Thank you to barbatlarge for sponsoring the cache
Northwestern Garter Snake - An Island Spirit Legacy.
Mount Tzouhalem (zoo-hay-lum) is a fascinating place, with a rich history and stunning views. The mountain is named after one of the fiercest of the Cowichan war chiefs. He was banished due to his frequent murders, and took up residence in a cave on the side of this mountain. This hike will lead you to a large Christian Cross near the summit, originally a wooden cross, placed by local Catholic churches in the 1970's. The trail leads through the forest with several stunning views of the Cowichan Valley
All the Island Spirit Legacy Caches are within a 2 steps of the trail, there is no need to bushwack or trample the vegetation unless otherwise noted.
Northwestern Garter Snake
The Northwestern Garter Snake is a smaller snake that varies in colour and pattern more than any other snake in the northwest. Sometimes it's striped, sometimes it appears to be one solid colour, it can also appear to have spots, with a mix of bright yellow, brown, red, tan, blue and even creamy white. There is one marking that is generally consistent with the Northwestern Garter Snake, and that is a pale upper lip. Females give birth to between 3-20 live young in the summertime. All of which can be an easy meal for birds and weasels, although they can release a smelly mix of feces and musk from their vent so if you find one, it's best to admire from a distance as the musky smell does not wash off easily.