Good morning! 

Last week we featured a story on the federal government’s measures to protect orcas. We made an amendment to the story to clarify that Mike Tucker is the president of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce instead of Chris Tucker. 

On to today’s newsletter where we have a story from a local hiker who got trapped in a clay pit on the Juan de Fuca trail recently. Read that story and more, below.

— Emma

NEWS

Man trapped for hours in muddy Juan de Fuca Trail clay pit

A North Saanich man has a harrowing tale from the hiking trails that may save someone else from the same scary sinking feeling he faced two weeks ago.

Mark Junker, a 57-year-old experienced hiker, spent the better part of two hours trapped in the woods—stuck up to his hips in muddy clay before being rescued by hikers who happened by.

“I felt calm through the process,” he tells Capital Daily. “But I can say that at one point I started to shiver. And I was like, Is this shock? Or is this cold?”

On March 28, Junker, an aircraft maintenance engineer with Vancouver Island Helicopters (VIH), and his 18-year-old daughter Maeve hiked the lower portion of the southern end of the Juan de Fuca Trail from China Beach toward Sombrio Beach. After spending the night at Bear Beach, the plan on March 29 was to trek to Chin Beach, but approximately 20 minutes from their appointed stop, things got a little sticky.

It was 4:45 in the afternoon. The terrain was wet from recent rains and a little on the mucky side, so less than a kilometre east of Chin Beach, Junker decided to trudge on the flatter, seemingly more solid side.

“Second step in, I was like just sunk and it was truly very clay-like, and we're right mid-thigh, like instantly,” he says. “Top of the thigh, like crotch-deep, basically.”

Carrying 40 pounds on his back, Junker lost his balance, leading his second leg to follow into the soft, sinking clay. 

He pulled off his backpack and tried to muscle his way out of the quagmire. “I thought, ‘Well, I'm going to pull myself out of here.’ And I started reaching over, trying to grab stuff—and it wasn't happening.”

It took multiple attempts to free Junker, who was thankful to all of the people who helped him in his time of need. 

BC Parks, an agency of the Environment Ministry, said in an email to Capital Daily that it was “the first report of an incident of this nature,” on the trail it had received.

“The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is a strenuous, multi-day hike in a rugged and isolated environment,” it said. “Hikers should be prepared for uneven ground and slippery conditions on muddy trails, wooden surfaces, boulders, and rocky shorelines."

Head to Capital Daily to read the full story by Mark Brennae.

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ENVIRONMENT

Heat pumps eclipse solar panels in developments in the Westshore

Yesterday's "Great North American Eclipse" was witnessed in cities across North America. For those living in British Columbia, however, residents faced slim chances of witnessing the event. 

More lunar than solar, the event was an opportunity to shed some daylight on the question of the prevalence of heat pump installations over solar panels in new builds in the Westshore area. 

View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias told the Westshore, “All three levels of government have incentivized heat pump installation and the CRD has a concierge service to assist the funding and rebates. To a comparative extent this has not been done for new or existing builds for solar. Solar also was not a requirement for the new building step code.” Colwood adopted the BC Zero Carbon Step Code in January 2024.

Various factors affecting the adoption of solar panels include cost and incentives. When asked why solar was not more prevalent in new builds in View Royal, Tobias said “Solar is arguably more expensive than heat pumps—$15K to $30K, without incentives. I think we also must be cautious of increasing demands for developers that will increase the costs for affordability in balance with climate solutions.”

Despite cost challenges, there's growing interest in solar energy, fuelled by incentives and initiatives like the Canada Greener Homes Initiative. However, concerns about cost, reliability, and infrastructure readiness remain. The mayor of View Royal underscored the need for a balanced approach to promote solar energy and address the increasing demand for power in the region.

“I am hopeful that we will find a better balance and that solar becomes more affordable, efficient and incentivized to offset the growing demand for power,” said Tobias.

Head to the Westshore to read more about the debate between solar panels and heat pumps.

Around the 'Shore

🧨 Langford park now open after police retrieve explosive material: West Shore RCMP received a call from a complainant on April 6 after they found explosive material in their residence; the person told RCMP that they had put the explosive material in their vehicle and were driving to the West Shore detachment, but police told them to stop their vehicle, exit, and wait for police. Despite the directions, the complainant had already exited their vehicle and left the explosive material in the Veterans Memorial Park. The area was swept by the Explosive Disposal Unit and has been declared safe to return to. 

🛴 Legalization of E-scooters in Greater Victoria cities: Langford, Saanich, and Victoria residents can now use E-cooters in the city after the province launched a pilot program on April 5. The program will allow electric kick scooter riders to travel on designated bike lanes on streets with speed limits of 50 km/h or lower, or as far right as possible if no bike lane is available; riders must wear a helmet, be at least 16 years old, and have a maximum capacity of 25 km/h. [CHEK]

🦭 Local famous elephant seal moved to Gorge waterway: Emerson the elephant seal is well-known for causing some mischief in the Greater Victoria area after fishery officers had to relocate him for the fourth time ever. Emerson was relocated by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans from the Gorge Waterway to an undisclosed beach on Vancouver Island’s west coast. [Times Colonist]

TASTING VICTORIA AWARDS

Check out the finalists for best bakery

Do you have a favourite bakery? Cocktail bar? Sushi spot? Vote for all your favourites in the 2024 Tasting Victoria Awards. Check out the finalists in all 18 categories here.

Community Events

📚 Big bargain book sale: This April 13 from 10am to 4pm head to Gordon United Church for the bargain book sale. Bring a bag and check out second hand books ranging in price from one to three dollars each; cash will be the only accepted payment, so make sure to bring some coins. 

⚽️ Pacific FC game: Soccer season is back, and Pacific FC is taking on the HFX Wanderers FC on April 13 at Starlight Stadium. The game starts at 4pm, and tickets are on sale now. Won’t make this match? Pacific FC games will be going until October, so make sure to check out their schedule. 

🎭 Introduction to improv: Looking to get into theatre or improv? Head to the Metchosin Arts & Cultural Centre this April 13 to learn more about the fundamentals of improv. Going from 2 to 4pm, Dave Morris of Paper Street Theatre will be leading the lesson; cost is around $40-$60, so make sure to email your registration and e-transfer ASAP.

What’s Offshore?

No ships today!

Westshore Snaps

Swan talk at Albert Head Lagoon. —Ron Myers, Colwood

That’s it!

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