Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 24 April 2019

Posted on March 31, 2019 by qioutdoorclub

This trip description has been substantially revised.

Activity	Kayaking
Destination	Gowlland Harbour
Date	24 April 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator	Norris Weimer
Contact Info	norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710
Description	The plan is to launch our kayaks at the April Point Marina and go around Gowlland Island. The exact details will depend on the weather and other conditions. The weather forecast is good and we are hoping the spring flower will be in bloom. We will check out the interesting islands, such as Doe, Stag, Fawn, Crow, Wren, Mouse, Vigilant. This trip is planned around the currents in Discovery Passage. We will go north on the end of the ebb and return south on the beginning of the flood. About 8 km; 4-5 hours.
Meeting Place	April Point Marina
Departure Time	9:30 (arrive, unload and prepare) launch at 10:00
Difficulty	moderate
Costs	none
Trip limits	max 10 kayaks
Dogs?	no
Notes:	This trip is dependent on weather. Bring your kayak, paddle and all equipment required by the Coast Guard. Bring your own lunch and water.

Trip Report – Maud Island – 27 Mar 2019

Posted on March 28, 2019 by qioutdoorclub

After cancelling this trip in February due to icy conditions, the weather could not have been better. Fifteen hikers, including five guests, enjoyed the cool of the forest and then the warmth of the sun at the lookouts. Some chose to go up and take in the views from Mt. Lolo, giving themselves a wonderful, varied hiking loop, and others chose to do the lower route to the lookout over Seymour Narrows both ways.

We met up at the Maud Island lookout where we were treated to a number of eagles flying below us and a least one sea lion frolicking in the eddies. Some hikers took the opportunity to lie back in the sun – pretty amazing for March 27.

A dock has been built just before the causeway which allows boats to get in and pick up debris that has washed up in the storms. The bay was extremely clean – many thanks to all who arranged that cleanup.

We had listed this as taking 5 hours with travel, but with such a large group, and many who were new to the hike, we were gone about 6 hours. 10.0 km; 4¼ hours (from trail head and back to trail head). The drive is 12.8 km and ½ hour each way.

Sandra

(click on photos to view larger)

: Mt. McBride

: Elkhorn Mtn. & Kings Peak

: Looking toward Cape Mudge

: The causeway to Maud Island

: Bumble bee

: View north

: Looking toward Duncan Bay

: Looking north in Discovery Passage

: Steller sea lion

: The Saltwater Lagoon

Hiking – Maud Island – 27 March 2019

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 20 Mar 2019

Posted on March 22, 2019 by qioutdoorclub

This was our last scheduled trip to Mt. Washington for the season. On this first day of spring, the weather was very warm, up to 14°C on the hill. Five of us snowshoed under absolutely clear skies and the snow was better than expected considering the heat. Terry lead us up the Great Big View trail and on to Finger Glades, with wonderful views of the Vancouver Island mountains. We stopped for lunch near the high point of the trail before making our way back down to the vehicles. 184m elevation gain; 5.6 km; about 3½ hours.

Debbie

(click on photos to view larger)

: Mt. Albert Edward

: Great Big View trail

: Rees Ridge

: Albert Edward & Jutland

: Mt. Alexandra

: Still lots of snow

: Mt. Washington summit

: Steller Jay

: Gray Jay

Snow – Mt. Washington – 20 Mar 2019

Hiking – Stramberg Old Growth Grove – 2 April 2019

Posted on March 18, 2019 by qioutdoorclub

This hike has been re-scheduled to Tuesday

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Stramberg Old Growth Grove
Date	2 April 2019, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator	Norris Weimer
Contact Info	norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 285-3710. Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description	This trail begins near Village Bay Lake and follows open meadows leading into and through the forest on old, unmaintained logging roads. The forest is varied with occasional old growth, creeks, and wetlands. This is not an official trail. Expect blow-down and brush. About 13 km; 5 hours or more.
Meeting Place	Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools
Departure Time	09:30
Difficulty	Moderate, due to unmaintained trail and quite long
Costs	None
Trip limits	None
Dogs?	Dogs must not run through the group
Notes:	Bring lunch and water.

