Monthly Archives: August 2019

Hiking – Eagle Ridge & Blindman’s Bluff – 28 August 2019

Posted on by
1

Activity Hiking
Destination Eagle Ridge and Blindman’s Bluff
Date 28 Aug 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or leshand@gicable.com.
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 9:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Yes, but no back and forth through group
Notes: Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Advertisement

Trip Report – Newton Lake and Waiatt Bay – 14 Aug 2019

Posted on by
Reply

There were eight hikers and two dogs for this highly varied walk to Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay. It was a warm and sunny day for a hike and a swim. We hiked up the old, eroded logging road to the lake and enjoyed the view and the quiet for a while before continuing along the creek and down the switchbacks to Small Inlet. The Inlet was beautiful and serene, with no boats at anchor, but we decided to go to Waiatt Bay for lunch. It was a very low tide, with quite a lot of boats in the bay, and few people on the trail hiking up to the lake. We returned to Small Inlet by the portage trail and the bubbling spring before hiking back up the hill to Newton Lake. By this time, there were quite a few swimmers at the lake, but we had the rock bluff on the north side to ourselves for a wonderfully refreshing splash in the lake, before returning down the logging road to the vehicles.  14.4 km;  6 hours.

– Julie and Debbie

Click on the photos to enlarge

Hiking – Newton Lake and Waiatt Bay – 14 Aug 2019

Trip Report – Stramberg Creek & North Grove – 7 Aug 2019

Posted on by
Reply

Twelve of us and two dogs headed out to the Stramberg north grove of big trees.  It was one of those dog days of August, sunny and hot.  The first section of the route, an old logging road which was deactivated when it became park land, was a pleasant stroll, a grassy, mossy path. When we reached Stramberg Creek, it was flowing deeper than usual at this time of year.  So we waded across the clear, cool stream.  Then some of us and the dogs were attacked by ground-nesting wasps.  With the help of some ointment on the bites, we continued on.  The trail was clear and well flagged so we made good time and had lunch at the north grove.  After lunch the group split as some returned while others opted for continuing on the trail to the Stramberg big trees, which we normally reach by the trail from the south and east side of the Lake.  The return trip was uneventful, but warm and quick since swimming in Stramberg Lake was the next objective.  The cool, clear waters were very refreshing.  12.1 km;  5½ hours.

– Norris

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos

(Click on the photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Stramberg Creek & North Grove – 7 Aug 2019

Hike – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 4 Sept 2019

Posted on by
1

Activity Hiking
Destination Nugedzi Lakes and Views
Date 4 Sept 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description Hike up a steep, old logging road and meander through open forest to the lovely Nugedzi Lakes.  We will also take two or three side trips to viewpoints looking northeast, southeast and west.  Nugedzi Lake is a great place for lunch and a swim.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?  okay
Notes: Bring lunch and swim wear if you want.

 

Hiking – Maud Island- 11 Sept 2019

Posted on by
1

Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 11 Sept 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Sandra Burns
Contact Info sandraburns.ca@gmail.com or 3977.  Please do not call after 8:00pm.  Contact the coordinator in advance of 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.  Allow 5 hours, including driving, for this walk of approximately 10km.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 12
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch, poles if you use them and gear for the weather.  We don’t usually do this trip in very poor weather.

Trip Report – Sandy Island Marine Park – 31 July 2019

Posted on by
2

Our group of eight kayakers left the Union Bay boat launch shortly after 10:00.  The morning was a bit dark, but mild and gentle.  We paddled out and across Baynes Sound to Denman Island and the Longbeak Point sand spit.  We arrived at a particularly low tide (0.4 m) on the day of a new moon, so that the sand spit connected Denman with Sandy Island.  In fact the White Spit continued all the way to the Comox Bar entrance, about 2.5 NM.  This gave us an excellent opportunity to observe the intertidal life:  moon snails, clams, barnacles, sand dollars, and sand anemone, as well as admire the variety of shells.  On the other hand, it wasn’t a good day to paddle around the islands and islets.  Oddly, a large search and rescue helicopter landed on the Island without any apparent emergency, as we paddled by Sandy Island.

We continued on to a shell beach and stopped for lunch.  Les spoiled us again, this time with garden fresh berries and whipped cream for dessert.  A few in the group explored a bit more or practiced kayak self-rescues before we headed back under a clearing sky.  On the way, we stopped for a walk around the lovely beach at Sandy Island Marine Park and then paddled back to the boat launch with a slight breeze at our back.  Although the tidal range was 4.5 m that day, the current during both crossings was minimal.  (13.9 km; 3½ hours)

Debbie

Thanks to Norris and Marie for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Kayaking – Tree Island – 31 July 2019