08 - June - 2020
For the safety of our members and communities, and to be in compliance with recommendations by federal and provincial Chief Health Officers, we will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation. We have started to resume outings and events on a modified format. Thank you for your understanding in these uncertain times.
Join Us On Our Next Field Trip or Event.
Listed below are upcoming and recent field trips and events of the Rocky Mountain Naturalists. You are welcome to join us. Please let us know if you are interested.
For anyone who is not a member and would like to join us on one of our outings, please be advised that there is a $2.00 fee for the day and a liability waiver to sign.
For anyone who is not a member and would like to join us on one of our outings, please be advised that there is a $2.00 fee for the day and a liability waiver to sign.
Early Morning Birding (Jim)
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - 8:00 am
As the skies look like they may be clear heading into Wednesday, we'll follow the same intended plan as last week and trek out to the irrigation ponds for a look see. Meet at the usual Tamarack mall parking lot in front of Staples at 8:00 am. Should be back by noon. Please RSVP myself if you plan on attending and RMN COVID19 practices shall apply.
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Bi-Monthly Meeting - Idlewild Park
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - 6:30 pm
The RMN Bi-Monthly Meeting will be held at Idlewild Park. The meeting shall be preceded by a 40 minute nature hike on the trails of Idlewild Park. Please meet in the northern main parking lot located on 9th Street South at 6:30 pm. Bring a lawn chair. Remember to take COVID precautions. Please RSVP Marianne if you are attending. In order to properly manage the number of attendees, there shall be a NO DROP INS allowed policy!
McGinty Lake Loop Walk (Marianne)
Monday, September 7, 2020 - 9:00 am
Join Marianne to walk the McGinty Lake Loop. Meet at the McGinty Lake Parking area. Travel about 12 kms east of Kimberley on Highway 95A. There is a sign on the right that indicates Golden Rock Products. Turn right onto this road and drive a short distance to the parking area. This is an easy, flat loop walk with lots of lake exposure. We will look for animal signs, migrating birds, plants and discuss wetland restoration success. Two hours will see us back at the parking area. Dress for the weather. Bring binoculars, water, and snack. We continue to practice Covid-19 guidelines. Attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or the Interior Health region two weeks prior to September 7. Group size is limited to 10. You must RSVP to Marianne. First come, first served. No drop-ins. Please include the name and phone number of your emergency contact so that the roster list is ready to go.
Turtle Help Needed (Marianne)
Friday, August 14, 2020 - 9:00 am
The nesting beds for Western Painted Turtles at Elizabeth Lake need more weeding. I will help you in identification of several ‘bad’ species if you are uncertain about invasive weed id. Almost 100 nest sites have been recorded for June and July so it would be great to reduce the weed growth and seed spread to protect the beds. Park and meet at the Highway 3 pullout, north side, just past the Jim Smith Lake turn-off. This is where the double lane ends, heading west. This is now the access to the turtle beds. We will be finished and packed up by 10:30 am. Bring gloves, sun protection, and water. I will provide large construction type bags. You may find it easier to use a smaller bag or a large pail. If so, please bring them from home. We continue to practice Covid-19 guidelines. Attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or the Interior Health region two weeks prior to August 14. Group size is limited to 10. RSVP only - no drop-ins.
Turtle Help Needed (Marianne)
Tuesday, July 21, 2020 - 9:00 am
The nesting beds for Western Painted Turtles at Elizabeth Lake need weeding. I will help you in identification of several ‘bad’ species if you are uncertain about invasive weed id. Almost 100 nest sites have been recorded for June and July so it would be great to reduce the weed growth to protect the beds.
Park and meet at he Highway 3 pullout, north side, just past the Jim Smith Lake turn-off. This is where the double lane ends, heading west. This is now the access to the turtle beds. We will finish about 10:30 am. Bring gloves, sun protection, and water. I will provide large construction type bags. You may find it easier to use a smaller bag. If so, please bring a couple with you. We continue to practice Covid-19 guidelines. Attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or the Interior Health region two weeks prior to July 21. Group size is limited to 10. RSVP only - no drop-ins. Limit of 10 people including the leader.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Reade Lake
Wednesday, July 15, 2020 - 7:00 pm
The RMN Bi-Monthly Meeting will be held at Reade Lake. The Reade Lake meeting site is accessed via the far Northern end of Foster Road (Eastern Section) which runs Northerly off of Mission Wycliffe Road. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for a short hike as we will be walking through a field, and you may wish to bring bug spray, something to sit on, and binoculars. RMN Club Covid-19 Event Guidelines shall apply.
