Monthly Archives: April 2018

Trip Report – The Campbell River Loop – 25 Apr 2018

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Eight of us hiked the loop from the logging bridge on the Campbell River up to Moose Falls and back. This is always a beautiful walk, but it is particularly special in the spring with the wildflowers in bloom. We crossed the bridge and walked along the excellent trail on the north side of the river.  As the path follows side branches on the Campbell River, the trail was bordered by a profusion of pink fawn lilies, trillium, and wild bleeding heart.

We admired the Canyon View and continued up to the Millennium Trail.  We took an unmarked side path, recommended by Cyndy, to a lovely mossy bluff with an excellent view of Elk Falls.   We walked on through some big old growth Douglas fir trees to the Elk Falls viewing platform and suspensions bridge.  The views were particularly impressive because of the amount of water coming down the river.

We took the gradually ascending Old Growth trail and then the very steep descent to the rocky viewpoint for Moose Falls and the Dolphin Pool, where we stopped for lunch. The weather was beautiful and sunny, with a very warm afternoon. We returned along the river, passing more old growth trees, Deer Falls and another spectacular viewpoint for Elk Falls.  We crossed at Station View, which was quite hot and industrial, and continued on the south bank, with more wildflowers, back to the vehicles. 12.9 km; 5 hours.

Debbie

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Hiking – The Campbell River River Loop – 25 Apr 2018

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Education – VHF Course – 7 June 2018

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Activity VHF course  –  Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime)  –  ROC(M)
Date 7 June, Thursday.  Course in the morning (09:00 to 11:30),  optional exam after lunch
Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact  Please contact the coordinator ASAP at norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.
Description Industry Canada has designated the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons as the official provider of the courses and exams.  Lionel Botting of Campbell River has been teaching this course for years and he has agreed to come to Quadra for us.

We are offering this course especially for kayakers who would like to make their VHF use legal, but it is open to everyone, even boaters who already have their certificate but who would like a refresher on the procedures and channels to use.

Lionel will bring VHF radios for hands-on experience.

Lionel will teach the course in the morning, 09:00 to 11:30, then after lunch, those who wish to write the exam can do so. So the whole thing is done in one day.

The exam has 60 multiple choice questions; a score of at least 70% is required to pass. The exam costs $70 (price set by Industry Canada), for those who wish to get the certificate.  The certificate is good for life.

There is a study manual, which is optional. It also costs $70 (price set by Industry Canada), however it has not changed, so you may be able to find a used one or borrow one. It is not necessary since the course will go over the material.

The Table of Contents is here:

Click to access MaritimeRadio_TOC.pdf

There are two modules.

1. VHF usage
The uses of marine radios, choice of frequencies, operation, phonetic alphabet, procedural words and phrases.

2. Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Introduction (GMDSS)
Digital Selective Calling (DSC), Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPRIBs), Search and Rescue Transponders (SARTs), and other safety related additions to VHF.

It’s good to learn the phonetic alphabet and get some practice using it:
http://boating.ncf.ca/phonetic.html

Anybody using a VHF should know the proper way to do it. This course will teach you that, even if you don’t want to take the exam.
Locaation Quadra Community Centre: Room 1 for the course and Room 2 for the exam.
Time Course: 09:00-11:30; exam after lunch.
Cost No charge for the course; $70 for the exam and certificate.
Notes: This course is open to anyone on Quadra who would like to learn or refresh their VHF procedures.  Preference will be given to those writing the exam and Outdoor Club members.  Register early.

Natural History – Caving near Sayward – 23 May 2018

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Activity Natural History – Caving
Destination Sayward area caves
Date 23 May 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Cyndy Chidley
Contact Info Cyndy Chidley: 250-285-3575
Bill West-Sells: 1-778-860-3131
Description Introductory caving (with some challenges) on north Vancouver Island.  Challenges include bridging, climbing, stretching, wriggling, not to mention small, dark places.
Meeting Place Q Cove ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 ferry or possibly the 8:00 to Campbell River
Difficulty Depends on the group
Costs Ferry and shared gas
Trip limits 12
Dogs?
Notes:
Wear rubber boots or wool sock with runners that you don’t mind getting wet, but you will have cold feet. Bring coveralls, a helmet that you are able to fit with head light and a head light, if you can get one.  Bill has some extras that he will bring.  Flexible gloves, if you have them. A change of shoes and socks. A lunch and water.  If you have a  walkie-talkie or VHF radio, please bring it with charged batteries.

Hiking – Mine Lake Bluff – 9 May 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mine Lake Bluff
Date 9 May 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info phone 3978.  Please contact the coordinator in advance.
Description We will park near the Mine Lake boat access and walk to Camp Homewood.  From there the route ascends the bluff to the north of Mine Lake with great views.  The trail going up the bluff can feel a bit exposed.  This is a hike, not a climb, but do have good footwear and be careful.  The trail down is a regular trail and it loops back underneath the bluffs to the start of the steep bit.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot for car pooling
Departure Time TBD
Difficulty Moderate, for very steep section
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch.

Trip Report – Stramberg Old Growth – 18 April 2018

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We had a perfect hiking day for this walk through varied forest to see some of Quadra’s biggest old growth trees.  The first part of the hike skirts Vic’s Marsh through open forest and passes meadows with fruit tree, nettles, Vic’s barn-like house and old fencing.  We stopped briefly at the bluff overlooking the open water part of the marsh to enjoy the view and watch huge numbers of geese heading north.  The next section follows a narrow, flagged trail which undulates, often along a creek or below bluffs and heads into Main Lake Provincial Park.  After the T-junction with the logging road, the right turn leads more or less north with a gradual grade and wide allowance, though very wet at this time of year.  The trees are plastered with lichen and moss making it an enchanted forest.  After crossing a small creek, the trail ascends to the glade with old growth Douglas fir and cedar.  But there are big trees along the whole walk.

