The Vancouver Island Spine Trail Relay
A glimpse of one of Vancouver Islands most beautiful trails…..
On Saturday June 26th the Living Forest Communities team participated in the inaugural Vancouver Island Spine Trail Relay. Everyone associated with LFC; Cathie, Alice, Tim, Claudia, Gayle, Gaurang and myself each completed a section of the Trans Canada Trail and finished a 30 km run from Camp Pringle to the Humpback Road Water Reservoir.
The Relay, organized by the Vancouver Island Spine Trail Association (VISTA), a part of “Hike BC”, the BC wing of the National Hiking Trail, started on June 5th in Cape Scott and finished in Victoria on June 27th. The main purpose of the Relay, which can be done by foot, bike or horse, was to increase community support for the development of the 700 km long proposed “VISpine” Trail between Cape Scott and Victoria. This impressive inland trail between the North and South part of the island offers hikers, bikers and horseback riders an adventurous route along mountain ridges, lakes, old growth forest and characteristic communities.
When we received the invitation to run the portion of the VI Spine Trail, which would cross the Elkington property, we decided to take on this great opportunity to experience the Trail ourselves. On Saturday Tim and Claudia, kicked off a sunny start in Camp Pringle with 10 other runners. Then, my wife Cathie, our friend Alice and myself took over the running as soon as the group arrived at the North tip of the Elkington Lands.
The Relay participants showed a lot of interest in what we are doing at the Elkington Forest. So during a short break I explained how the Elkington Community could become a main stop along the Trail, providing services like a coffee shop and Bed and Breakfast accommodation for hikers and tourists. The round of applause at the end of my talk surprised me, but showed how much support and enthusiasm there is for this unique development model on the Island.
Our friends Gayle and Gaurang eventually finished the final part of the trail and by the end of the Relay every one was talking about the gorgeous route and the great quality of the trail. Even a little bit of bushwhacking here and there couldn’t spoil the fun for us. It was a fun active day and what an amazing way to discover the potential of The VI Spine-Trail for our island. I am confident that the VI Spine- Trail will become listed as one of North-America’s top hikes and the Elkington Forest Community will be ready to welcome the Trail visitors.
A special thanks to all the participants, organizers and sponsors of the very first VI Spine Relay. I would like to thank Andrew Pape- Salmon and Gil Parker in particularly for their tremendous job as the main event organisers and congratulations to Andrew for finishing the complete Trail on foot or bike.
I hope you all take the opportunity to check out the Trail and hopefully we see you at the next VI Spine Relay in 2011!
For more information about the VI Spine Trail Relay please visit the Relay blog or www.vispine.ca
To check out more pictures of the complete Relay click on the following link
Doug
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