Jacob, Chris, and I identified an iron triangle in 2009 as an excellent container for a small camp fire. Happy to see it's been used over and over again, and was still there for us to use for the MARMU '14 over-nighter.
Showing posts with label mcnabs island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mcnabs island. Show all posts
09 August 2014
Camp Strawberry
Tenting at Strawberry Battery hasn't changed much over the years.
Jacob, Chris, and I identified an iron triangle in 2009 as an excellent container for a small camp fire. Happy to see it's been used over and over again, and was still there for us to use for the MARMU '14 over-nighter.
Jacob, Chris, and I identified an iron triangle in 2009 as an excellent container for a small camp fire. Happy to see it's been used over and over again, and was still there for us to use for the MARMU '14 over-nighter.
08 August 2014
Maritime Meet-Up 2014 - Part Three
MARMU (Maritime Meet-Up) 2014's second day began with a fair amount of rain before anyone woke up. I provided the group with some absolutely horrible instant coffee before we packed our bags and
tore down the tents. Some tidying occurred and we left Strawberry cleaner
than it was when we arrived.
That's my big, heavy pack with the bright green tent attached.
We packed out. Someone (It was me) thought it would be a good idea to lead everyone out the front gate, into the tallest, wettest grass. There were no wood ticks, they'd obviously drown. Soaked, I cursed my boots and changed pants and socks when we hit the main road.
We hid and camouflaged our packs and headed north toward Hugonin Battery. I recommend doing the same if you're leaving anything unattended on the island for any amount of time. Theft of supplies is something friends of mine experienced first hand on the island years ago. I've heard of other instances, with long term campers often getting the blame.
Hugonin Battery was good for me. I'd never seen the gun emplacements first hand. Among them, we found a deer carcass. It had no smell whatsoever, even hovering over it with a camera and tripod. Mint plants, go figure. It was all we could smell.
From Hugonin, we were off to Fort Ives.. Making several stops along the way to poke around creepy, ransacked cabins.
If I recall correctly, everyone had been to the island before and no one expected to see many new developments considering how much of it is abandoned. We didn't find anything new to speak of but Fort Ives was about to deliver.
It was significantly cooler inside Fort Ives- a good ten or fifteen degrees cooler. It was damp. Wooden fixtures such as door and window sills have decomposed in place and would turn to mush when touched.
There was very little trash and minimal graffiti, some of it dating to the 1970s. Debris covered the floors of the deeper rooms but much of it was bits of material that had fallen from the walls and ceiling over decades.
Of course there was no getting up there. Best we could do with the equipment we were carrying was to boost a camera with an extended tripod.
The group landed at Fisherman's Cove in Eastern Passage where we said our good-byes, all agreeing we'd need to do it again next year!
That's my big, heavy pack with the bright green tent attached.
We packed out. Someone (It was me) thought it would be a good idea to lead everyone out the front gate, into the tallest, wettest grass. There were no wood ticks, they'd obviously drown. Soaked, I cursed my boots and changed pants and socks when we hit the main road.
We hid and camouflaged our packs and headed north toward Hugonin Battery. I recommend doing the same if you're leaving anything unattended on the island for any amount of time. Theft of supplies is something friends of mine experienced first hand on the island years ago. I've heard of other instances, with long term campers often getting the blame.
Hugonin Battery was good for me. I'd never seen the gun emplacements first hand. Among them, we found a deer carcass. It had no smell whatsoever, even hovering over it with a camera and tripod. Mint plants, go figure. It was all we could smell.
From Hugonin, we were off to Fort Ives.. Making several stops along the way to poke around creepy, ransacked cabins.
If I recall correctly, everyone had been to the island before and no one expected to see many new developments considering how much of it is abandoned. We didn't find anything new to speak of but Fort Ives was about to deliver.
We poked around the grounds, and ate a quick lunch before examining a suspicious, recently created hole punched through the cinder blocks that sealed Fort Ives decades ago.
It was quickly determined that the punched hole was important. Everyone hurried in to take a look. It was pretty remarkable, really. I went to Fort Ives expecting nothing more than a quick picnic as it's been sealed quite well for a very long time.
Inside Fort Ives we found a large room with a small entry way to a long tunnel with a high arched ceiling. The tunnel led to several other large rooms, many or all serving as magazines for guns above.
It was significantly cooler inside Fort Ives- a good ten or fifteen degrees cooler. It was damp. Wooden fixtures such as door and window sills have decomposed in place and would turn to mush when touched.
There were plenty of opportunities to get hurt inside the fort. The floor pictured above has a gap about one metre wide that extends wall to wall with a drop of approximately two metres to debris at bottom. It would make for a nasty fall. There is no light inside making several capable lights a necessity.
