Join Us On Our Next Field Trip or Event.
Listed below are upcoming and recent field trips and events of the Rocky Mountain Naturalists.
Members welcome.
A guest must complete a waiver form and pay $2.00 per Outing.
Group sizes are limited in order to provide a quality and safe experience for everyone. Carpooling can be organized from the meeting place for those feeling comfortable. If there is space, guests are welcome to join an Outing up to twice a year.
Please let us know if you are interested.
Members welcome.
A guest must complete a waiver form and pay $2.00 per Outing.
Group sizes are limited in order to provide a quality and safe experience for everyone. Carpooling can be organized from the meeting place for those feeling comfortable. If there is space, guests are welcome to join an Outing up to twice a year.
Please let us know if you are interested.
Early Morning Birding (Daryl)
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - 9:00 am
This week, at 9:00, meet at the Mission, in the parking lot opposite the private house with the trees and feeders. This house and parking area is just west of the school. We shall walk along the golf course edge, beside the St Mary River, go to the nearby Prairie Bridge and check the feeders and vicinity.
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Christmas Bird Count dates:
Jaffray/Wardner - Saturday, December 14, 2024
Cranbrook - Saturday, December 28, 2024
Kimberley - Saturday, January 4, 2025
Snowshoe Outing - Tabletop (Gretchen)
Sunday, December 8, 2024 - 1:00 pm
Snowshoe outing to Tabletop which is a small hill near Ramparts Rest Stop and provides nice views of the other hills, sloughs and forests in the area. The trail is already packed and has gradual hills with two short but steep sections. Total distance out and back is about 4 kilometers and there is 125 m of ascent. This is a moderate outing.
Meet at at the Tamarack Mall parking lot between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop by 12:50 pm where carpooling can be arranged. We will leave there at 1:00 and drive to Ramparts Rest Stop where we will park and don our snowshoes. If you want to drive directly to the Rest Stop, be ready to head onto the trail by 1:15.
Dress in layers for the weather and bring water. Please bring at least one pole because of the hills. Binoculars optional; we may see birds or examine tracks in the snow. RSVP to Gretchen.
Snowshoe Outing - Sunflower Hill (Marianne)
Sunday, December 1, 2024 - 1:00 pm
Welcome in December and our wonderful snowy conditions with a snowshoe. This is an easy route, already packed with a variety of uphill, downhill and flat terrain. 2.3 km with an elevation gain of 102 metres. This is a moderate outing. Meet at 1:00 pm at the far end of Wilks Rd which is off King St. 5 kms north of Cranbrook. To carpool from Cranbrook, meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop, ready to leave at 12:45 pm. Kimberley members, if you rsvp me, I will put you in touch with each other for carpooling. Dress in layers for the weather and bring water. Poles are useful. Binoculars? RSVP to Marianne.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Rm #KC152
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 - 7:00 pm
Guest Presenter: Janice Strong and Jamie Levine will present "Out of This World" - an educational and audio-visual presentation about Aurora and Comets. This will be followed by "Darkness to Light", a twelve minute slideshow of images to music.
A short business meeting will follow these presentations. Attendance at the business meeting is optional.
Elizabeth Lake Work Party (Marianne)
Thursday, October 31, 2024 - 9:00 am
Before winter really sets in, there are some jobs that need to be done at Elizabeth Lake. Several include:
brush sawing around some of the planted plots, removing landscape cloth and stakes in a couple areas, removing several signs, litter pickup and carrying some small logs a couple hundred metres.
Meet at the parking lot on the corner of 11St. S and Innes Ave. below Parkland School. Dress for the weather, bring work gloves. If you have a brush saw that you are able to use around the plots, please let me know so that I can make a plan. Gas money will be provided. RSVP would be appreciated but not necessary.
