Monthly Archives: December 2021

Hiking – West Road Woodlot – 29 Dec 2021

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This is a last minute substitution.

Activity Hiking
Destination West Road Woodlot
Date 29 Dec, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator before the trip.
Description We will walk down a few of the out-and-back logging roads.  The route includes mature forest, replanted forest, a view of Gowlland Harbour, and a meandering trail.  About 3km; 1 hour.
Meeting Place Park on Gowlland Harbour Road, near the junction with West Road, by the transformers.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Very easy, but expect winter conditions – cold and snow covering some ice.
Costs None
Trip limits None
Dogs?
Notes: Bring gear appropriate for the weather and trail conditions.
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Hiking – Quinsam River Trails – 23 Feb 2022

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This trip was originally scheduled for Jan 5th.

Activity Hiking
Destination Quinsam River Trails
Date 23 Feb 5 Jan, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; 250-285-3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday evening.
Description We will hike along the east side of the Quinsam River, using mountain bike trails and logging roads.  This follows a variety of terrain down to the river.  Expect some muddy conditions.
Meeting Place QCove ferry terminal;  after exiting the ferry, we will drive to the parking area together.
Departure Time 10:00; drivers will need to be early to ensure that they can board
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs Ferry
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes:

Trip Report – Gowlland Harbour – 21 Dec 2021

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Paddle into Winter (Solstice)

A very nice winter day provided an opportunity for seven club members to get together for a 2 hour paddle to celebrate the Solstice. With an icy boat launch at April Point and a skim of ice in the harbour it was a wintry day. We paddled out of the marina on calm seas, overcast skies and temperatures around freezing. The three paddlers that put in further east in Gowlland, paddled against the current in the channel and met up with us for the trip out and along Gowlland Island. We rounded the top of Gowlland with Steep Island on our port side and then altered course towards the smaller island group and away from a cold northerly breeze.

The group split up again and four of us rounded Doe Island and headed for April Point and rode the ebb current through the channel.

The highlight of the trip was watching the efforts of an eagle in its attempt to snare a cormorant for its afternoon meal.

Vic

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Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 21 Dec 2021

Trip Report – Rampart Hill – 15 Dec 2021

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It was an adventure; not everything went smoothly.  First we missed the 10:00 ferry, thinking mistakenly that it wouldn’t be a busy sailing. After waiting an hour for the next departure, the three of us drove up the Strathcona Parkway.  For this time of year, there is an amazing amount of snow, nearly down to the highway.  The road up to Mt. Washington was good enough, but there was so much snow, we decided to snowshoe at Rampart Hill instead.  It was snowing hard and we had lunch in the car before heading out.  Although the logging roads had snow packed down on the weekend, there was no visible trace and we were doing some serious trail breaking.  Once we left those packed roads it was even more challenging, because the snow was so unconsolidated, especially around brush.  Norris fell through twice, the first time down over a metre and he had real difficulty getting the snowshoe back to the surface.  Then Bonnie fell through and we decided we had had enough trail breaking for the day, so we headed back, rather than forward.  We never encountered anyone else on the trail.  It was beautiful in a monochromatic way and very quiet.  4 km, 2½ hours.

Debbie

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 15 Dec 2021

Trip Report – Drew Creek and Rebecca Spit – 11 Dec 2021

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On Saturday nine people decided to try a hike even though rain was threatening. To start we did the small trail at the mouth of Drew Creek. This is a wonderful little trail. It even has benches to sit and watch the creek roll by. The tide was extremely high and had the creek backed up for about 150 m.
We then walked to Rebecca Spit and turned south along the ocean down to the Sasquatch sculpture. It was about here that the heavy rain showers started off and on. We proceeded down through the new camping spots that have been developed very well. On the way back to the vehicles we were treated to a rainbow. 5.2 km about 1½ hours

Les

Thanks to Les and Norris for the photos.

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Hiking – Drew Creek and Rebecca Spit – 11 Dec 2021

Trip Report – South Chinese Mtn Loop – 8 Dec 2021

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After waiting a bit at the Heriot Bay meeting point, due to icy road conditions that morning, four of us met at the Chinese Mountain trailhead. We started clockwise on the South Mountain trail around 10:40.  Although there was snow left on the trail from the last snowfall, it was not too deep, and the abundant sunshine made wonderful conditions for the ascent.  Although some clouds remained over Vancouver Island, the view to the south from the western bluff lookouts was spectacular.  Although the snow on the trail had us deviating from the main trail, we easily regained it above us, and were able to follow the trial easily to the south lookout. The views were superb as we took a short lunch.  We took our time descending the eastern trail down in to the valley between north and south peak, as the steep steps down presented some slippery sections, and the old mining road down had a lot of running surface water causing some slippery parts. The total trip took just over 2½ hours.

Brent

Thanks to Brent and Norris for the photos.

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Hiking – South Chinese Mountain – 8 Dec 2021

Hiking – Drew Creek Trail and Rebecca Spit – 11 Dec 2021

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Activity Hiking
Destination Drew Creek, then Rebecca Spit
Date 11 Dec, Saturday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029; lhquadra@gmail.com
Description Easy walk around Drew Creek Trail and then to Rebecca Spit. At the park we will go south to the Sasquatch and then return to the cars.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Rd. at Rebecca Spit Rd.
Departure Time 1:00 pm
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? O.K. but under control
Notes: Waiting until after lunch so it warms up a little. Bring a snack if you like as will have short break if weather cooperates. South end is wet so good boots would help.

Trip Report – Kay Dubois Trail and Whittington Woodlot – 1 Dec 2021

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Seven of us started out from the end of Fox Road, walked down the hill and along Wa Wa Kie Road. We entered the Kay Dubois Trail and hiked the loop clockwise. For the first half of the walk, it almost looked as though the sun could come through. At the midpoint, when we stopped at the beach viewpoint for tea and a snack, a light rain started and followed us back to our parking spots. It was an easy, social walk and just felt great to be out even if it was a bit wet and muddy. 5.9 km and 1½ hours.

Diana

Thanks to Norris and Rob for the photos.

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Hiking – Kay Dubois Loop – 1 Dec 2021