For our first Northwest Bay PROBUS Club hike on a beautiful sunny Friday August 8th 2014, we had 14 members (including four ladies). We car-pooled to the trailhead about 35 minutes just below Cassidy Airport.
The Haslam Trail has blue markers and is part of the Trans Canada Trail. We started out shortly after 9:15. The route was mostly level hiking trail through a reforested area until you reach a beautiful creek canyon. The metal suspension footbridge had just enough sway in it to make it interesting. The rest of the hike was along forested trails with a section that climbed about 300 feet up a wet–rooted area that our group easily handled. The route continued on logging roads until we reached Timberland Lake.
Norm Kilarski provided the highlight of the trip when the sole of one of his hiking boots fell off. With no duct tape available, we found some rope and attempted to tie it back on. We then walked back to another point on the lake that made for a great lunch area and swimming hole. No one had the nerve to take a dive into the supposedly warm waters. Discovering the second shoe had lost its sole, Norm completed the return walk without soles on his shoes. We retraced our route after lunch and were back at the trailhead and the cars by 12:30.
A great effort for our first hike: about 7 km with a 450 ft. gain in elevation.