Monthly Archives: January 2019

Trip Report – Blindman’s Bluff – 30 Jan 2019

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Seven of us set out for Blindman’s Bluff.  We went in from Lieshman’s Road instead of the regular way on the Copperhead logging road because of the washed out culvert.  The forecast sunshine failed to show up, but the overcast was high enough to give us some peeks at the surrounding mountains.  The moss and lichen were wonderful.  On the way back, the group decided to take the regular trail and look at the washed out culvert, the new and improved beaver dam, which replaces the one that broke, and also visit the copper mine site.  5.3 km; 2¾ hours.

Norris

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Hiking – Blindman’s Bluff – 30 Jan 2019

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Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 20 Feb 2019

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This trip has been postponed

Activity Hiking
Destination Morte Lake Loop
Date 20 Feb 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info Please contact the coordinator at debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710.
Description This is a classic walk through forest and around the Lake.  There are a number of variations depending on the access route used and the possibility of following unofficial trails on the south ridge.  We can also explore the improved route up the north shore bluff.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must not run through the group.
Notes: Bring lunch and rain gear.  This trail can be quite wet in places.

Snow – Mt Washington – 13 Feb 2019

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Change of departure time.

Activity Snow
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 13 Feb 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  Conditions continue to be variable at Mt. Washington, but there’s enough snow and often sunshine.
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 10:00 9:00 ferry to Campbell River.  Those taking cars need to be early enough to get on the 10:00 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.

 

Trip Report – Carrington Bay, Cortes – 23 Jan 2019

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Eight of us had spectacular weather for our trip to the Children’s Forest on Cortes Island, including Carrington Bay and the Grandmother’s Grove.  We took the 9:05 ferry to Cortes and the views of Sutil Channel, the mainland and Vancouver Island mountains couldn’t have been better.  We were met by Sabina who guided us through the forest and told us so much about the efforts of the community to acquire this forest, so that this incredibly diverse and important habitat can remain intact. Sabina shared her amazing knowledge about so many topics including lichen and moss, wolves, wildlife trees, flying squirrels and owls and so much more.  We continued on to Carrington Bay and the tidal lagoon, and crossed the narrow channel through which the tide was rushing out.  We walked to the swim rock and sat in the sun for a leisurely lunch admiring the mergansers, golden eye ducks and a curious seal.  From there we continued on to Grandmothers Grove, a beautiful old growth stand of spruce and cedar, in the James Creek watershed which also supports cutthroat trout and spawning salmon. The greens of the mosses were vibrant after all the recent rain.  We followed the trail and logging roads back in a loop and made a short variation on the James Creek Trail before returning to the vehicles and the ferry. 10.4 km; 5 hours.

Thanks so much to Margot for organizing this event and to Sabina for sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge with us.

Debbie

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Here is a short video of the area using mostly drone footage:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-zs5BjQo2U

Hiking – Carrington Bay – 23 Jan 2019

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 16 Jan 2019

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For our first outing of the year to Mt. Washington, we had two for x-country skiing and nine for snowshoeing.  The snowshoers did a loop in the morning of Old Cabin, Tree Beard and Rossiter’s Rise, then returned to Raven Lodge for lunch.  In the afternoon, we made a loop of Old Cabin and Crooked Creek.  The skies were a bit overcast, the snow somewhat crunchy and the breeze was fairly bracing.  Two of us had binding issues and found it easier to walk; the trail was completely firm so no problem.  Everyone got enough exercise and we finished up around 2:30.  7.7 km; 3¾ hours.

Debbie

Photos by Norris

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 16 Jan 2019

Multi-day Hiking – Cortes Island – 6-9 May 2019

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

Activity Multi-day hiking, women only
Destination Cortes Island, staying at Linnaea Farm
Date 6-9 May 2019, Monday to Thursday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 250.285.2393; please contact the coordinator well in advance of the trip
Description Planning our annual Cortes hiking trip for women, staying at Linnaea Farm. An eight bedroom rustic farmhouse on the edge of Gunflint Lake, at the gateway to many of the hiking trails on Cortes. We are planning to hike many of the trails: Easter Bluff, Kw’as Park, Hanks Beech Forest Park, Sisken Forest Park, Whaletown Commons, Carrington Trails, etc. A schedule of trails will be developed and presented daily by Janis. We will be offering a short guided group meditation morning and evening to those who wish to participate. (7:45 am meditation and 9:00 pm relaxation meditation).  We are also planning one day of Silence as we hike in Kw’as Park, giving us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in nature without the distraction of conversation. Silence would begin after breakfast and conclude at dinner time on this day. Each person is responsible for their breakfast and lunch; dinner teams will be organized by Margot. Please visit: www.linnaeafarm.org

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Meeting Place Cortes ferry line-up. Vehicles must be in line-up by 8 a.m. This is a busy trades ferry.
Departure Time 9:05 am ferry to Cortes
Difficulty Moderate to easy
Dogs No
Trip Limits Limit of 8 ladies, or 9 if two wish to share a room.
Costs $30/person/night if you bring your own sleeping bag and towel. $50/person/night if you use Linnaea bedding, plus ferry costs and shared fuel. Bring your ferry card.
Notes Car-pooling and dinner teams will be organized by Margot. Let me know your diet needs. Please let me know a.s.a.p. as this trip will fill up fast. This is such a lovely happening on beautiful Cortes Island.

Trip Report – Q Cove Trails – 1 Jan 2019

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The trip into the woods south of the library was scheduled for 2 Jan, but the weatherman was saying heavy rain and high winds, so we moved the trip up to 1 Jan at the last moment.  In the morning there was a very light rain, which was hardly noticeable in the woods.  So nine of us wandered off into the maze of community trails, all unofficial.  This is all private property, so many of the trails connect to someone’s back yard. Some of the trails are on what seems to be easements which extend existing roads.  The main part of property is in the Official Community Plan as a place for future housing.  Until then, it’s a pleasant forest to stroll through, with quite a few small streams and some impressively big cottonwood trees. The trails are well maintained.  The community has decorated the woods with carved masks, beadwork, and a “Word Log”.  We also visited the new stairs connecting Nole Road and Plaza Road.

While we were walking near the end of Nole Road, one of the alders leaning over the trail ahead of us decided to fall across the trail.  There was no wind, no gust of wind, it just decided to fall over for no reason, as alders do. Luckily, we were not too close and not in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Back at the cars, Les provided a little New Year’s tail gate treat with chocolate and pineapple.  4.3 km; 1¾ hours.

Norris

Photos by Norris

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Hiking – Q Cove Trails – 2 Jan 2019