Two Bumps Loop Outing (Gretchen/Bob)
Sunday, July 5, 2020 - 10:00 am and 10:30 am
It will take about 3 hours to walk the loop and we will stop for lunch for about half an hour at Tabletop. There are several steep hills with sketchy trails, so a walking pole might be handy. There should be nice flowers and views of the Steeples. There may be mosquitoes in the woods. The trip is 6 kilometers long and is rated Moderate for Length and Elevation Gain. Bring lunch and water. Dress for the weather.
There will be two trips, one leaving the trailhead at 10 am and the other at 10:30. Each will have a maximum of 6 people. If you have a preference, please indicate that in your RSVP and we'll try to accommodate you. Bring your own pen to sign the Outing roster. Physical distancing will be practiced. Only attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or out of the Interior Health Region, two weeks prior to July 5 and are comfortable with our guidelines. RSVP only - no drop-ins.
Munroe Lake Paddle (Marianne)
Friday, July 3, 2020 - 9:00 am
Meet Marianne at the Munroe Lake Recreation Site Launch area for a 9:00 am start. Arrive to give yourself time to unload (8:30 - 8:40 am), park your vehicle and organize your watercraft. It is about a 20 minute drive from Cranbrook. Bring all your water safety gear, water and snack. Binoculars and camera optional. Munroe is a smaller lake that is relatively sheltered from the wind especially earlier in the day. We will head for the outlet end first and hope to paddle around the entire lake. You should be headed back to town by noon. Physical distancing will be practiced. Only attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or out of the Interior Health Region, two weeks prior to July 3 and are comfortable with our guidelines.
RSVP only - no drop-ins. Limit of 10 people including the leader. First-come, first-served.
Looking for Ladyslippers Outing (Lyle)
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - 6:30 pm
Join Lyle, our leader, for an evening hike to view the short-lived Mountain Ladyslippers in Kimberley Nature Park. Physical distancing will be practiced. Only attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or out of the Interior Health Region, two weeks prior to June 17 and are comfortable with our guidelines. Meet Lyle at the Higgins Street entrance to the Kimberley Nature Park for a 6:30 pm start. This will be a 2+ hour outing with a distance of about 5 kilometres and some hills. Moderate rating. Parking is along the street, one block or more from the end of Higgins Street. Dress for the weather - suggest having rain gear in your pack, wear sturdy footwear, bring water, camera, binoculars. Bring your own pen to sign the Outing roster.
RSVP only - no drop-ins. Limit of 10 people including the leader. First-come, first-served.
South Star Outing (Marianne)
Friday, June 12, 2020 - 1:00 pm
Join Marianne for a walk along Easy Street, Snow Creek and Shady Lane. We will look for flowering plants and birds that are calling. This is a field trip to observe nature using all our senses. Physical distancing will be practiced. Only attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or the region, two weeks prior to June 12 and are comfortable with our guidelines. Meet at the South Star Recreation Area Parking Lot, end of 38th Avenue, Gold Creek area. This will be approximately a 2 hour, easy walking outing. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy footwear, bring water, binoculars and perhaps a field guide to help with flora or fauna identification. RSVP only, no drop-ins. Limit of 10 people including the leader. First-come, first-served.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Room 210
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 - 7:00 pm
This meeting has been cancelled as a precautionary measure due to concerns about the possible spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in a public gathering. The presentation by Janice and Jamie Strong will be postponed to our next meeting in May.
Brewery Creek Outing (Gretchen)
Sunday, March 14, 2020 - 1:00 pm
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 1:00 pm. Join us on an early spring hike near Fort Steele. The plan is to walk a 6 km loop starting at the Brewery Creek turnoff up the Wildhorse, climbing up the bare bumps. The route will be on old roads and hiking trails. Parts of the road have ice, so grippers are essential and a pole would be prudent. Other parts may be muddy. Rating Moderate, but be aware of ice and mud and some steep bits. Estimated time three hours including driving, unless we are distracted. From the top of the bump we may see eagles crossing from Lone Peak to Lakit, or some Gray-Crowned Rosy Finches. As usual, bring water and a snack if you wish and dress in layers. Bring grippers. Earlier in the week the road was impassable without them.
