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 (for liability insurance purposes).
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 (for liability insurance purposes).
Early Morning Birding (Jim)
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 8:00 am
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 8:00 am. This week will take the group to the irrigation ponds where there have been a number of recent sightings of various shorebird species. Return should be around noon.
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Ammonite Fossil Outing in Fernie (Gerry)
Thursday, September 29, 2019 - 10:00 am
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 10:00 am. Gerry Warner will lead an outing to the giant and secretive ammonite fossil up Coal Creek near Fernie. This is a short but steep hike on a sometimes slippery trail and will take about two hours or a bit more. Hiking poles are a must in order to cross the creek at the beginning of the hike and to help with the steepness of this moderately difficult hike. Take rain gear, light jacket or sweater, water and a snack. Driving included, this will be close to a day outing especially if we stop for a wee libation in Fernie. Fall colors are starting to emerge and ammonite fossils of this size are a
great rarity.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Room 210
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 7:00 pm
Special Presentation: Gretchen and Jo Ellen will present a slideshow from their many travels over the year entitled "Our Big year". A slideshow to wet your appetite for the places you haven't been to yet. A brief business meeting will follow the presentation.
RM Nats Annual Summer Social
Sunday, August 25, 2019 - 3:00 - 7:00 pm
Wycliffe Regional Park, Site 2 (upper site by ball diamond and disc golf)
This year’s summer social will be held at Wycliffe Regional Park. We have booked Site 2, which is the upper site near the disc golf area and will, hopefully, have some discs for people who would like to give that a try. There are also hiking trails and many nice, shady pathways to explore. Barbecue pits and firewood are on site and this year, for the first time in years, we are hoping to be able to have a small campfire, as there are no campfire restrictions in place at this time. Please bring: lawn chair and small folding table (if you have one) to put next to your chair (for plates, etc.), something to grill in the barbecue pit (meat, poultry or veggie), potluck contribution (salad, appies, side dishes, dessert, munchies) plus serving utensil, beverage, your own cup, plate and utensils (2 plates will allow for a clean plate for dessert), sunhat, sunscreen, insect repellent, extra layers for when it cools down, binoculars, camera and sturdy shoes for walking and/or disc golf.
Knapweed Pull Outing at Community Forest (Gretchen)
Friday, August 23, 2019 - 9:00 am
Please meet at the new enlarged Community Forest parking lot on Mount Baker Road where the pipeline crosses. The outing is considered easy, except for the pulling required. We'll likely split up into pairs and walk certain trails, so you can stay for an hour or three - whatever you like. Bring gloves (the rubber garden gloves are perfect) and a trowel or weed loosener. For your own comfort, please bring water, sunhat, and dress in layers. EKISC has provided a few durable bags, but if you have a feed sack or similar, it will be useful too.
Nature Conservancy Canada, Cherry Meadows Property
Saturday, August 17, 2019 - 9:15 am
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 9:15 am. Volunteers will help out with pulling knapweed and will take home tips and techniques on how to support native plants in backyards and elsewhere. We will also do a brief tour of the freshly restored wetlands – an ambitious project reclaiming historical wetland habitat that we have been working on for the past two years. Please go to the Nature Conservancy event page to register: https://events.natureconservancy.ca/al-event/knapweed-no-more/ This page will provide you with the details of time, place, and what to bring.
Mickinnick Trail Hikes - Sandpoint, Idaho (Susan)
Trips to hike on this trail will be held on two Wednesdays in August, the 7th and the 14th. These are links to three of the many web pages you will find describing this trail. Elevation gain is 600 m, and length is approximately 10 km.
http://visitnorthidaho.com/activity/second-demo-activity/
http://visitsandpoint.com/activity/mickinnick-trail/
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/mickinnick-trail--2
The Mickinnick Trail lies south of the US border, in the state of Idaho, so you will need your passport to get to the trail head. A drive of about two hours will get us to Sandpoint, where we can hike this beautiful trail up the mountainside to look out on Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding land. If you are coming, on either of the Wednesdays, August 7 or August 14, please reply to rmnatskestrel@gmail.com as soon as possible as plans need to be made.
Skookumchuck IBA Outing (Dianne)
Monday, August 5, 2019 - 8:00 am
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 8:00 am. Kimberley members, meet the group at the Wasa Rest Area at 8:30 am. Visit Skookumchuck IBA with Dianne, our resident Caretaker. She will tell us about this important grassland restoration area while looking for Lewis' Woodpeckers and other residents of this Important Bird Area. Dress for the weather, bringing water and a lunch. We will head back to town by 1:00 pm. This is rated as a moderately difficult outing.
