a hidden canyon

Hiked up along and ridge today and dropped down into a canyon with limited access. I think very few people know about this little jewel of paradise. It is so special I can not reveal where this is exactly.. but enjoy the photos.

our trip to Alaska

https://plus.google.com/photos/113917368483863816327/albums/6017757935096822449

Up above Little Niagara Falls and out to the Tunnel on E and N Railway line

Took a hike up past Little Niagara Falls in Goldstream Park today, they are actually as high as the real Niagara Falls, but not as much water flow.  this photo is from a few weeks ago when it was frozen over .

the next photo is an attempted HDR of the falls a week later when it had rained several inches the night before.
















The trail heads up the steep slope on the right side of the falls
when it is actually very well groomed. with chain link fencing, stairs and a maintained bridge above the falls.

You can't actually see the falls from the top of them, but you see the drop off. When you look up the from the bridge there is still a small canyon that the water shoots through.                                    The trail switches back and forth from here up and up some more until you see the first trestle
It is a little unnerving crossing the trestle for the first time at the 500 foot level.
The second time it is a little easier and when standing where some people repel off my feet start to tingle.

Its a fair distance to the next trestle that is a little shorter but seems just as high, the timbers are abit further apart on this trestle as well. The Ravens are rebuilding a nest just under the rail base, and are upset with my passing.

through the cracks you can see the old nest.

A bit of fog on the tracks made for a bit of an eerie feeling.
After about a half hour walk on the tracks I finally come across the tunnel.

A little surprised it isn't longer, maybe a hundred feet long. dripping at both ends.




Inside you can look up and see the multi coloured ceiling of the chipped tunnel .

Out the other side it opens up abit more and makes a better photo opportunity.

Views of the Saanich inlet are kinda peek a boo. but if you climb on top of the tunnel you get a pretty good view.

And the Turkey Vultures are back , or atleast migrating today, 3 of them drifting about.

It was a 3 hour hike out and back. 4 miles round trip

more snow pictures

Top of Mt Finlayson

Hiked up to the top of Mt Finlayson on this day. It was quite wet and sloppy down at the bottom but was nicely frozen at the top with a crust on the snow about 1/4 inch thick. Hard to walk around in a foot of snow with a crust.. No one had been up yet today, so it was all fresh and crisp . Nice views all around.

A real amount of snow has arrived in Victoria finally

Hoofed  it up Jocelyn Hill today in the snow . Up to 10 inches had fallen and it was still coming down rather
heavily. Trails were obscured with snow laden branches making it hard to even find the trails at times.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Esquimalt lagoon-6396

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Esquimalt lagoon-6396, originally uploaded by robinnestridge.

a bit of a rare bird here on the west coast, It is an Asian bird, one or two show up each year on the west coast

Horaltic Pose of the Turkey Vulture

Horaltic Pose of the Turkey Vulture, originally uploaded by robinnestridge.

hiked up to the top of Jocelyn Hill today, A Turkey Vulture landed in the snag at the top, so I rushed over to snap a shot since he was posing so nicely for me