Moe's Canyon Larch Loop Outing (Betty)
Saturday, October 19, 2024 - 9:00 am
This is a moderate hike with an elevation gain of 110m over a 6 km. loop, up to 3 hours. We will walk along the base of a steep talus slope and through a stand of large old-growth larch trees in full autumn colour. Wear sturdy footwear and bring a snack. Forecast is cool and cloudy. Meet at the far end of the Kimberley Nordic Centre parking lot at 9 a.m. Cranbrook residents can carpool from the Tamarack Mall; meet at the parking area between Boston Pizza and the Husky truck stop, ready for an 8:30 am departure.
Ram Creek Warm Springs Ecological Reserve Outing (Marianne)
Sunday, September 29, 2024 - 8:00 am
The Rocky Mountain Naturalists are wardens for the Ram Creek Warm Springs Ecological Reserve. We will be leaving Cranbrook at 8:00 am and meeting any Kimberley members at the Wasa Rest Area at 8:30 am. From there it is a 30 minute drive on pavement and then 30 minutes (9 km) on a rougher Forest Service Rd. A high clearance 2 or all wheel drive vehicle is fine. I will be driving my Subaru Forester. After parking, it is an easy 1.6 km hike to the springs and then 0.7 km to check on the east entrance before returning to the parking lot. We should be back on the pavement by mid-afternoon. This is rated as a moderate outing on a clear trail with limited elevation gain. Cranbrook folk meet at the Tamarack Mall parking area between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop to carpool, ready to leave at 8:00 am. Kimberley folk, I will put you in touch with each other so that you can carpool to the Wasa Rest area to meet us at 8:30 am. We will be pulling some invasive plants such as knapweed, collecting any litter, identifying plants and birds, and looking for the Blue Darner. Bring gloves for pulling weeds. Dress for the weather. Wear sturdy footwear, bring lunch, water, bear spray, camera, binoculars, gloves and if you have a spike like dandelion digger tool, it may be useful.
Bi-Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 - 6:30 pm
There will be a very short business at the Prestige Hotel end of the parking area of the Cranbrook History Centre. You may want to bring a chair. We will finish just before 7:00 pm so that those wanting to attend Terry Nelson's presentation on Big Trees in the Interior of BC can do so. Terry is a Fernie resident.
NOTE: You must register for the Presentation. www.cranbrookhistorycentre.com/event
RMN Summer Social
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Our summer Social is at Elizabeth Lake Lodge Mini Golf. All members and partners are welcome.
Mini Golf 3:45 - 5:00 pm. $7.50 per person. Please arrive by 3:45 so that teams can be made by pulling names from a hat. A round takes about an hour. For those not golfing, please take a walk around Elizabeth Lake or just arrive around 5:00 to visit before dinner. Potluck dinner at 5:30 pm. Please bring a dish of your choice, your own beverage, dishes and cutlery. Everyone, please park in the Confederation Park parking lot just off Wattsville Road behind the EL Lodge. Please RSVP to Marianne by Friday, August 23 so we have an idea of numbers for golf, tables and chairs.
Elizabeth Lake Turtle Bed Weeding (Theckla)
Thursday, July 25, 2024 - 8:00 am
There is a heavy bloom of knapweed happening on the edges of the turtle beds, some select spots between the beds, and along the highway beside the beds. The main focus will be knapweed, but if there are enough people, we can do some weeding on the turtle beds themselves. Meet at the Elizabeth Lake Information Center parking lot. Knapweed spreads via seeds, so the plants can either be pulled or cut. As the plants need to be disposed of properly, garbage bags will be supplied, and Theckla will take them all to the dump. Some gardening clippers will be available as well. All you need are some sturdy shoes and some gloves. If you have gardening clippers you like using or a trowel you prefer to use for weeding, feel free to bring them as well, the more the merrier. If you can help at all, it would be greatly appreciated. Let’s keep this highly invasive weed at bay, and protect the nests of turtle eggs on the beds.
