municipal hall in Esquimalt.

[Mike K.]

A reminder that the campfire ban has been lifted well north of Victoria. Campfires are not permitted anywhere south of Courtenay, more or less, south of Strathcona Park and south of Nootka Sound. However, there is a fog band that stretches for 2 kilometers inland from the coast that does permit campfires. It starts north of Port Renfrew and runs all the way to Port Hardy.

 

[Bingo]

Fog Band would be a good name for....?

[Mike K.]

A circus act?

[Bingo]

New for 2017

Beginning at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) on October 1, 2016, you can start booking your Berg Lake Trail or Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit adventure for the 2017 season! View the news release.
 

Changes to Camping Reservations for the 2017 Season

We made some important and significant changes to the Discover Camping Reservation Service for 2017 stemming from feedback we received during the 2016 season.

These changes include the ability to make reservations earlier in the year and some new policies to enhance fair and equitable access to reservations for everyone.

Please read below for more details.

New policy to prevent the reselling and/or transferring of reservations     Restricted booking policy to stop the practice of “overbooking”     Discover Camping Call Centre hours     Other related BC Parks’ policy changes     For more information, please see our Q&A’s.     New Inventory for 2017:       Click here to view our top tips for making reservations.

http://www.env.gov.b...cparks/reserve/

[Bingo]

The B.C. government announced changes to its camping reservation system Monday in an attempt to close loopholes and free up sites for more people.

Changes include measures to prevent overbooking and resale of reservations, as well as a pilot project in some parks to limit maximum stays to seven days.

- See more at: http://www.timescolo...h.u3OecrYO.dpuf

 

[VicHockeyFan]

Apparently the Songhess campground has re-opened.

 

https://www.salishse...ions/price-list