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - 8:00 am
As the skies look like they may be clear heading into Wednesday, we'll follow the same intended plan as last week and trek out to the irrigation ponds for a look see. Meet at the usual Tamarack mall parking lot in front of Staples at 8:00 am. Should be back by noon. Please RSVP myself if you plan on attending and RMN COVID19 practices shall apply.
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Bi-Monthly Meeting - Idlewild Park
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - 6:30 pm
The RMN Bi-Monthly Meeting will be held at Idlewild Park. The meeting shall be preceded by a 40 minute nature hike on the trails of Idlewild Park. Please meet in the northern main parking lot located on 9th Street South at 6:30 pm. Bring a lawn chair. Remember to take COVID precautions. Please RSVP Marianne if you are attending. In order to properly manage the number of attendees, there shall be a NO DROP INS allowed policy!
McGinty Lake Loop Walk (Marianne)
Monday, September 7, 2020 - 9:00 am
Join Marianne to walk the McGinty Lake Loop. Meet at the McGinty Lake Parking area. Travel about 12 kms east of Kimberley on Highway 95A. There is a sign on the right that indicates Golden Rock Products. Turn right onto this road and drive a short distance to the parking area. This is an easy, flat loop walk with lots of lake exposure. We will look for animal signs, migrating birds, plants and discuss wetland restoration success. Two hours will see us back at the parking area. Dress for the weather. Bring binoculars, water, and snack. We continue to practice Covid-19 guidelines. Attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or the Interior Health region two weeks prior to September 7. Group size is limited to 10. You must RSVP to Marianne. First come, first served. No drop-ins. Please include the name and phone number of your emergency contact so that the roster list is ready to go.
Turtle Help Needed (Marianne)
Friday, August 14, 2020 - 9:00 am
The nesting beds for Western Painted Turtles at Elizabeth Lake need more weeding. I will help you in identification of several ‘bad’ species if you are uncertain about invasive weed id. Almost 100 nest sites have been recorded for June and July so it would be great to reduce the weed growth and seed spread to protect the beds. Park and meet at the Highway 3 pullout, north side, just past the Jim Smith Lake turn-off. This is where the double lane ends, heading west. This is now the access to the turtle beds. We will be finished and packed up by 10:30 am. Bring gloves, sun protection, and water. I will provide large construction type bags. You may find it easier to use a smaller bag or a large pail. If so, please bring them from home. We continue to practice Covid-19 guidelines. Attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or the Interior Health region two weeks prior to August 14. Group size is limited to 10. RSVP only - no drop-ins.
Turtle Help Needed (Marianne)
Tuesday, July 21, 2020 - 9:00 am
The nesting beds for Western Painted Turtles at Elizabeth Lake need weeding. I will help you in identification of several ‘bad’ species if you are uncertain about invasive weed id. Almost 100 nest sites have been recorded for June and July so it would be great to reduce the weed growth to protect the beds.
Park and meet at he Highway 3 pullout, north side, just past the Jim Smith Lake turn-off. This is where the double lane ends, heading west. This is now the access to the turtle beds. We will finish about 10:30 am. Bring gloves, sun protection, and water. I will provide large construction type bags. You may find it easier to use a smaller bag. If so, please bring a couple with you. We continue to practice Covid-19 guidelines. Attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or the Interior Health region two weeks prior to July 21. Group size is limited to 10. RSVP only - no drop-ins. Limit of 10 people including the leader.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Reade Lake
Wednesday, July 15, 2020 - 7:00 pm
The RMN Bi-Monthly Meeting will be held at Reade Lake. The Reade Lake meeting site is accessed via the far Northern end of Foster Road (Eastern Section) which runs Northerly off of Mission Wycliffe Road. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for a short hike as we will be walking through a field, and you may wish to bring bug spray, something to sit on, and binoculars. RMN Club Covid-19 Event Guidelines shall apply.
