Rob writes:-

October 29, 2022 “Pumpkin Hike”

Despite predictions of rain (which some of us fortunately took with skeptical view), 13 of us braved the mist and cool temperatures to take part in our club’s 8th Annual Pumpkin Hike on Saturday, at Hollyburn Mountain.  We skipped the 2020 and 2021 seasons for obvious covid-related reasons.

A big part of this hike is to contribute and share one or more pumpkin or “pumpkin spiced” food or drink items (further cementing our club reputation as an eating club which also hikes, bikes and snowshoes……).  I want to thank everyone who came out for participating in the spirit of sharing food, joining in the pumpkin spiced trend which I’m sure we had a part in starting in 2013, and in poking fun at the pumpkin spiced trend at the same time.  A huge number of pumpkin-themed food and drink items were carried up Hollyburn Mountain slopes to the X-C warming hut and shared and enjoyed.  To name a few of them (but not to intentionally leave out any I don’t mention because there were almost too many to mention); there was pumpkin spiced latte, pumpkin wine, pumpkin Baileys, 2 types of pumpkin ale, pumpkin  loaf, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin seed crackers, pumpkin mini quiches, pumpkin spiced Chicken Wings (lots of them), pumpkin spiced almonds, pumpkin “Werther’s” caramels, pumpkin spiced Wensleydale Cheese, and more!!  A great fall celebration and feast enjoyed by all. 

We also invited 2 prospective members into the cabin to join our feast, and they seemed amazed and impressed by our feast and our welcome.  We’re hoping we might hear from them in the future.

The hike involved roaming through the mist (see pictures) for almost 2 hours on cross-country trails, on a cool but enjoyable morning.  The mist was so thick at the top that the warming hut was hard to find until we just about tripped over it.  No rain was encountered going up the hill or on the way down.  I believe one and all were were thankful for that and all the good company and food.

and Iain adds:-

interestingly we had more photos sent in for the pumpkin hike by more people than any other event, so there must be some message there.