Knapweed Pull Outing (Greg)
Friday, August 2, 2019 - 10:00 am
Please meet at the highway pull out just past the Jimsmith Lake turnoff. We will be having a weed pull morning at Elizabeth Lake. The area of concern is the turtle release site on the West side of the lake near the highway (by an old sign at a point) and Turtle bed B. It is approximately 20mx20m and has been growing steadily despite Greg and Art trying to keep it under control for many years. Gloves, and trowels or other weed pulling equipment are recommended. Bring water and a snack.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Reade Lake
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - 7:00 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 6:30 pm sharp for car pooling. We will then meet at Reade Lake (end of Foster Road South, off Mission-Wycliffe Road). There will be birding and botanizing opportunities as we sit looking over Reade Lake, the fields of Wycliffe, and the Rocky Mountains. Remember to wear hiking boots and bring binoculars, water, and bug spray.
Fernie Ski Hill Fossils & Geology Outing (Frank Hastings)
Sunday, July 7, 2019 - 9:00 am
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 9:00 am. Join Frank on this fossils and geology outing. According to the website, the cost will be about $45.00 for seniors. You can buy a ticket on the web, or at the ski hill on July 7. Read the website for appropriate gear and clothing. Bring lots of water, lunch, binoculars and camera. You may also find poles helpful. Check out their website
skifernie.com/blog/events/specialty-hike-fossils-geology-3/I
Butterfly Outing (Dean)
Saturday, July 6, 2019 - 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Meet at the Confederation Park parking lot behind Elizabeth Lake Lodge, ready to start at 10:00 am. This outing will be a chance to learn about the Dione Butterfly at Elizabeth Lake. We will look for this butterfly, discuss its life cycle, and the importance of Curly Dock and Sweet Clover for the survival of this butterfly at Elizabeth Lake. We will then drive to Helga's to look for butterflies around her property. We will need sunny weather to see butterflies. Bring a hat, water, lunch, binoculars and camera. The rating for this outing is Easy.
Columbia Lake Paddle (Claire Dibble)
Monday, July 1, 2019 - 11:00 am
We have a wonderful opportunity to accompany, Claire Dibble, a solo paddler, from Golden, as she embarks on her Columbia Headwaters to Pacific Ocean paddle on Canada Day, July 1. Please check out her website watershedmoments.art. Paddlers will launch at Tilley Park, just north of Canal Flats at 11:00 am on Monday, July 1. Claire will launch her kayak from the Headwaters Trail, meeting us at Tilley Park to paddle to Columere at the north end of Columbia Lake. Paddlers will paddle at their own pace and paddle as far north as they want before returning to Tilley. We will then drive to the Columere Community, where long time Naturalist, Elaine Doran, will host a potluck picnic with Claire at 6:00 pm.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 8:00 am
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 8:00 am. This week will take the group to the irrigation ponds where there have been a number of recent sightings of various shorebird species. Return should be around noon.
=================================================================
Ammonite Fossil Outing in Fernie (Gerry)
Thursday, September 29, 2019 - 10:00 am
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 10:00 am. Gerry Warner will lead an outing to the giant and secretive ammonite fossil up Coal Creek near Fernie. This is a short but steep hike on a sometimes slippery trail and will take about two hours or a bit more. Hiking poles are a must in order to cross the creek at the beginning of the hike and to help with the steepness of this moderately difficult hike. Take rain gear, light jacket or sweater, water and a snack. Driving included, this will be close to a day outing especially if we stop for a wee libation in Fernie. Fall colors are starting to emerge and ammonite fossils of this size are a
great rarity.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Room 210
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 7:00 pm
Special Presentation: Gretchen and Jo Ellen will present a slideshow from their many travels over the year entitled "Our Big year". A slideshow to wet your appetite for the places you haven't been to yet. A brief business meeting will follow the presentation.
RM Nats Annual Summer Social
Sunday, August 25, 2019 - 3:00 - 7:00 pm
Wycliffe Regional Park, Site 2 (upper site by ball diamond and disc golf)
This year’s summer social will be held at Wycliffe Regional Park. We have booked Site 2, which is the upper site near the disc golf area and will, hopefully, have some discs for people who would like to give that a try. There are also hiking trails and many nice, shady pathways to explore. Barbecue pits and firewood are on site and this year, for the first time in years, we are hoping to be able to have a small campfire, as there are no campfire restrictions in place at this time. Please bring: lawn chair and small folding table (if you have one) to put next to your chair (for plates, etc.), something to grill in the barbecue pit (meat, poultry or veggie), potluck contribution (salad, appies, side dishes, dessert, munchies) plus serving utensil, beverage, your own cup, plate and utensils (2 plates will allow for a clean plate for dessert), sunhat, sunscreen, insect repellent, extra layers for when it cools down, binoculars, camera and sturdy shoes for walking and/or disc golf.
Knapweed Pull Outing at Community Forest (Gretchen)
Friday, August 23, 2019 - 9:00 am
Please meet at the new enlarged Community Forest parking lot on Mount Baker Road where the pipeline crosses. The outing is considered easy, except for the pulling required. We'll likely split up into pairs and walk certain trails, so you can stay for an hour or three - whatever you like. Bring gloves (the rubber garden gloves are perfect) and a trowel or weed loosener. For your own comfort, please bring water, sunhat, and dress in layers. EKISC has provided a few durable bags, but if you have a feed sack or similar, it will be useful too.