Fort Ives, from the outside, appears to have potential for passageways to be above the rooms we found ourselves in. Access to above was not obvious, however in the corner of one of the assumed magazine rooms there was what could be a passageway in the ceiling.
Of course there was no getting up there. Best we could do with the equipment we were carrying was to boost a camera with an extended tripod.
No definitive answer as to what's up there though. Trevor's photo showed the passageway could take a turn several metres forward. Next time, perhaps.
Above is a magazine elevator. It doesn't elevate anything these days
though. Thoroughly seized. We explored the rooms and passageways as much
as possible and headed back outside to finish walking Fort Ives.
After crawling into some awfully small holes, we were again in interesting spots we'd never been before.
Time was getting tight. We left Ives, and passed by the island's old
houses on the way back to the beach. We collected our well hidden belongings, and called Captain Taylor to tell him we were headed toward Wreck Cove.
Next time, we'll play the tides
right and depart when it's high. The hike down the beach to the ferry was
miserable. Just a combination of soft footing, a heavy pack, and exhaustion. Captain Taylor met us half way, it could have been worse.
The group landed at Fisherman's Cove in Eastern Passage where we said our good-byes, all agreeing we'd need to do it again next year!
07 August 2014
Maritime Meet-Up 2014 - Part Two
After bushwhacking around Chebucto Head and a mystery location earlier in the day, we drove to Eastern Passage. We had arranged for Captain Steve Taylor to take us to McNabs Island via ferry. Once everyone was done commenting on the size and weight of my backpack, Captain Taylor took us across.
View Larger Map
We landed on the island at Wreck Cove's beach and set for Wambolt Trail. This trail skips Fort McNab taking you directly to Garrison Road. From there we hiked around McNabs Pond, to the rocky shoreline, and then up to Strawberry Battery where we set up camp for the night. It was here that they stopped talking about my backpack, and began talking about the colour of my tent. Neon green, it isn't exactly subtle.
Strawberry Battery offers superb views of Halifax Harbour. Looking over the light emplacements, south up the island's shoreline toward the open ocean...
It eventually got dark and we made our supper. Some had brought and cooked bison, some left their food in their truck parked at the wharf, and some roughed it a little more than others.
This was my dinner. It was delicious.
It wasn't long after dinner and some discussion that we packed it in for the night, ending day one.
Stay tuned for Part Three. Hopefully I can get to this trip's highlight without a Part Four.
View Larger Map
We landed on the island at Wreck Cove's beach and set for Wambolt Trail. This trail skips Fort McNab taking you directly to Garrison Road. From there we hiked around McNabs Pond, to the rocky shoreline, and then up to Strawberry Battery where we set up camp for the night. It was here that they stopped talking about my backpack, and began talking about the colour of my tent. Neon green, it isn't exactly subtle.
It eventually got dark and we made our supper. Some had brought and cooked bison, some left their food in their truck parked at the wharf, and some roughed it a little more than others.
This was my dinner. It was delicious.
It wasn't long after dinner and some discussion that we packed it in for the night, ending day one.
Stay tuned for Part Three. Hopefully I can get to this trip's highlight without a Part Four.
11 October 2010
Stabilizing Fort McNab
As part of the federal government's economic action plan $1 025 000 (actionplan.gc.ca) was earmarked for the "stabilization of selected historic assets within the Fort McNab." Fort McNab was and is falling to pieces and many parts of the cannot be considered safe for unguided public access. The result of the stabilization should provide safe unguided public access to the fort. The work began during in September 2010. I became aware when Friends of McNabs announced via Twitter (Friends of McNabs @Twitter) that the fort would be upgraded, getting a "$1.6 million facelift," and would be closed to the public for the remainder of the year.
It was my assumption that major aspects of the fort's stabilization would include repairs to the crumbling building facades and the limiting of access to areas determined to be unsafe. Most of the access to underground areas was sealed years ago, I assume the remaining tunnels will be closed off as part of efforts to stabilize the fort.
When I visited Fort McNab with a group of close friends late in September 2010 work was already underway. My assumption that work would be done on crumbling building exteriors was confirmed by scaffolding. We were all pleasantly surprised to see much of the brush and overgrowth cut back revealing all kinds of new views.
We had a great time on the island again this year. Every time we visit we find something new or previously overlooked. I still haven't figured out an effective way to carry all of my gear and I have yet to learn how much water is enough. Apparently I need more than three litres for a twenty-four hour stay. We spent the night in tents after hiking through the interior, to McNabs Pond Trail to Strawberry Battery and back out through the Cliff Trail.
It was my assumption that major aspects of the fort's stabilization would include repairs to the crumbling building facades and the limiting of access to areas determined to be unsafe. Most of the access to underground areas was sealed years ago, I assume the remaining tunnels will be closed off as part of efforts to stabilize the fort.
