Monthly Archives: December 2018

Trip Report – Open Bay and Crikey Creeks – 30 Dec 2018

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We postponed this hike by a day for better weather and were rewarded with a beautiful, sunny winter day.  Ten of us followed the trail downstream along Open Bay Creek.  The trail is wet in a few places with a bit of winter blow-down, but there are great views of the stream rushing through the lush rainforest.  We made a loop by returning on the logging road, then wandered down Open Bay Main to the start of the mountain bike trail Rio.  This trail climbs steeply and near the top there is a banked bridged, which was slippery, with some loose planks.  After a quick snack break, we returned down the Crikey Creek trail, which is the more developed of the two trails.  We didn’t get a lot of sun, with the sun very low in these deep forests, but it was a good, short walk.  5.4 km; 2 hours.

Debbie

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos.

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Hiking – Open Bay and Crikey Creeks – 30 Dec 2018

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Hiking – Blindman’s Bluff – 30 Jan 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Blindman’s Bluff
Date 30 January 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info phone 3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca.  Please contact the coordinator in advance.
Description This is a classic Quadra loop with great views on rocky bluffs.  We may approach it from Leishman Rd, due to the washed-out culvert on the Copperhead logging road.  The section near the pond will be wet.  About 2 hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must not run through the group
Notes: Bring a snack and gear for the weather.

Hiking – Snowden Demonstration Forest – 6 Feb 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Snowden Forest, Campbell River
Date 6 Feb 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie Van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description Hiking OR snowshoeing through the Snowden Forest, mostly easy to moderate trails. If hiking, we might tackle “difficult” trail depending on group and trail conditions. Bring lunch, suitable gear for conditions. Will snowshoe if enough snow.  8 – 10 km.
Meeting Place Q Cove ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 am ferry departure
Difficulty
 easy to moderate
Costs ferry
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must be under control at all times; this is a popular mountain biking area.
Notes: Carpool at ferry. I can take 4 passengers in our 4Runner.

 

Multi-day Hiking – Cowichan Valley – 7-11 April 2019

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This trip is full.  Contact the coordinator if you wish to wait-list.

Activity Multi-day hiking
Destination Cowichan Valley
Date 7-11 April 2019, Sunday to Thursday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 250.285.2393; please contact the coordinator as soon as possible and payment needs to be received by Feb 15th.
Description A multi-day trip in Cowichan Valley.  We have changed the originally proposed accommodation due to the particular demand for this trip.  Now we will be staying at a beautiful home on Shawnigan Lake near the Cowichan Valley Trail.  For details view: https://www.canadastays.com/p291463
Possible hiking destinations include: Kinsol Trestle, Skutz Falls along Cowichan River, Maple Mountain, Mt Tzouhalem, Stocking/Heart Lake Trails, Jack Fleetwood Trail, Fern Grotto, Eagle Heights Grasslands, an ancient forest hike up Koksilah River, and Cable Bay to Dodd Narrows.  You may also bike on the Cowichan Valley Trail or kayak from the house.
Margot will organize car-pooling and dinner preparation teams. Each hiker is responsible for their breakfast and lunch. ****************************************************************************
Meeting Place QCove ferry line-up – appointed vehicles to be in line-up by 8:20 am.
Departure Time 9 am ferry, April 7th, returning on Thurs. April 11th.
Difficulty Easy to moderate
Dogs No
Trip Limits 7
Costs Accommodation at $60/night/person (this may vary depending on the final number that come), ferry costs, fuel
Notes Please take time to check out the accommodation, the hikes and area plus your calendar. I am hoping to accommodate everyone’s needs as much as possible. This, hopefully, will be a lovely spring trip, with longer days and maybe sunshine.
I will be working with Debbie and Norris regarding hiking trips. Please remember to submit dietary needs regarding dinners.
All payments go to Julie.  Please makes cheques out to Quadra Island Outdoor Club.
Margot

Snow – Mt Washington – 16 Jan 2019

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Activity Snow
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 16 Jan 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710;  please contact the coordinator by Sunday night to allow time to arrange car pools and indicate whether you want to x-country ski or to snow shoe.
Description  The snow base is building quite well now at Mt. Washington, so we are cautiously optimistic about conditions.
We can go the Rampart Hill area or to the prepared trails at Strathcona Park.  This will depend on the weather, the snow and the group.
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 and the x-country day pass is $24 for adults and $20 for seniors..
Trip limits Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington.
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring equipment, warm clothing and lunch.

