History of Cable Creek

Cable Creek and its tributaries have been an important part of Salt Spring history. The creek bed and surrounding rock formations are full of minerals that attract geologists, artists and general nature lovers. Several large outcropping of white quartz are found in the stretch close to the cottage as is an abandoned rhodonite mine. The creek bed has been staked by prospectors searching for gold and other, more practical minerals and you too can try your hand at panning for gold in the many gravel pools along the creek bed.

Cable Creek is part of the watershed at the south, mountainous, end of Salt Spring Island and empties into the sea at Cable Bay. Trails lead the hiker down the mountain to the creek outlet where an old cable box lies under a tree-fall as a reminder of the fragility of original links between Salt Spring and Vancouver Island. Pieces of cable from an old donkey engine are still visible along the trails; a testament to the logging that took place on the island during the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth century.

Activities - Hiking and Mountain Biking

Visitors to Cable Creek Cottage are at the trail head of miles of hiking and mountain bike trails leading to Mt. Tuam, Mt Bruce and the sea at Musgrave Landing and Cable Bay. Logging roads take the visitor into Burgoyne Bay and onto Mt. Maxwell. There are magnificent views from the roads and trails as you ascend taking in the North Shore Mountains of the mainland, the city of Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Mt. Baker in the Cascade Range and, on a clear day, Mt Rainier. You will find yourself on top of the world. The hiker can take less strenuous forest trails through the two ecological reserves immediately adjacent to the property. Notable features of the reserves include the rugged coastline of Satellite Channel, several waterfalls and Garry Oak meadows full of native plants and flowers.

Flowers

Many flowers native to the Southern Gulf Islands are hard to find today as cultivation and pesticides have destroyed much of their local habitat. The camas bulb was used by aboriginal peoples as a form of potato. On Salt Spring Island the plant has been grazed into rarity by island sheep in many areas. An effort is currently underway to re-establish and spread the lovely drifts of blue flowers which fill garry oak meadows in May and early June; vaguely reminiscent of bluebells in English woodlands. The Isabella Point area around Cable Cottage has remained largely forested with minimal destruction of the natural habitat occupied by this beautiful plant and other native species such as chocolate lilies, shooting stars and white lilies. There is a large drift of camas flowers on the property and a springtime walk in the local woods is guaranteed to reward the wild-flower loving visitor.

Birds

Birdwatchers will also be thrilled to see our resident peregrine falcon and to listen to the owls calling in the meadow after dark and sometimes in daylight hours. Pygmy owls and barred owls predominate in the night sky while flickers, pilliated woodpeckers, red tailed hawks and a variety of other smaller birds occupy the day time sunshine. Bald eagles and turkey vultures glide silently overhead, looking for a source of food and frequently settling on the carcass of a dead deer or other carrion.

Other Wildlife

The most common wild animal encountered by our visitors are deer. Driving to the cottage along the mountain road, visitors are often surprised by the sudden dash of a deer onto the road or by the herds grazing in the adjacent meadows. The second, most common animal is the mouse. Some locals think that deer are just larger versions of the mouse population as both munch their way through our gardens and unprotected seed and food supplies. Watch out for both! The smaller variety will come in through open windows and doors and take advantage of any food you leave around. Deer are a menace to vegetable gardens and even flower boxes necessitating the high fences around island fields and gardens.

Less frequently, bear and cougar make their way across the narrows between Vancouver Island and Salt Spring and raid the berry patches or sheep farms before they are located and removed by local farmers.