Elizabeth Lake Shrub Watering (Marianne)
Thursday, July 18, 2024 - 8:00 am
There are several beds of shrubs, part of our Elizabeth Ecosystem Enhancement Project, planted in May 2022, that are in need of watering. As of this morning, there was still easily accessible water fairly close to the beds. A bucket brigade makes the job go quite fast. If you can help out this Thursday, July 18 at 8:00 am, please meet at the parking lot just off Wattsville Rd, behind the Elizabeth Lake Lodge. Wear sturdy shoes and maybe bring gloves. I think an hour would get lots of watering done. Buckets supplied.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Wycliffe Regional Park
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 - 7:00 pm
Due to the heat and dry conditions, we are meeting at 7:00 pm tomorrow, Wednesday, July 17, at Wycliffe Regional Park which is located halfway between Kimberley and Cranbrook. We are working to reduce our carbon footprint so we are encouraging carpooling. Cranbrook folk meet Stewart at the Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for a 6:30 pm departure. Kimberley folk, meet Theckla at the Kimberley Curling Club for a 6:30 pm departure. As you enter the park, at the intersection of the road that goes straight and the road that goes left down the hill to the creek, there will be someone there or a sign directing you to our meeting place. Bring a chair, water and mosquito repellent.
RM Nats Annual Club Camp - Mount Fernie Provincial Park
Sunday, June 2 to Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Our guest speaker will be Terry Nelson of Fernie, author of Big Trees of the Inland temperate Rainforests of BC. He will be having his presentation on Monday, June 3 at 7:30 pm. There is also hiking, biking, canoeing, birding, potlucks and wiener roasts on the agenda.
Bluebird Box Outing (Marianne)
Saturday, June 1, 2024
I will be monitoring my Bluebird Nest box route at the Spray Irrigation site on Saturday, June 1 if you would like to join me. Meet at the Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for an 8:30 am departure. Wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather and definitely bring your binoculars. This is an easy outing with mainly driving and a little walking. We will be back in town by 11:00 am.
Little Big Day (Greg)
Sunday, May 26, 2024
Little Big Day is back to the old ways! Even the count -up! Lucky Star Restaurant - 17, 12th St. S., Cranbrook Arrive 6:15 / 6:30 PM.
We would like to encourage all RMNats to participate. All skill levels are welcome to participate. If you do not have a group to make up a team, Greg will help to put some teams together. Each team will consist of 3 to 5 participants travelling in one vehicle or on the ground. Each team will select its own name which will be submitted at the supper final. The registration fee will be $25.00 per team. All registration fee money will be donated to a conservation effort in the East Kootenay. The conservation donation will be discussed at the count-up dinner (Lucky Star Restaurant) on Sunday, May 26th. The objective of the LBD competition is to identify as many bird species as possible between 6am and 6pm on May 26th within the Southern half of the Rocky Mtn Naturalist East Kootenay Bird Checklist (2016) area.
Elizabeth Lake Work Bees
The planted plots of the Elizabeth Lake Restoration Project are looking good but are in need of some weeding.
Three work bees planned - you may be able to attend one of these during this very busy month of May. Any help is appreciated.
Thursday, May 23, 2024 - 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - 9:00 am - 10:45 am
Thursday, May 30, 2024 - 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Meet at the Wattsville Rd. parking lot behind the EL Lodge. Bring water, gloves, garden clippers, hand trowel or dandelion-type digger.
Old Homestead Outing (Marianne)
Saturday, May 25, 2024
On Saturday, May 25 there will be a loop walk to an old homestead in the Six Mile area. Meet at the Tamarack Mall between the Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza to carpool, leaving at 8:45 am. Kimberley folk to meet behind the Marysville Arena for an 8:30 am departure. Meet Marianne at the end of Albert Rd. in the Wilks and Kahn Subdivision at 9:00 am.
We will be walking for about 5 km on trails and quad tracks with some elevation gain, identifying spring flowers and birds. This is rated as a moderate outing. Dress for the weather and bring water, binoculars, etc.
