Snowshoeing in the BC Mountains

From 20 Dec 09

We should have known better. Chris, Brooke, Bob and I went out snowshoeing in Strathcona Park in BC, near Comox. It started out beautiful, if a little cloudy. We headed into the snow, first time on snowshoes for me!

Through the trees, onto a cross country ski trail, back into the woods. We did the WHOLE lake loop - we figure over 10 km on snowshoes (not much trail till the end.)

And then we realized - we don't know if we are heading BACK to the car - OR NOT. What was supposed to be an hour in the snow turned into FOUR hours of hiking, and about 3 hours of that was wondering if we were lost. We had the ski trail, fortunately, but really couldn't tell if we were getting closer to or farther from the car. By the time the ski patrol was coming by to do a 'last sweep' of the trail, to make sure everyone was coming off the trail, we knew darkness was coming. By the time we found the road (and had to ask a passing truck which way to the parking lot, AND had to walk back 1/2 km ...) it was DARK. And we had spent 4 hours in the woods, without the bare essentials. Little water, less food, nothing for surprise inclement weather, no compass/gps, not even EXTRA socks for my freezing wet feet!! Did I learn nothing in basic training?