MARCH 20 UPDATE:   Trails on the north face of Kenna are still snow-packed, so I am re-routing to the South Face.  We will take Tower Trail to the Observation Point to watch the sunset, then take Tower back down to Ponderosa, connect to Lil Pine, Big Pine, a very short section at the bottom of Ridge trail, to Ponderosa, Powerline, Prickly Pear Cactus, back to parking lot.  Approx a 6km loop.  Some lovely views.  As of yesterday, there was snow and packed ice near the Observation Point, on small portions of upper Ponderosa (in the trees), and a wee bit on Powerline.  The rest of our route is pretty dryish, with the odd mud patch, which is easily skirted.  I recommend bringing traction devices for the icy sections, as early morning will be chilly and there will be less slushy spots to step on, and more ice.  I’ve heard ticks are out, but didn’t see any.  Gaiters may be helpful.

PLEASE CHECK BACK again prior to hike – so far weather looks good, but……who knows?  If it is cloudy, I’m still going to go.

March 16 Update:  This Hike is still on, but due to today’s new health advisories, I am cancelling the breakfast portion of this hike.  If you are feeling any symptoms at all, I ask that you do not attend.  While on hike, we will comply with distancing but will continue to be social and talk etc…just from a pole’s length away.  It sounds like many people will be working at home etc – I encourage those who can, to spend time outside.  It’s a great time to hike, but safely – from a distance.👍🏻

March 2 Update:  I have opened up an additional 2 spaces to make room for the participation of new members.  Please make sure you are a new member if you sign up after March 1, if openings come up.

An early morning hike to catch the wonderful colors of the Spring Equinox Sunrise from the top of Dufferin in Kenna Cartwright Park.

Some info on Vernal (Spring) Equinox:  (Thank you, Almanac.com)

“The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night”— aequus (equal) and nox (night).  On the equinox, the length of day and night is nearly equal in all parts of the world.  On the Vernal (Spring) Equinox, the Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north. It’s called the “celestial equator” because it’s an imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator.  If you were standing on the equator, the Sun would pass directly overhead on its way north.  Equinoxes are the only two times a year that Sun only rises due east and sets due west for all of us on Earth!  While the Sun passes overhead, the tilt of the Earth is zero relative to the Sun, which means that Earth’s axis neither points toward nor away from the Sun. (Note, however, that the Earth never orbits upright, but is always tilted on its axis by about 23.5 degrees.)  After the Spring equinox, the Norther Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, which is why we start to get longer, sunnier days.”

This year, the actual time of the Spring Equinox is Thursday, March 19, at 8:50pm.  But, due to the work-week, I am doing this hike a couple days later.

We will meet up at the Kenna Cartwright parking lot along Hillside Dr at 6:00am – this is the large parking lot with the gazebo.  (See map image)  Sunrise that day is 6:58am.  We will begin hiking up at 6:15am, please arrive at 6:00am – early enough to get geared up etc., so that we will reach the Towers a little before sunrise.  Once at the top, we will sit and observe the sunrise (bring something to sit on – I use a dollar store windshield sun screen, folded up), take pics, dream about coffee, etc.  After sunrise, we will then head back down a short way to hike the Balsam Root Trail, connecting to Lichen’s Traverse, connecting to Upper Doug Dawes, connecting to Ponderosa, then Powerline and Sunnyside, and finally back down the Tower Trail to the parking lot.  All together, approximately a 6.8 km loop.  We will move at an average pace.  All the trails are rated Beginner / Intermediate.

After the hike, all who are interested may proceed to Cora’s for some social time and an incredible breakfast/coffee etc.  (…The breakfast is not club-sponsored, fyi.)

• Hikers are expected to be self-sufficient.  Please take the time to read the Club’s “Guidelines and Expectations” & “Recommended Essentials” before you head out to hike, if you have not already done so.
• Dress warmly with extra layers – it can get very windy up there and it is very exposed around the towers.
• Bring a headlamp, in case you find the lighting a little dim before sunrise.
• Hiking poles are always handy.
• This hike is subject to weather – if it is socked-in (very cloudy), we will reschedule, so check the listing for an update the day before.
• If the date has to be moved, you can simply cancel by going to Your Bookings.