Ram Creek Warm Springs Ecological Reserve Outing (Marianne)
Sunday, May 19, 2024 - 7:30 am
The Rocky Mountain Naturalists are wardens for the Ram Creek Warm Springs Ecological Reserve. I am going to make a visit to the Reserve on Sunday, May 19. We will be leaving the Tamarack Mall parking area between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop at 7:30 am to carpool and meeting any Kimberley folk at 8:00 am at the
Wasa Rest Area. From there it is a 25 minute drive on pavement and then 30 minutes (9 km) on a rough, likely somewhat dusty, Forest Service Rd. A high clearance 2 or all-wheel drive vehicle is needed. After parking, it is a 1.7 km hike to the springs and then 0.7 km to check on the east entrance before returning to the parking lot. We should be back on the pavement by mid-afternoon. This is rated as a moderate outing on a trail with limited elevation gain. We will be pulling some invasive plants such as knapweed, collecting litter, identifying plants and birds, and looking for the Blue Darner and butterflies. Bring gloves for pulling weeds and a trowel or dandelion digger or a screwdriver to uproot rosettes and taproots. Dress for the weather. Wear sturdy footwear, bring lunch, water, bear spray, camera, binoculars and phone. We will be using inaturalist to identify some flora and fauna.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Rm #KC151
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 - 7:00 pm
Guest Presenter: Greg Ross, who will speak about Western Painted Turtle Monitoring at Elizabeth Lake. Greg has been involved with the Rocky Mountain Naturalists Club Western Painted Turtle Project since its inception in the early 1990’s. He is going to talk about the historical context of the Elizabeth Lake turtle beds, the monitoring process and the results over time as well as past, current and future challenges.
This is followed by a short business meeting. Attendance at the business meeting is optional.
Global Big Day on the Key Biodiversity Area (Dianne)
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Ruth and I will be visiting Skookumchuck Prairie Key Biodiversity Area for eBird's Global Big Day, Saturday, May 11, 2024.
The KBA goes from Wasa Lake to Skookumchuck on both sides of the Kootenay River so we could split it up into four teams depending on the number of members signed up.
1) Skookumchuck and Prairie
2) Moan Road and backcountry
3) Wasa Lake and village
4) Wolf Creek
This is a very informal effort and any and all eBird checklists are welcome. Last year, Marianne, Emma, Ruth and I got 76 species. https://ebird.org/tripreport/127861
Current year's species https://ebird.org/barchart?byr=2024&eyr=2024&bmo=1&emo=12&r=CA-BC_258
You can also put observations on iNaturalist https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/skookumchuck-prairie-iba
Mayook Crested Wheatgrass Prairie Outing (Jim)
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Depart: Car pool departure at 10 am from the Tamarack Mall, in the parking lot between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop. Boots on the ground from the trailhead at 10:30 am.
The outing will be 8 km leaving the highway area, progressing along the dirt prairie roads through the upper prairie till a moderate sloped ravine path which descends to a lower fenced path to be followed Westward. Good observation of a lower pond and marshland may be observed. A small drainage wet marshy area shall need to be crossed to gain access onto a flood dyke which shall be travelled Westward (large ruts are worn into the top of the dyke so proper ankle support is recommended). Leaving the dyke the lower prairie shall be traversed to the Kootenay river for a lunch stop at a large wooden picnic table. Following lunch, we will loop back across the lower prairie area and eventually backtrack to the vehicles. Or alternately, depending upon the ability and desire of the group, could take a larger return loop further Eastward ascent via the main powerline gravel roadway (but extra elevation is required on that return). Sighting of coyotes, deer, elk, sandhill crane, swans, swallow colonies, and grizzly tracks have been noted on previous hikes.
