Mt. Midgeley Work Bee: Blowdown, a Dyson, and a Hermit Thrush

Some work bees are straightforward. This one had a little bit of everything.

When we put out the call for volunteers to head up Mt. Midgeley Trail on July 12 for a day of trail clearing and cabin cleanup, we weren't entirely sure what we'd find up there. The trail needed attention — blowdown, encroaching vegetation, a cabin that had sat through a full winter — and we needed hands.

Eleven people showed up. And they absolutely delivered.

The Trail

Let's talk about the blowdown. There was a lot of it. Brian Huscroft tackled the biggest obstacle of the day — a significant blowdown above the cabin — and the crew worked steadily through the rest, clearing the trail from bottom to top. Encroaching vegetation got cut back, the access road was cleaned up, and by the end of the day Mt. Midgeley Trail was in genuinely great shape. The kind of shape that makes you want to turn around and hike it again immediately.

The cloud cover helped. Nobody is going to complain about a cool day on the mountain when you're swinging tools.

The Cabin

And then there's Gwen.

Gwen arrived at this work bee with a mission — and a Dyson vacuum cleaner strapped to her back. She hauled it all the way up to the cabin and proceeded to handle the entire cleaning herself. Every corner, every surface. The verdict: no evidence of rodents this time around, which is always a win.

We don't know exactly what the cabin did to deserve Gwen, but we're glad it has her.+

The Unexpected Highlight

Here's the part nobody planned for. Partway through the day, a volunteer spotted what appears to be a nest of hermit thrush eggs tucked into a small fir tree well below the cabin. Delicate, hidden, and perfectly placed — a quiet reminder that while we're out there working on the trail, the trail is very much alive and busy with its own business.

The tree was carefully tagged with trail tape so future crews know to give it a wide berth.

Nature gets the right of way. +

The Result

The access road is clear. The trail is clear. The cabin is clean. And Mt. Midgeley is ready for you.

If you've been thinking about making the trip up, now is the time. It's an easy hike with high elevation and views that genuinely stop you in your tracks.

Go find Brian's handiwork. Go see what Gwen cleaned. And if you're lucky — and quiet — maybe take a peek at that little nest on the way up. Just look for the pink tape.

---

A massive thank you to all eleven volunteers who gave their Saturday to this trail. Every branch cleared, every cobweb swept, every blowdown cut is another reason this valley's backcountry stays open and beautiful for everyone.

Want to join the next work bee? Follow us on Facebook or visit www.crestonvalleytrails.ca to stay in the loop.