Two Bumps Loop Outing (Gretchen/Bob)
Sunday, July 5, 2020 - 10:00 am and 10:30 am
It will take about 3 hours to walk the loop and we will stop for lunch for about half an hour at Tabletop. There are several steep hills with sketchy trails, so a walking pole might be handy. There should be nice flowers and views of the Steeples. There may be mosquitoes in the woods. The trip is 6 kilometers long and is rated Moderate for Length and Elevation Gain. Bring lunch and water. Dress for the weather.
There will be two trips, one leaving the trailhead at 10 am and the other at 10:30. Each will have a maximum of 6 people. If you have a preference, please indicate that in your RSVP and we'll try to accommodate you. Bring your own pen to sign the Outing roster. Physical distancing will be practiced. Only attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or out of the Interior Health Region, two weeks prior to July 5 and are comfortable with our guidelines. RSVP only - no drop-ins.
Munroe Lake Paddle (Marianne)
Friday, July 3, 2020 - 9:00 am
Meet Marianne at the Munroe Lake Recreation Site Launch area for a 9:00 am start. Arrive to give yourself time to unload (8:30 - 8:40 am), park your vehicle and organize your watercraft. It is about a 20 minute drive from Cranbrook. Bring all your water safety gear, water and snack. Binoculars and camera optional. Munroe is a smaller lake that is relatively sheltered from the wind especially earlier in the day. We will head for the outlet end first and hope to paddle around the entire lake. You should be headed back to town by noon. Physical distancing will be practiced. Only attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or out of the Interior Health Region, two weeks prior to July 3 and are comfortable with our guidelines.
RSVP only - no drop-ins. Limit of 10 people including the leader. First-come, first-served.
Looking for Ladyslippers Outing (Lyle)
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - 6:30 pm
Join Lyle, our leader, for an evening hike to view the short-lived Mountain Ladyslippers in Kimberley Nature Park. Physical distancing will be practiced. Only attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or out of the Interior Health Region, two weeks prior to June 17 and are comfortable with our guidelines. Meet Lyle at the Higgins Street entrance to the Kimberley Nature Park for a 6:30 pm start. This will be a 2+ hour outing with a distance of about 5 kilometres and some hills. Moderate rating. Parking is along the street, one block or more from the end of Higgins Street. Dress for the weather - suggest having rain gear in your pack, wear sturdy footwear, bring water, camera, binoculars. Bring your own pen to sign the Outing roster.
RSVP only - no drop-ins. Limit of 10 people including the leader. First-come, first-served.
South Star Outing (Marianne)
Friday, June 12, 2020 - 1:00 pm
Join Marianne for a walk along Easy Street, Snow Creek and Shady Lane. We will look for flowering plants and birds that are calling. This is a field trip to observe nature using all our senses. Physical distancing will be practiced. Only attend if you are in good health with no Covid-19 symptoms and have not travelled out-of-province or the region, two weeks prior to June 12 and are comfortable with our guidelines. Meet at the South Star Recreation Area Parking Lot, end of 38th Avenue, Gold Creek area. This will be approximately a 2 hour, easy walking outing. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy footwear, bring water, binoculars and perhaps a field guide to help with flora or fauna identification. RSVP only, no drop-ins. Limit of 10 people including the leader. First-come, first-served.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Room 210
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 - 7:00 pm
This meeting has been cancelled as a precautionary measure due to concerns about the possible spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in a public gathering. The presentation by Janice and Jamie Strong will be postponed to our next meeting in May.
Brewery Creek Outing (Gretchen)
Sunday, March 14, 2020 - 1:00 pm
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 1:00 pm. Join us on an early spring hike near Fort Steele. The plan is to walk a 6 km loop starting at the Brewery Creek turnoff up the Wildhorse, climbing up the bare bumps. The route will be on old roads and hiking trails. Parts of the road have ice, so grippers are essential and a pole would be prudent. Other parts may be muddy. Rating Moderate, but be aware of ice and mud and some steep bits. Estimated time three hours including driving, unless we are distracted. From the top of the bump we may see eagles crossing from Lone Peak to Lakit, or some Gray-Crowned Rosy Finches. As usual, bring water and a snack if you wish and dress in layers. Bring grippers. Earlier in the week the road was impassable without them.
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The fossil box at Nature Bob's Interpretive Centre at Mount Fernie Alpine Resort.
Photo - Greg
