June 26/27/28, 2020: Lomas Lake (again)
Y’already know what it is, Lomas Lake returns. I have blogged many, many, many times about one of my favourite spots on Vancouver Island, and I’ll do it again right now. Located just outside of Youbou, Lomas Lake is a few hours via logging roads and then trails from Cottonwood Creek x North Shore Road. It’s a moderate to easy hike, with no significant challenges other than a few steep sections which are well worth the tranquility of the lake and valley.
This time around in late June of 2020, I was once again joined by my girlfriend, Danielle, as well as our friend Kyla. It was Kyla’s first time to Lomas Lake, and we were happy to show someone the special place. If you remember, last time we hiked up to the lake we brought along another who’d never been, our friend Sam.
While the last couple times we’d hiked up to Lomas the weather had cooperated nicely, this time, was different. Throughout the weekend we were met with a decent amount of rain, as well as a good amount of fog. Although we did have sunny breaks, we remained somewhat soggy the entirety of the trip. Due to the fog and a bit more snowpack than anticipated, we weren’t able to summit either Landale or El Capitan, but did at least make it up to the saddle on Saturday. The rest of the time was spent around the fire (where I put a hole in the tongue of my hiking boot), playing cards in the tent, and washing some lures in the lake with no luck.
Although the weather wasn’t as good as it could have been, and I stupidly burnt a hole in my boot, we still had a great time in the hills, forgetting for a moment we were still in the midst of a global pandemic.