When I visited Fort McNab with a group of close friends late in September 2010 work was already underway. My assumption that work would be done on crumbling building exteriors was confirmed by scaffolding. We were all pleasantly surprised to see much of the brush and overgrowth cut back revealing all kinds of new views.
We had a great time on the island again this year. Every time we visit we find something new or previously overlooked. I still haven't figured out an effective way to carry all of my gear and I have yet to learn how much water is enough. Apparently I need more than three litres for a twenty-four hour stay. We spent the night in tents after hiking through the interior, to McNabs Pond Trail to Strawberry Battery and back out through the Cliff Trail.
Taylor Made Tours (Capt. Steve Taylor, 902-448-4982/902-465-6272, Fisherman's Cove, Eastern Passage) ferried us to and from the island.
See also:
02 August 2009
McNabs Island - Natal Day 2009
Jacob, Chris and I arrived on the island at 11:30am on August 1 and walked from Back Cove to Fort McNab, via Garrison Rd, and then to Strawberry Battery, via McNabs Pond Trail for the night. Most of the McNabs Pond Trail is overgrown. We were told DNR is allowing the overgrowth to happen to deter travel to Strawberry Battery. We cleaned up a big piece of the former battery and set up camp on the concrete. The following morning, made the return trip to Back Cove, this time via the Wambolt Trail, to wait for Red Beard to take us back to the mainland.
View McNabs Island in a larger map
Brought a camera...
1. Looking northwest from Fort McNab, August 1, 2009.
2. Doors leading underground at Fort McNab.
3. Break #2 on top of a concrete gun mount.
4. Leaving Fort McNab.
5. McNabs Pond near Garrison Road.
6. Shipwreck in McNabs Pond at the shore of the island.
7. Cleaning up at Strawberry Battery.
8. Clean-up results.
9. From the wall of Strawberry Battery.
10. Facing the mouth of the harbour at night. (Strawberry Battery)
11. The beach at Back Cove the next morning, August 2, 2009.
View McNabs Island in a larger map
Brought a camera...
1. Looking northwest from Fort McNab, August 1, 2009.
2. Doors leading underground at Fort McNab.
3. Break #2 on top of a concrete gun mount.
4. Leaving Fort McNab.
5. McNabs Pond near Garrison Road.
6. Shipwreck in McNabs Pond at the shore of the island.
7. Cleaning up at Strawberry Battery.
8. Clean-up results.
9. From the wall of Strawberry Battery.
10. Facing the mouth of the harbour at night. (Strawberry Battery)
11. The beach at Back Cove the next morning, August 2, 2009.
22 October 2008
Fort Ives & Others
Photos from an October 2008 trip to Fort Ives, found on McNab's Island in Halifax Harbour.
1. Fort Ives
2. Resting at Fort Ives.
3. Guns remain mounted at Fort Ives.
4. Wall of Fort Ives slowly erode.
5. Inside the powerhouse on Garrison Road.
6. Again, inside the powerhouse.
7. Vintage fridge found in the childhood home of Bill Lynch.
View McNabs Island in a larger map
1. Fort Ives
2. Resting at Fort Ives.
3. Guns remain mounted at Fort Ives.
4. Wall of Fort Ives slowly erode.
5. Inside the powerhouse on Garrison Road.
6. Again, inside the powerhouse.
7. Vintage fridge found in the childhood home of Bill Lynch.
View McNabs Island in a larger map
21 October 2008
Strawberry Battery
Photos from an October 2008 trip to Strawberry Battery, found on McNab's Island in Halifax Harbour.
1. Entering Strawberry Battery.
2. Watch your step.
3.
4. Most everything here was sealed. What wasn't sealed, wasn't all that exciting.
5. One of the light emplacements below Strawberry Battery.
View McNabs Island in a larger map
1. Entering Strawberry Battery.
2. Watch your step.
3.
4. Most everything here was sealed. What wasn't sealed, wasn't all that exciting.
5. One of the light emplacements below Strawberry Battery.
View McNabs Island in a larger map
20 October 2008
Fort McNab
Photos from an October 2008 trip to Fort McNab, found on McNab's Island in Halifax Harbour.
1. Crumbling exterior of Fort McNab Casemates building.
2. Entering Fort McNab's subterranean through the Left Magazine entrance.
3. Fort McNab's Radar Building and Left Magazine entrance.
4. Inside the Crew Shelter building at Fort McNab.
5. Scary dark furnace at Fort McNab.
6. McNab Cemetery
View McNabs Island in a larger map
1. Crumbling exterior of Fort McNab Casemates building.
2. Entering Fort McNab's subterranean through the Left Magazine entrance.
3. Fort McNab's Radar Building and Left Magazine entrance.
4. Inside the Crew Shelter building at Fort McNab.
5. Scary dark furnace at Fort McNab.
6. McNab Cemetery
View McNabs Island in a larger map
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