The flagging is in good condition, and the trail is not too bad except for the fallen trees which you have to climb under or over or go around, and long sections of sword fern where you never see the ground or your feet.   12.1 km round trip, 5⅓ hours.

Debbie

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Hike – Stramberg Old Growth Grove – 18 April 2018

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 2 May 2018

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Gowlland Harbour
Date 2 May 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 250-285-2393
Description We will meet, help each other to launch from Gowlland Harbour Resort.
We will kayak the islands to see the beautiful wild flowers. Kayak to May Island for our lunch.  Visiting the islands in Gowlland Harbour.  Returning to the launch area at approximately 2 p.m.
Meeting Place Gowlland Harbour Resort boat launch, 823 Gowlland Harbour Rd.
Departure Time 10:30 (unload and prepare at 10:00)
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: This trip is dependent on weather.  Bring your ocean kayak, paddle plus safety equipment. Bring your own lunch and water. I will meet you at the launch site at 10:00.  We help each other with kayak launch.
Gowlland Harbour Resort has kindly granted us permission to use their boat launch for this trip. This is not a public access.

Trip Report – Deepwater Bay – 12 Apr 2018

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Because the weather forecast was poor, we saved the planned view trip for another day when we would have a view, and chose another destination below cloud level.  We also postponed it a day to avoid the worst weather.  As luck would have it, we had a beautiful sunny day for a hike down to Deepwater Bay and back.

The first part of the hike was an unexpected detour through the forest around work to renew the old road for future logging operations.  Trees alongside of the roadway had been neatly felled onto the logging road and not yet cleaned up.  Beyond that, the walking was good except for a bit of erosion and a landslide on the north bank of the creek, which swept trees across to the south bank and the trail.  The whitewater stream was impressive with recent rains and there were several waterfalls.  We had lunch at the Bay in warm sunshine and returned uphill to the vehicle. 4.4 km; 2½ hours.  

As the hike was fairly short, we made a side trip to some of the nearby karst sinkholes.  There was a report that the creek had re-routed.  However, there was some water in the insurgent and resurgent creek, though not as much might be expected with recent rain.

– Norris

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Multi-day Hiking – Cathedral Lakes Park – 5-10 Sept 2018

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Activity Base-camp hiking
Destination Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park
Date 5-10 Sept 2018, Wednesday to Monday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info Please contact the coordinator well in advance of the trip at debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710
Description We are planning on two travel days and four nights camping in Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park.  Day 1: travel to Keremos and spend the night in local accommodation.  Day 2 (Thursday): travel up the mountain to the Park in the Lodge “unimog” on the 10:00 departure.  Set up camp in either the Quiniscoe Lake campground (5 minute walk) or the Lake of the Woods campground (25 minute walk).  Begin day-hiking and continue through Sunday.  There are at least 12 trails in the core area ranging from easy to strenuous. The  variety of lakes and mountain scenery is exceptional.  Other activities such as swimming and fishing are also available.  For more info: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/cathedral/cathedral_core_area_map.pdf   and    http://cathedrallakes.ca/park/
On Day 6 (Monday) we will descend the mountain on the “unimog” and return to Quadra.
Meeting Place Keremos on the evening of September 5th
Departure Time At your convenience
Difficulty Easy to strenuous.  The group may break into subgroups depending on interests.
Cost Transportation costs (ferries, fuel)  The cost of the ride up the mountain is $105/person round trip.  This is non-refundable and must be paid at time of booking.  Accommodation costs for the first night in Keremos and campsite costs ($10/person/night) at the park, paid in advance as a permit.
Trip limits Eight people; maximum of six tents as we cannot reserve camping spots and we would like to be close together.
Dogs? Not allowed in the park.
Notes: There will not be any group bookings for this trip.  Everyone is responsible for their own reservations in Keremos, on the “unimog” through the Cathedral Parks Lodge (http://cathedrallakes.ca/camper-services/), and the campsite (at the bottom of the following link http://cathedrallakes.ca/park/).  Full camping gear and food is required, but only needs to be carried to the campsite.  Water must be treated.  The camping area is at 2,000 metres, so be prepared far a variety of mountain conditions.

Trip Report – Campbell River Ramble – 4 April 2018

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On April 4, in cool and drizzly weather, five adventurers set out to explore the hinterlands of Campbell River.  We walked from the ferry terminal to the north ERT trailhead at the corner of Maple and Homewood . From there it was gradually uphill on the wide paved trail, which was surprisingly deserted, through mixed deciduous, past a few old homesteads and some signs of future development. Crossing Evergreen Rd, a short walk brought us to the Beaver Lodge Forest lands where we met many more walkers as well as mountain bikers in this beautiful forest. The wide Rail Trail led through coniferous second growth, graced with a few old specimens. Branching off on a bike trail took us to the underpass and out onto Rockland Rd, crossing over we followed the paved trail past the Willow Point Sportsplex, winding our way down to the waterfront to a very welcome lunch stop in Willow Point . Refreshed, the Quadra Island crowd walked briskly back along the waterfront, in plenty of time for the 3:30 ferry. A very long pleasant walk, disappointingly few wildflowers, but nice to see the salmonberries and huckleberries beginning to bloom, as well as a little group of Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa) gone wild, and cultivated spring blossoms. 19.3 km; 5⅔ hours, including lunch.

Valerie  & Darcy

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Hiking – Campbell River Ramble – 4 April 2018