Time: 5 hours, not including driving
Rating: Moderate to difficult
Distance: 8km or 10km depending on return preference
Elevation change: 150 m
Bring: Lunch and drink
Requirements: waterproof hiking boots with good traction and ankle support, hiking poles, bear spray, binoculars, dress for weather.
Location of trailhead: Hwy. 93, 1 km East of Mayook BCH Substation, on the left side of highway. Park in the field through the farm gate. Look for horse trailers at the same location.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - 9:00 am
This week, at 9:00, meet at the Mission, in the parking lot opposite the private house with the trees and feeders. This house and parking area is just west of the school. We shall walk along the golf course edge, beside the St Mary River, go to the nearby Prairie Bridge and check the feeders and vicinity.
=================================================================
Christmas Bird Count dates:
Jaffray/Wardner - Saturday, December 14, 2024
Cranbrook - Saturday, December 28, 2024
Kimberley - Saturday, January 4, 2025
Snowshoe Outing - Tabletop (Gretchen)
Sunday, December 8, 2024 - 1:00 pm
Snowshoe outing to Tabletop which is a small hill near Ramparts Rest Stop and provides nice views of the other hills, sloughs and forests in the area. The trail is already packed and has gradual hills with two short but steep sections. Total distance out and back is about 4 kilometers and there is 125 m of ascent. This is a moderate outing.
Meet at at the Tamarack Mall parking lot between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop by 12:50 pm where carpooling can be arranged. We will leave there at 1:00 and drive to Ramparts Rest Stop where we will park and don our snowshoes. If you want to drive directly to the Rest Stop, be ready to head onto the trail by 1:15.
Dress in layers for the weather and bring water. Please bring at least one pole because of the hills. Binoculars optional; we may see birds or examine tracks in the snow. RSVP to Gretchen.
Snowshoe Outing - Sunflower Hill (Marianne)
Sunday, December 1, 2024 - 1:00 pm
Welcome in December and our wonderful snowy conditions with a snowshoe. This is an easy route, already packed with a variety of uphill, downhill and flat terrain. 2.3 km with an elevation gain of 102 metres. This is a moderate outing. Meet at 1:00 pm at the far end of Wilks Rd which is off King St. 5 kms north of Cranbrook. To carpool from Cranbrook, meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop, ready to leave at 12:45 pm. Kimberley members, if you rsvp me, I will put you in touch with each other for carpooling. Dress in layers for the weather and bring water. Poles are useful. Binoculars? RSVP to Marianne.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Rm #KC152
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 - 7:00 pm
Guest Presenter: Janice Strong and Jamie Levine will present "Out of This World" - an educational and audio-visual presentation about Aurora and Comets. This will be followed by "Darkness to Light", a twelve minute slideshow of images to music.
A short business meeting will follow these presentations. Attendance at the business meeting is optional.
Elizabeth Lake Work Party (Marianne)
Thursday, October 31, 2024 - 9:00 am
Before winter really sets in, there are some jobs that need to be done at Elizabeth Lake. Several include:
brush sawing around some of the planted plots, removing landscape cloth and stakes in a couple areas, removing several signs, litter pickup and carrying some small logs a couple hundred metres.
Meet at the parking lot on the corner of 11St. S and Innes Ave. below Parkland School. Dress for the weather, bring work gloves. If you have a brush saw that you are able to use around the plots, please let me know so that I can make a plan. Gas money will be provided. RSVP would be appreciated but not necessary.
Moe's Canyon Larch Loop Outing (Betty)
Saturday, October 19, 2024 - 9:00 am
This is a moderate hike with an elevation gain of 110m over a 6 km. loop, up to 3 hours. We will walk along the base of a steep talus slope and through a stand of large old-growth larch trees in full autumn colour. Wear sturdy footwear and bring a snack. Forecast is cool and cloudy. Meet at the far end of the Kimberley Nordic Centre parking lot at 9 a.m. Cranbrook residents can carpool from the Tamarack Mall; meet at the parking area between Boston Pizza and the Husky truck stop, ready for an 8:30 am departure.