 

Hiking – Carrington Bay – 23 Jan 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Carrington Bay, Cortes Island
Date 23 January 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info tel 250.285.2393.  Please contact the coordinator well in advance of the trip, so that car pools can be arranged.
Description Sabina is going to join us to be our guide and naturalist. This will be a great treat; Sabina is always filled with marine and environmental knowledge. We will drive to Carrington trailhead and proceed on the trails to Carrington Bay. This deeply cut bay is magnificent with the adjoining lagoon. Glaciers receded over the shoreline of Carrington Bay 10,000 years ago; lots to see and learn. We will have lunch at Carrington Bay and continue on to Grandmother’s Grove following the stream. We plan to return on the 3:50 p.m ferry.
Meeting Place Cortes ferry line-up.
Departure Time 9:05 a.m ferry; vehicles need to be in the ferry line-up not later than 8:15 a.m as this is a busy sailing.
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate.
Costs Ferry travel costs; bring your experience card and ID
Trip limits
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch and gear for weather.

Trip Report – Two Mines and Some Karst – 12 Dec 2018

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Having decided that Mt. Washington needed more snow before we make that trip, we substituted this outing.  Seven of us visited a number of caves and karst formations at the north end of Quadra Island.  We started at the Lucky Jim mine, an historic gold, silver and copper mine, which is well signed and has been made safe with gratings over the vertical shafts.  The steam donkey is huge and in good condition considering it was installed in about 1910.   We next visited a mine off of Open Bay Main, which we know very little about.  The horizontal shaft is in good condition. We continued to a karst cave with excellent marbling and were impressed by the risks inherent in the nearby grikes or eroded fissures in the limestone. 

After lunch in the parking area we cut over to the Granite Bay Road and an area of sink holes.  We started at a very large sinkhole with a lovely waterfall and then moved a short distance south for a walk following a creek which is insurgent and resurgent in the limestone.  There are areas where the creek seems to have re-routed for it no longer emerges.  The large sinkholes and walls are impressive.  We didn’t walk very far, but took our time enjoying the sites and the incredible green forest at this time of year.  A bit more than four hours, without the drive out.

Debbie

Photos by Norris

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Exploring – Two Mines and Some Karst – 12 Dec 2018

Exploring – Two Mines and Some Karst – 12 Dec 2018

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Activity Exploring
Destination Two Mines and Some Karst Formations
Date 12 December 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will visit an old mine off of Open Bay Main, a limestone cave and grikes in the limestone.  We will also stop at the Lucky Jim mine before continuing on to some sinkhole formations.
The weather is forecast to be very rainy in the afternoon.  Having three sites gives us the flexibility to alter plans if necessary.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot for car pooling.  This will involve some driving on logging roads.
Departure Time 9:30 am
Difficulty
 easy; this will more a visit to multiple sites than a lot of exercise.
Costs
Trip limits none
Dogs? No
Notes: Be prepared for wet.  Bring a good flashlight if you have one.

 

Trip Report – Deepwater Mine and Bay – 5 Dec 2018

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Deepwater Bay is on Discovery Passage, north of Seymour Narrows.  Deepwater canyon or valley (for lack of a better name;  it’s not quite a canyon and it’s more than a valley) is a big gap between Mt. Seymour and North Mountain, complete with a mountain stream which can be impressive.

Twelve of us set off on a clear, cold morning to explore it.  It was a winter wonderland, even without snow, all white from hoarfrost.  We stopped first on the Deepwater Main logging road to visit the old rail trestle, which is in ruins.  Then we hiked up the old logging road to the copper mine on North Mountain. The horizontal shaft is full of water and fascinating, but no one was tempted to go swimming.  We then hiked down the old road to the Bay, passed the abandoned fish hatchery, and had lunch in the beautiful warm sunshine, with great views of Deepwater Bay and Discovery Passage.  A lone sea lion swam by close to shore.  This area is full of the history of logging, mining and fishery on Quadra.   6.8 km; 3¼ hours.

Norris

Photos by Norris

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Hiking – Deepwater Copper Mine and Bay – 5 Dec 2018

Trip Report – Open Bay and Breton Islands – 2 Dec 2018

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It was a chilly day, as there had been frost, but sunny and calm. Five paddlers set out from Len Road access to enjoy the sun and an afternoon on the water. There were a large number of eagles and loons out enjoying the sun as well. We paddled out of Hyacinthe Bay and headed over to the North Breton Island. The tide was quite high, 15.7 feet, so we were able to cross the rocks near the south end. From there we traveled north and came back down through Shellalligan Pass. We stopped on a little stretch of sand in Moulds Bay for tea and cookies. It was quite warm in the sun for this time of year. Afterwards we made a circle into Open Bay before returning to the cars. 3 hours, 6.6 nautical miles

Les

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos

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Kayaking – Open Bay & Breton Islands – 2 Dec 2018