Nature Conservancy Canada, Cherry Meadows Property
Saturday, August 17, 2019 - 9:15 am
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 9:15 am. Volunteers will help out with pulling knapweed and will take home tips and techniques on how to support native plants in backyards and elsewhere. We will also do a brief tour of the freshly restored wetlands – an ambitious project reclaiming historical wetland habitat that we have been working on for the past two years. Please go to the Nature Conservancy event page to register: https://events.natureconservancy.ca/al-event/knapweed-no-more/ This page will provide you with the details of time, place, and what to bring.
Mickinnick Trail Hikes - Sandpoint, Idaho (Susan)
Trips to hike on this trail will be held on two Wednesdays in August, the 7th and the 14th. These are links to three of the many web pages you will find describing this trail. Elevation gain is 600 m, and length is approximately 10 km.
http://visitnorthidaho.com/activity/second-demo-activity/
http://visitsandpoint.com/activity/mickinnick-trail/
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/mickinnick-trail--2
The Mickinnick Trail lies south of the US border, in the state of Idaho, so you will need your passport to get to the trail head. A drive of about two hours will get us to Sandpoint, where we can hike this beautiful trail up the mountainside to look out on Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding land. If you are coming, on either of the Wednesdays, August 7 or August 14, please reply to rmnatskestrel@gmail.com as soon as possible as plans need to be made.
Skookumchuck IBA Outing (Dianne)
Monday, August 5, 2019 - 8:00 am
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 8:00 am. Kimberley members, meet the group at the Wasa Rest Area at 8:30 am. Visit Skookumchuck IBA with Dianne, our resident Caretaker. She will tell us about this important grassland restoration area while looking for Lewis' Woodpeckers and other residents of this Important Bird Area. Dress for the weather, bringing water and a lunch. We will head back to town by 1:00 pm. This is rated as a moderately difficult outing.
Knapweed Pull Outing (Greg)
Friday, August 2, 2019 - 10:00 am
Please meet at the highway pull out just past the Jimsmith Lake turnoff. We will be having a weed pull morning at Elizabeth Lake. The area of concern is the turtle release site on the West side of the lake near the highway (by an old sign at a point) and Turtle bed B. It is approximately 20mx20m and has been growing steadily despite Greg and Art trying to keep it under control for many years. Gloves, and trowels or other weed pulling equipment are recommended. Bring water and a snack.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Reade Lake
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - 7:00 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 6:30 pm sharp for car pooling. We will then meet at Reade Lake (end of Foster Road South, off Mission-Wycliffe Road). There will be birding and botanizing opportunities as we sit looking over Reade Lake, the fields of Wycliffe, and the Rocky Mountains. Remember to wear hiking boots and bring binoculars, water, and bug spray.
Fernie Ski Hill Fossils & Geology Outing (Frank Hastings)
Sunday, July 7, 2019 - 9:00 am
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 9:00 am. Join Frank on this fossils and geology outing. According to the website, the cost will be about $45.00 for seniors. You can buy a ticket on the web, or at the ski hill on July 7. Read the website for appropriate gear and clothing. Bring lots of water, lunch, binoculars and camera. You may also find poles helpful. Check out their website
skifernie.com/blog/events/specialty-hike-fossils-geology-3/I
Butterfly Outing (Dean)
Saturday, July 6, 2019 - 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Meet at the Confederation Park parking lot behind Elizabeth Lake Lodge, ready to start at 10:00 am. This outing will be a chance to learn about the Dione Butterfly at Elizabeth Lake. We will look for this butterfly, discuss its life cycle, and the importance of Curly Dock and Sweet Clover for the survival of this butterfly at Elizabeth Lake. We will then drive to Helga's to look for butterflies around her property. We will need sunny weather to see butterflies. Bring a hat, water, lunch, binoculars and camera. The rating for this outing is Easy.
Columbia Lake Paddle (Claire Dibble)
Monday, July 1, 2019 - 11:00 am
We have a wonderful opportunity to accompany, Claire Dibble, a solo paddler, from Golden, as she embarks on her Columbia Headwaters to Pacific Ocean paddle on Canada Day, July 1. Please check out her website watershedmoments.art. Paddlers will launch at Tilley Park, just north of Canal Flats at 11:00 am on Monday, July 1. Claire will launch her kayak from the Headwaters Trail, meeting us at Tilley Park to paddle to Columere at the north end of Columbia Lake. Paddlers will paddle at their own pace and paddle as far north as they want before returning to Tilley. We will then drive to the Columere Community, where long time Naturalist, Elaine Doran, will host a potluck picnic with Claire at 6:00 pm.
Fill in the form below for more field trip info. [We do not share your contact info)
The fossil box at Nature Bob's Interpretive Centre at Mount Fernie Alpine Resort.
Photo - Greg