Ram Creek Warm Springs Ecological Reserve Outing (Marianne)
Sunday, September 29, 2024 - 8:00 am
The Rocky Mountain Naturalists are wardens for the Ram Creek Warm Springs Ecological Reserve. We will be leaving Cranbrook at 8:00 am and meeting any Kimberley members at the Wasa Rest Area at 8:30 am. From there it is a 30 minute drive on pavement and then 30 minutes (9 km) on a rougher Forest Service Rd. A high clearance 2 or all wheel drive vehicle is fine. I will be driving my Subaru Forester. After parking, it is an easy 1.6 km hike to the springs and then 0.7 km to check on the east entrance before returning to the parking lot. We should be back on the pavement by mid-afternoon. This is rated as a moderate outing on a clear trail with limited elevation gain. Cranbrook folk meet at the Tamarack Mall parking area between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop to carpool, ready to leave at 8:00 am. Kimberley folk, I will put you in touch with each other so that you can carpool to the Wasa Rest area to meet us at 8:30 am. We will be pulling some invasive plants such as knapweed, collecting any litter, identifying plants and birds, and looking for the Blue Darner. Bring gloves for pulling weeds. Dress for the weather. Wear sturdy footwear, bring lunch, water, bear spray, camera, binoculars, gloves and if you have a spike like dandelion digger tool, it may be useful.
Bi-Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 - 6:30 pm
There will be a very short business at the Prestige Hotel end of the parking area of the Cranbrook History Centre. You may want to bring a chair. We will finish just before 7:00 pm so that those wanting to attend Terry Nelson's presentation on Big Trees in the Interior of BC can do so. Terry is a Fernie resident.
NOTE: You must register for the Presentation. www.cranbrookhistorycentre.com/event
RMN Summer Social
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Our summer Social is at Elizabeth Lake Lodge Mini Golf. All members and partners are welcome.
Mini Golf 3:45 - 5:00 pm. $7.50 per person. Please arrive by 3:45 so that teams can be made by pulling names from a hat. A round takes about an hour. For those not golfing, please take a walk around Elizabeth Lake or just arrive around 5:00 to visit before dinner. Potluck dinner at 5:30 pm. Please bring a dish of your choice, your own beverage, dishes and cutlery. Everyone, please park in the Confederation Park parking lot just off Wattsville Road behind the EL Lodge. Please RSVP to Marianne by Friday, August 23 so we have an idea of numbers for golf, tables and chairs.
Elizabeth Lake Turtle Bed Weeding (Theckla)
Thursday, July 25, 2024 - 8:00 am
There is a heavy bloom of knapweed happening on the edges of the turtle beds, some select spots between the beds, and along the highway beside the beds. The main focus will be knapweed, but if there are enough people, we can do some weeding on the turtle beds themselves. Meet at the Elizabeth Lake Information Center parking lot. Knapweed spreads via seeds, so the plants can either be pulled or cut. As the plants need to be disposed of properly, garbage bags will be supplied, and Theckla will take them all to the dump. Some gardening clippers will be available as well. All you need are some sturdy shoes and some gloves. If you have gardening clippers you like using or a trowel you prefer to use for weeding, feel free to bring them as well, the more the merrier. If you can help at all, it would be greatly appreciated. Let’s keep this highly invasive weed at bay, and protect the nests of turtle eggs on the beds.
