Soggy Yet Smiling Mt. Apps
Nov. 22nd, 2025
Leader: Janine Buckley
Participants: Colin Dams, Steve Parker, Peggy Taylor, Roger Taylor
Well, after carefully watching the weather then making the call Wednesday evening that the hike is still “on”, the forecast changed significantly for the worse late Thursday night; and, true to her word, Mother Nature delivered (see pictures for proof)! Thankfully, a less than desirable forecast did not stop four intrepid, most importantly, happy-going hikers from having a memorable little adventure that began about thirty-six hours’ish later… while carefully navigating the myriad of logging roads behind Buckley Bay and gaining elevation, the forecasters’ predictions were being solidly confirmed; by the time we got to the very top of the logging spur thanks to both a fantastic four-by-four and great, skilled driving (Thanks, Roger😊!), pounding sideways, the rain and wind greeted us as soon as we opened the doors: nothing like starting a hike drenched in the first five minutes! Some trees provided a bit of shelter as we ambled up the ridge easily finding the official, yet shorter, of the two summits marked by a large cairn with the classic CDMC wooden sign. Again, thanks to positive attitudes and energetic bodies, we soldiered on to the more southerly “true” summit passing the openings to some decent gullies while leaving the supposedly beautiful vistas up to our imaginations; as Steve commented, “I’d really like to come back here one day to actually see the views…”; I believe that the others agreed😉. However, we did pass one thinly covered-with-ice tarn as we made our way to Zella Lake, a spot we all hope to return to one day: looked lovely! While huddled against some bushes, lunch was a couple of handfuls of “pocket snacks” then a consistent pace along the trail directly back to the truck. Brightened by wetness, the willow, buds and other lingering vegetation’s colours were vibrant against the backdrop of grey plus Witches’ butter fungi made an extra outstanding appearance just before the end of the route! Seeing the truck again made each of us smile…and, with five cold, saturated passengers fogging the windows of the truck on the way down, one might think that that was end of their little adventure…
Think again! “Want to try that other way out, Janine, via Fanny Bay Main? I have an old track downloaded.”
Something to effect of, “…as long as you’re sure it looks doable, Roger; remember: I do not have a heavy duty four-by-four truck!”
“You’ll be okay! I’ll watch you.”
“Okay…,” replies Janine rather trepidatiously before very clearly and confidently stating, “but I am absolutely no longer responsible for this trip from here on in: absolutely not😉!”
In her car, Janine shares her upbeat uneasiness with Colin, especially after she made sure that she found the correct spur up to Mt. Apps twice before even posting the trip (Thanks, Becky, for the coming along the second time so I made sure that I could find the route again!).
Anyway, off we go following Mr. Reassuring…not long thereafter, ”This really does not look like a main to me!” A few minutes after that, “I have no idea where we are, Colin!”
“Me, neither!”
“Oh, that’s a very big-looking pothole…Phew, we made it! …Yikes, that’s quite the washout on that side; hope we can get by it on this side…Another sigh of relief. Good thing I like to drive interesting stuff…”
At some point during the exploration, another comment to Colin included, “Sure hope the gate is even open as I certainly didn’t check it on the website…”
Yup, lo and behold, after at least thirty minutes of focused driving: a locked red gate! And, by this time mid afternoon, hunger had made itself known! So, we had a pee break then lunch inside warm, dry vehicles all while enjoying a particularly peaceful and scenic view of the Inland highway from the Fanny Bay overpass; ‘twas the perfect spot😉! Relieved and renourished, we returned to the Buckley Bay gate via the roads we now knew, pleased to have had an unexpected bonus of a fun little adventure to end the day: thanks again, Roger😊!
As I wrote in the après hike group email, I was most thankful for such a good-natured group who made the most out of the day despite the miserable weather: kudos to each of you for your youthful energy and positive attitudes.