Monthly Archives: September 2022

Trip Report – Fir Crest Loop – 28 Sept 2022

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After a bit of very light rain, nine of us walked this easy “bar-bell” loop.  Starting at the entrance to Fir Crest Acres, we walked along the north edge of this recently made trail.  The wide trail slopes gently down through the forest.  We then headed south along the edge of the golf course and the bluff until we joined the Haskin Farm trail.  We followed this back to the trailihead and connected over to the logging road, which makes a grassy alley through mature trees.  We used Todd’s Trail to re-connect with Fir Crest, then retraced our path back to the northeast corner of the golf course.  From there we followed the road through back up the hill through Fir Crest Acres and to the vehicles.  Both the weather and the walk were gentle.  It was a very social outing with many people returning from an active summer.  6.6 km; 2 hours.

Debbie
 

Hiking – Fir Crest Loop – 28 Sept 2022

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Hiking – Shellaligan Pass Loop – 12 Oct 2022

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Activity Hiking
Destination Shellaligan Pass loop
Date 12 Oct, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info lhquadra@gmail.com or 285-2029
Description We will do the shorter loop but go down to the oyster lease. We may see some whales from the rocks at the entrance to Village Bay as some have been in the area. Trip will take 2-3 hours depending on lunch.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate, with rocky and steep sections
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Yes, but under control
Notes: Dress for weather and bring a lunch.

Kayaking – Village Bay Lake – 5 Oct 2022

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Village Bay Lake
Date 5 Oct 2022
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 250-285-2029 or lhquadra@gmail.com
Description This is an easy, casual paddle to enjoy this great fall weather. Depending on the group we may venture into Mine and Main Lakes.
Meeting Place Village Bay Lake parking lot at the bridge
Departure Time 10:00, launch at 10:30
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring a lunch. Must have all equipment as per Transport Canada regulations. If in doubt check paddling guidelines.

Trip Report – Forbidden Plateau – 21 Sept 2022

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Four enthusiastic hikers enjoyed an absolutely perfect Fall Equinox Day as we hiked in Paradise Meadows/Forbidden Plateau. Our ultimate destination was Kwai Lake, via the circle route through Paradise Meadows and past Lake Helen Mackenzie. Taking the 8 am ferry, we were on the trail by 9:20 am.

We enjoyed a pleasant break at Lake Helen Mackenzie with stunningly beautiful reflections of the surrounding hills.  Debbie had wisely suggested we go counter-clockwise, as we always seem to go clockwise when hiking in this area. Even though this meant going uphill on the dreaded “Helen Mackenzie headwall”, it was still better than stumbling down the steep, rooty, eroded trail at the end of a long hike.

We were not the only ones enjoying the early autumn sunshine, as the number of cars in the parking lot attested. We encountered several backpackers on their way out, two school groups camping in the backcountry group camps, and many day-hikers like ourselves.  At Kwai Lake we found a quiet grassy area on the southwest shore for lunch, away from a large school group taking their break on the rocky outcropping on the opposite shore.  After lunch, we completed the circle, passing Croteau, Lady, Kooso and Battleship Lakes. Some sections of this circle route are boardwalk, protecting wetlands and tree roots, the rest varies from pleasant forest paths to very eroded, rooty trails.  About 6½ hours, approximately 17 km.

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Valerie and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Strathcona Park – 21 Sept 2022

Kayaking – Maud Island; Morte Lake Stream Outlet – 25 Oct 2022

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Cancelled due to weather

Activity Kayaking/ Indigenous history focus
Destination Maud Island; Morte Lake Stream Outlet
Date 25 Oct, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459 text; or phone 250-285-2111.
Description According to Joy Inglis’s “Petroglyphs of Quadra Island” there are several petroglyphs located along Quadra’s west shore at the outflow of Morte Lake Stream just east of Maud Island.
We will put in at the Lieshmans Rd shore access by 1000 am and paddle north towards Maude Island. It is about a 1 hr paddle to the old village site of Kawstin at the outflow of Morte Lake Stream. Depending on the amount of time spent here we may or may not paddle another 30 minutes into Maud Island and perhaps hike to the Seymour Narrows view point.
Meeting Place 0930 at Lieshmans Road Shore Access (Whalebone Cove)
Departure Time On the water by 1000 hrs
Difficulty
 Moderate depending on weather. Currents will be a factor.
Costs Vehicle fuel
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No
Notes: The tides/currents will be a factor. In order to view the petroglyphs I am planning our arrival for low tide with less attention to what the current will be doing. Poor weather and/or wind will mean this trip will be cancelled.
All participants must be equipped for ocean paddling in cooler weather – required equipment as per club guidelines (https://qioutdoorclub.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/paddling-guidelines-aug2018.pdf) and appropriate clothing.
I will email to each participant the petroglyph information relevant to the location.
Bring lunch, hot drinks, extra warm layers and something to sit on.

Hiking – Fir Crest Loop – 28 Sept 2022

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Activity Hiking
Destination Fir Crest Loop
Date 28 Sept 2022,  Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg and Julie Douglas
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator by Monday night
Description By special request, we will be doing a bar-bell loop of the Golf Course and Haskin Farm trails.  This is a good outing if you want an easy hike which is mostly level and on a good trail.
Meeting Place The small parking area inside and to the south of the Fir Crest Acres gates, off Heriot Bay Road.  If you do not know where this is, please confirm with the coordinator.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Dogs must not run through the group.
Notes: We will do this hike rain or shine.  Bring a snack/light lunch and gear for the weather.

Trip Report – QCove to Smiths Rd – 15 Sept 2022

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With just a few days remaining of summer ’22, seven kayaks set out from Quathiaski Cove to complete a “Round the Cape” adventure. With the help of non-paddling spouses, we managed the shuttling of vehicles between Q-Cove and the Shore Access at the end of Smiths Road that made it possible to do this trip.

By 8:50 we were on the water just as the ferry was docking – one less thing to worry about. Weather, tides and currents were all in our favour as we rounded Whiskey Point and headed south to Cape Mudge. We passed by the Village and the campground and then rounded the Cape. The often turbulent waters were very calm, due to our timing, and we headed into the boulder strewn shallows of the south shoreline.  By this time we were looking for a reasonable place to pull out for a “rest” and stretch. A cobbly beach was the best we could do.

We were treated to a good showing of sea birds throughout the trip and numerous seals and sea lions and/or dolphins quite a ways offshore. No doubt they were after salmon which were seen jumping near our kayaks.

The rest stop ended up being a little longer and some snacked enough that we put off our lunch stop until the takeout. Back on the water and the sun appeared, warming things up even more as we cruised northward from Francisco Pt to our destination at Smiths Road. Once ashore, lunch and beverages were enjoyed on the beach.

List of bird sightings – at least two dozen Common Loons (very vocal), many Harlequin ducks, Common Mergansers, Bonaparte’s, Glaucous-winged, and Mew Gulls, Cormorants, Great Blue Heron, geese, Bald Eagles, Vultures, Horned Grebes,

About 3.5 hours of paddling; Distance – 15.3 km

Vic Gladish

Thanks to Jan and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – QCove to Smiths Rd – 15 Sept 2022