Elizabeth Lake Shrub Watering (Marianne)
Thursday, July 18, 2024 - 8:00 am
There are several beds of shrubs, part of our Elizabeth Ecosystem Enhancement Project, planted in May 2022, that are in need of watering. As of this morning, there was still easily accessible water fairly close to the beds. A bucket brigade makes the job go quite fast. If you can help out this Thursday, July 18 at 8:00 am, please meet at the parking lot just off Wattsville Rd, behind the Elizabeth Lake Lodge. Wear sturdy shoes and maybe bring gloves. I think an hour would get lots of watering done. Buckets supplied.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Wycliffe Regional Park
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 - 7:00 pm
Due to the heat and dry conditions, we are meeting at 7:00 pm tomorrow, Wednesday, July 17, at Wycliffe Regional Park which is located halfway between Kimberley and Cranbrook. We are working to reduce our carbon footprint so we are encouraging carpooling. Cranbrook folk meet Stewart at the Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for a 6:30 pm departure. Kimberley folk, meet Theckla at the Kimberley Curling Club for a 6:30 pm departure. As you enter the park, at the intersection of the road that goes straight and the road that goes left down the hill to the creek, there will be someone there or a sign directing you to our meeting place. Bring a chair, water and mosquito repellent.
RM Nats Annual Club Camp - Mount Fernie Provincial Park
Sunday, June 2 to Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Our guest speaker will be Terry Nelson of Fernie, author of Big Trees of the Inland temperate Rainforests of BC. He will be having his presentation on Monday, June 3 at 7:30 pm. There is also hiking, biking, canoeing, birding, potlucks and wiener roasts on the agenda.
Bluebird Box Outing (Marianne)
Saturday, June 1, 2024
I will be monitoring my Bluebird Nest box route at the Spray Irrigation site on Saturday, June 1 if you would like to join me. Meet at the Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for an 8:30 am departure. Wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather and definitely bring your binoculars. This is an easy outing with mainly driving and a little walking. We will be back in town by 11:00 am.
Little Big Day (Greg)
Sunday, May 26, 2024
Little Big Day is back to the old ways! Even the count -up! Lucky Star Restaurant - 17, 12th St. S., Cranbrook Arrive 6:15 / 6:30 PM.
We would like to encourage all RMNats to participate. All skill levels are welcome to participate. If you do not have a group to make up a team, Greg will help to put some teams together. Each team will consist of 3 to 5 participants travelling in one vehicle or on the ground. Each team will select its own name which will be submitted at the supper final. The registration fee will be $25.00 per team. All registration fee money will be donated to a conservation effort in the East Kootenay. The conservation donation will be discussed at the count-up dinner (Lucky Star Restaurant) on Sunday, May 26th. The objective of the LBD competition is to identify as many bird species as possible between 6am and 6pm on May 26th within the Southern half of the Rocky Mtn Naturalist East Kootenay Bird Checklist (2016) area.
Elizabeth Lake Work Bees
The planted plots of the Elizabeth Lake Restoration Project are looking good but are in need of some weeding.
Three work bees planned - you may be able to attend one of these during this very busy month of May. Any help is appreciated.
Thursday, May 23, 2024 - 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - 9:00 am - 10:45 am
Thursday, May 30, 2024 - 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Meet at the Wattsville Rd. parking lot behind the EL Lodge. Bring water, gloves, garden clippers, hand trowel or dandelion-type digger.
Old Homestead Outing (Marianne)
Saturday, May 25, 2024
On Saturday, May 25 there will be a loop walk to an old homestead in the Six Mile area. Meet at the Tamarack Mall between the Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza to carpool, leaving at 8:45 am. Kimberley folk to meet behind the Marysville Arena for an 8:30 am departure. Meet Marianne at the end of Albert Rd. in the Wilks and Kahn Subdivision at 9:00 am.
We will be walking for about 5 km on trails and quad tracks with some elevation gain, identifying spring flowers and birds. This is rated as a moderate outing. Dress for the weather and bring water, binoculars, etc.