Snow – Mt Washington – 20 March 2019

Posted on March 15, 2019 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Snow
Destination	Mt. Washington
Date	20 March 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator	Debbie Quigg
Contact Info	debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description	We are expecting warm, spring conditions. We will find a route that works for the group.
Meeting Place	Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River. Car pools need to be arranged in advance.
Departure Time	We can take the 9:00 or 10:00 ferry depending on what the group wants. Drivers should be in line early.
Difficulty	Depends
Costs	Ferry and shared fuel.
Trip limits	Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington.
Dogs?	No
Notes:

Trip Report – Haskin’s Farm Loop – 13 Mar 2019

Posted on March 15, 2019 by qioutdoorclub

Eight hikers arrived on such a magnificent day for the Haskin’s Farm hike. We did a short hike through the woods to join the main trail and headed down to the beach. We enjoyed time to sit in the warm sunshine and take in the magnificent views of Sutil Channel and other islands. After leaving the beach we took the trail to the north, to view some old growth trees. Returned to the main trail and up the hill, kept right walking on a wood lot road to eventually reach the abandoned orchard of Haskin’s Farm. Continued on the trail arriving at Fir Road. Back tracked down the trail and returned to our starting point. We took two dogs with us and they loved the attention. It was a joy to hear the birds singing and chatting to each other. We were certainly blessed with a gorgeous day and a lovely, leisurely walk in the park. 4.7 km; 2 hours.

Margot Wood.

(click on photos to enlarge)

: Snow Drops

: Sutil Channel

: Rose Hip

: Salal

: Old Growth Douglas Fir

: Haskin’s Farm meadow

: Crocus

Hiking – Haskin’s Farm Loop – 13 March 2019

Gear Sale – Community Centre – 21 April 2019

Posted on March 9, 2019 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Gear Sale
Location	Community Centre, main hall
Date & time	21 April 2019, Sunday; 12:00 – 2:00
Event Coordinator	Valerie van Veen and Darcy Mitchell
Contact Infomation	if you plan to participate as a seller, please respond to qioutdoorclub@gmail.com
Description	Either as a buyer or seller, come to the gear swap. You don’t have to be a member to participate. “Gear” may include outdoor gear or exercise equipment. If you are a seller you don’t need to pre-register, but an indication of interest would be helpful. A $2 donation to cover costs would be appreciated, but can be flexible relative to the volume of your sales. Set-up will be between 11:00 and noon. Tables will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sellers are responsible for set-up, selling, and removing all of their unsold items. Clean-up will be from 2:00 to 3:00.

Trip Report – Blenkin Park – 6 March 2019

Posted on March 8, 2019 by qioutdoorclub

Five hikers and two dogs enjoyed a one and a half hour hike through Blenkin Park. Starting on the Homestead Trail, we explored two side trails, one called the Swale Trail, and the other a new trail to Smokey’s place on Heriot Bay Road. At the junction of that new trail with the old trail to Smokey’s, we stopped to wonder at the “trinket” tree. Backtracking to Homestead, we continued to Daisy Trail, then west on the Community Trail to Sheppard Trail. Reconnecting to Homestead Trail for a short distance, we turned off onto Blackjack Trail, ending the hike at the east end of the baseball diamond. The weather was dry and partly sunny. Trail conditions were mainly dry with a few snow patches in open areas, but not icy. Along the route we admired many large Douglas fir and beautiful White Pine, large and small, and thick moss draping parts of the forest as the sun shone through the branches. Despite the good trail condition and weather, we saw no other trail users.

Janis

Hiking – Blenkin Park – 6 March 2019

Posted on March 3, 2019 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Blenkin Park
Date	6 March 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator	Janis McLean
Contact Info	3614. Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description	Starting at the Community Centre, we will hike a loop through the Blenkin Park trails. The walking is easy with some great variety in this forest. This is the first time the Outdoor Club has visited these trails. Including the extension to Smokey’s on the Heriot Bay Road, this will take less than 2 hours.
Meeting Place	Community Centre parking lot
Departure Time	10:00
Difficulty	Easy
Costs	none
Trip limits	none
Dogs?	Okay under owner’s control
Notes:	This trip was re-scheduled from the Deadfish Loop due to icy trails.

Trip Report – Kay du Bois Loop – 27 Feb 2019

Posted on March 1, 2019 by qioutdoorclub

Since the snow on the local trails has compacted into slippery ice, we moved this trip to a low altitude sunny trail. Six of us and two dogs hiked the Kay DuBois trail then came back on the logging road between Sutil Road and Fox Drive. That part still had ice patches. Then we took the trail down the hill to join the Kay DuBois trail at the strange old sitka spruce tree. 5.2 km; 1½ hours.

Norris