Monthly Archives: January 2018

Hiking – Crikey and Open Bay Creeks – 28 Feb 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Crikey and Open Bay Creeks
Date 28 Feb 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description We plan to walk a figure-of-eight loop starting on the trail along the Open Bay Creek, then circling back on a logging road.  After a short walk down Open Bay Main we will hike up the Rio mountain bike trail and down Crikey Creek.  The first part is flat, the second part has a hill.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Fairly easy, unless there is winter deadfall
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring a lunch and gear for the weather.
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Hiking – Eagle Ridge & Blindman’s Bluff – 14 March 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Eagle Ridge and Blindman’s Bluff
Date 14 Mar 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or leshand@gicable.com.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description Eagle Ridge trail has wetlands as well as rocky bluffs for views of Discovery Passage. We will then go to Blindman’s Bluff for more open views.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Yes, but no back and forth through group
Notes: Please contact coordinator before trip as may be changed due to bad weather.

Snow – Mt Washington – 14 Feb 2018

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Activity Snow
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 14 Feb 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710;  please contact the coordinator by Sunday night.  Please indicate whether you are willing to drive and whether you are snowshoeing or cross country skiing.
Description Come to Mt. Washington for Valentines Day!  We hope to have both snowshoeing and cross country skiing on this outing. We will probably leave from Raven Lodge.  As always, the trip is weather dependent.
Meeting Place Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River.  Car pools should be arranged in advance.
Departure Time 9:00 ferry to Campbell River.  Those taking cars need to be early enough to get on the 9:00 ferry.
Difficulty
 Depends
Costs Ferry, shared fuel and the trail pass If we go to Raven Lodge.  The snowshoe day pass is $10 or the cross country pass is $23 for adults or $19 for seniors.  It may be slightly cheaper if you buy in advance online.
Trip limits Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington.  It may be necessary for cars going up to have chains.
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring equipment, warm clothing and lunch.

 

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 24 Jan 2018

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This trip had been postponed for a week, during which time more than a metre of snow fell on Mt. Washington.  Wednesday was the first day that the nordic area re-opened after they prepared a few snowshoe trails, plowed the road and parking lot.  Eleven of us arrived on the mountain to unexpectedly sunny weather. It was gorgeous.  Only a few trails were officially open, but it didn’t matter because people had broken trails everywhere.  We started on Tree Beard’s Trail and returned on Old Cabin Loop to Raven Lodge for lunch.  The snow covered trees and fresh snow were beautiful.  We spent a relaxing hour on the Raven Lodge balcony in the sun with a great view of Strathcona Park before heading out again, this time on Rossiter’s Rise.  The big climb down meant we had a big climb back up.  We again met up with Tree Beard’s Trail and returned to the cars, just as clouds for the next storm were rolling over the mountains.  5.9.km; 3 hours, plus lunch.

Debbie

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 17 Jan 2018

Hiking – Heriot Ridge and North Loop – 21 Mar 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Heriot Ridge and North Loop
Date 21 March 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info phone 3614
Description We will hike up Hopespring trail to the top of the ridge, turn south along the upper ridge, past the communication tower, to a bluff overlook, then return north to Hopespring trail on a lower ridge level.  Here, we will continue north on the Heriot Ridge trail and finish on the Thompson trail.
Meeting Place  upper end of Hopespring Road
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Easy to moderate – must be comfortable on wet bluffs
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? okay if under control
Notes: Hiking poles will be useful.  Hiking time 2-3 hours.  Bring a snack/lunch and hot drink.

Trip Report – Mud Lake-Morte Lake Loop – 17 Jan 2018

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Because of a big winter storm, we substituted this short hike for the previously planned trip to Mt. Washington. Five stalwart and cheerful hikers, undeterred by the weather, came out in a gale. We started at the pull off just past Mud Lake on the Walcan Road. After crossing the creek, we hiked up the South Bluff trail over the bluff to Morte Lake. The trail is quite steep, the bluff is open and covered with moss and lichen. We followed the old logging road down to Morte Lake. No one wanted to turn back so soon, so we continued on to the viewpoint, which was relatively sheltered from the southeast wind. We took the Tripod Connector trail back to the trail along Mud Lake. Again, no one was ready to head for the car, so we took the trail west to the Mud Lake trailhead at the Walcan Road. Finally we turned back to the car. The trail was quite wet in places and no one went home dry.  6.1 km; 2 hours.

Debbie

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Hiking – Mud Lake to Morte Lake Loop – 17 Jan 2018

Hiking – Morte Lake to Mud Lake loop – 17 Jan 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mud Lake to Morte Lake loop
Date 17 Jan 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip.
Description This is a substitute trip.  It will be a short hike over a bluff from Mud Lake to Morte Lake.  We will make it a loop by returning via Tripod.  This is a short hike with lots of variety.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy, but there’s a hill
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: The weather will be appalling so dress for it.  We won’t stop for lunch.

Trip Report – Surge Narrows logging roads – 10 Jan 2018

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Ten of us took advantage of the brief break in the rainy weather to explore another part of the island.  We started from near Mine Lake. After a short steep section, the old logging road is pretty flat and open, going through a section of the woodlot in which the re-planted trees are growing nicely.  The forest is quite diverse and some of it is mature with open understory.  We took a short side trip to a trailhead on the Bold Point Road, then had lunch in a nice clearing.  After lunch we bushwhacked a bit and climbed a little bluff with good views all around and continued south to rejoin the Surge Narrows Road, which we walked back to the starting point.   8.3 km; 3½ hours.

– Norris

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Hiking – Surge Narrows logging roads – 10 Jan 2018

Hiking – Maud Island- 7 Feb 2018

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 This hike has been postponed to Thursday, February 8th.

Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 8 7 Feb 2018, Thursday Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip.
Description Hike to Maud Island through varied forest and terrain.  We will do a loop passing over the shoulder of  Mt. Lolo, crossing the causeway to Maud Island, enjoying views of Seymour Narrows, and returning by the salt water lagoon. The currents in the Narrows will not be impressive at this time.   Allow 5 hours, including driving, for this walk of approximately 10km.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring a snack, poles if you use them and gear for the weather.  We don’t usually do this trip in very poor weather.

Snow – Mt Washington – 17 Jan 2018

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 This trip has been postponed to Jan 24th.

Activity Snow
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 24 17 Jan 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710;  please contact the coordinator by Sunday night
Description  We’re expecting lots of fresh snow prior to this trip.
Meeting Place Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River.  Car pools should be arranged in advance.
Departure Time 9:00 ferry to Campbell River.  Those taking cars need to be early enough to get on the 9:00 ferry.
Difficulty
 Depends
Costs Ferry, shared fuel and the trail pass (If we go to Raven Lodge).  The snowshoe day pass is $10 or $18 if you rent equipment.
Trip limits Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington.
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring equipment, warm clothing and lunch.