Ram Creek Warm Springs Ecological Reserve Outing (Marianne)
Sunday, May 19, 2024 - 7:30 am
The Rocky Mountain Naturalists are wardens for the Ram Creek Warm Springs Ecological Reserve. I am going to make a visit to the Reserve on Sunday, May 19. We will be leaving the Tamarack Mall parking area between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop at 7:30 am to carpool and meeting any Kimberley folk at 8:00 am at the
Wasa Rest Area. From there it is a 25 minute drive on pavement and then 30 minutes (9 km) on a rough, likely somewhat dusty, Forest Service Rd. A high clearance 2 or all-wheel drive vehicle is needed. After parking, it is a 1.7 km hike to the springs and then 0.7 km to check on the east entrance before returning to the parking lot. We should be back on the pavement by mid-afternoon. This is rated as a moderate outing on a trail with limited elevation gain. We will be pulling some invasive plants such as knapweed, collecting litter, identifying plants and birds, and looking for the Blue Darner and butterflies. Bring gloves for pulling weeds and a trowel or dandelion digger or a screwdriver to uproot rosettes and taproots. Dress for the weather. Wear sturdy footwear, bring lunch, water, bear spray, camera, binoculars and phone. We will be using inaturalist to identify some flora and fauna.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Rm #KC151
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 - 7:00 pm
Guest Presenter: Greg Ross, who will speak about Western Painted Turtle Monitoring at Elizabeth Lake. Greg has been involved with the Rocky Mountain Naturalists Club Western Painted Turtle Project since its inception in the early 1990’s. He is going to talk about the historical context of the Elizabeth Lake turtle beds, the monitoring process and the results over time as well as past, current and future challenges.
This is followed by a short business meeting. Attendance at the business meeting is optional.
Global Big Day on the Key Biodiversity Area (Dianne)
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Ruth and I will be visiting Skookumchuck Prairie Key Biodiversity Area for eBird's Global Big Day, Saturday, May 11, 2024.
The KBA goes from Wasa Lake to Skookumchuck on both sides of the Kootenay River so we could split it up into four teams depending on the number of members signed up.
1) Skookumchuck and Prairie
2) Moan Road and backcountry
3) Wasa Lake and village
4) Wolf Creek
This is a very informal effort and any and all eBird checklists are welcome. Last year, Marianne, Emma, Ruth and I got 76 species. https://ebird.org/tripreport/127861
Current year's species https://ebird.org/barchart?byr=2024&eyr=2024&bmo=1&emo=12&r=CA-BC_258
You can also put observations on iNaturalist https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/skookumchuck-prairie-iba
Mayook Crested Wheatgrass Prairie Outing (Jim)
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Depart: Car pool departure at 10 am from the Tamarack Mall, in the parking lot between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop. Boots on the ground from the trailhead at 10:30 am.
The outing will be 8 km leaving the highway area, progressing along the dirt prairie roads through the upper prairie till a moderate sloped ravine path which descends to a lower fenced path to be followed Westward. Good observation of a lower pond and marshland may be observed. A small drainage wet marshy area shall need to be crossed to gain access onto a flood dyke which shall be travelled Westward (large ruts are worn into the top of the dyke so proper ankle support is recommended). Leaving the dyke the lower prairie shall be traversed to the Kootenay river for a lunch stop at a large wooden picnic table. Following lunch, we will loop back across the lower prairie area and eventually backtrack to the vehicles. Or alternately, depending upon the ability and desire of the group, could take a larger return loop further Eastward ascent via the main powerline gravel roadway (but extra elevation is required on that return). Sighting of coyotes, deer, elk, sandhill crane, swans, swallow colonies, and grizzly tracks have been noted on previous hikes.
Time: 5 hours, not including driving
Rating: Moderate to difficult
Distance: 8km or 10km depending on return preference
Elevation change: 150 m
Bring: Lunch and drink
Requirements: waterproof hiking boots with good traction and ankle support, hiking poles, bear spray, binoculars, dress for weather.
Location of trailhead: Hwy. 93, 1 km East of Mayook BCH Substation, on the left side of highway. Park in the field through the farm gate. Look for horse trailers at the same location.
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The fossil box at Nature Bob's Interpretive Centre at Mount Fernie Alpine Resort.
Photo - Greg
