Monthly Archives: November 2022

Hiking – Beech’s Mountain – 21 Dec 2022

Posted on by
Reply

Postponed due to icy conditions.

Activity Hiking
Destination Beech’s Mountain
Date 21 Dec 2022, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Diana McKerracher
Contact Info Dianamckerr@gmail.com 250 285 3204
Description Come for a Solstice Hike up Beech’s Mountain for some of the best views on the island. The summit is the second highest point on Quadra after Mt. Seymour. This will be an out-and-back hike with a lunch stop at the summit.
– approximately 3 – 4 hours including stops.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate, with some steep rocky sections
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: If there’s too much snow or pouring rain, we will re-schedule. The coordinator will let you know on Tuesday evening if there is a change of plans.
Advertisement

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 7 Dec 2022

Posted on by
1

There is a change of coordinator.  This trip was originally scheduled for Dec 7th.

Activity Hiking
Destination Jackrabbit/Morte Lake Loop
Date 25 January 2023, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710
Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will start at the Morte Lake parking lot, cross the road and over the B3 bridge to access the Jackrabbit Trail. This starts off close to the creek and eventually heads inland up to the Yellow Mud Trail, which we will follow back down to Reed Lake at the Walcan Road. We then cross the road and follow the Mud Lake and Tripod connector over to the sandy beach/three bridges area of Morte Lake. This will be a good spot for a snack or light lunch (bring a pad or bag for sitting on the damp log here). From here we will continue to the east end of Morte Lake and start down the main trail to the parking lot. At the Lower Dead Fish intersection, we will cross the creek and continue down to the parking lot. This route is mainly forested with occasional views of the creek and Morte Lake.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Intermediate, due to length.
Costs
Trip limits 10.  We will try to accommodate those who are interested.
Dogs? Yes, but under control or on leash. No running through the group. Owner must carry a leash, for emergency reasons.
Notes: Waterproof boots are advised, as the trail can have standing water. Good rain gear is important, and if rainy or colder, its not a bad idea to bring a thermos with a hot beverage. a seat pad is good idea for sitting on damp logs at the lake. This will go ahead even if it rains, as long as conditions are not too extreme. Bring rain pants for a clear day, as yellow Mud has lots of wet ferns close to the trail.

Trip Report – Nole to Noble and Side Trails- 22 Nov 2022

Posted on by
Reply
After meeting for a leisurely coffee and treat at the Aroma Café, five hikers, clad in full raingear, made our way into the Q-Cove labyrinth of trails via Plaza Road and “the stairs”. Seventy or so stairs lead the way to Nole Road and the Nole Road right-of-way, a well-established trail, hopefully to never be a road, through to Noble Road. The group quickly became involved in hunting for the faces in the forest (many carved and placed by Johann Weighardt) and found several of the well camouflaged masks.

We took the direct route on a southerly bearing, to Noble Road – about 1.5 km – and then down Noble Rd to the designated parkette across from QI Builders and back into the trail system. From here various private properties are traversed via trails and bridges that are well maintained by the owners of some of those properties. Heading in a northerly direction now, on the backside of Green Road properties, we passed by the “Word Log” and its everchanging one-word philosophical offering and one very impressive Cottonwood tree. By taking three of the side trails, we were able to zig zag our way back to the library end of the plaza to conclude a soggy, nearly two hour walk.

As we exited the forest our group was fortunate to meet up with two frequent flyers of the trail who also are responsible, along with two other neighbours, for a lot of the heavy trail maintenance work, including bridge building.  Thanks to Ben, Michelle, Brian and Joyce.

This is an easy to access trail through a beautiful second growth forest. One could explore a lot of this system between tasks while at the QCove Plaza. But beware – it is easy to end up going in circles and losing your way! Also, except for the “right of way” these trails are on private property and generously shared.  4 km

Vic

Thanks to Carrie and Norris for the photos

Click on photos to enlarge

 

Hiking – Nole to Noble Loop – 22 Nov 2022

Hiking – Drew Creek Trail and Rebecca Spit – 30 Nov 2022

Posted on by
Reply

Postponed to Monday, Dec 5th.

Activity Hiking
Destination Drew Creek, then Rebecca Spit
Date 5 Dec, Monday    30 Nov, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029; lhquadra@gmail.com
Description We will start with the short Drew Creek walk. Then we will go down past the Sasquatch sculpture. From there return to the park and go around Rebecca Spit Park.
Meeting Place Drew Creek at Heriot Bay Rd
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Yes, but under control
Notes: Please sign up at least 24 hours prior so can be contacted if canceled.
Trip will go unless heavy wind and rain, so dress prepared.

Trip Report – Santana Mine – 16 Nov 2022

Posted on by
1

Six of us visited the not-so-famous Santana Mine.  Mine Lake gets its name from it, since the mine overlooks the lake.  Or it would if the trees weren’t so high.  So we set out in a thick fog to visit it.  Thanks to Ellen and Alex for their permission to use their driveway and cross their private property.  There are other routes to the mine.  We made a loop, coming back down on Conville Point Road.  The other approach is from Bold Point.

The recent snow overload damaged trees and bushes, so this was a bit of a bushwhack.  Also, there was still snow covering parts of the path, so it was even easier to get lost than normal. The sun made a feeble attempt to show itself at the high “viewpoint” where we had lunch, but no view.  The mine is very interesting.  The main drift (tunnel) still has the old railroad tracks and is safely walkable.  The wildlife is abundant: long legged spiders, crickets, and a few moths.  We also visited the short opening a bit higher up, and peeked into a long drift a bit further north.  The entrance to that one is very low and the floor is flooded.  The route on to Conville Point Road had a few more deadfall obstacles, but the road had a very nice display of larches in full fall colour.  5.1 km; 3 hours.

Norris
 
Thanks to Carrie and Norris for the photos
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Santana Mine – 16 Nov 2022

Trip Report – Maud Island – 9 Nov 2022

Posted on by
Reply

The day was cold (for Quadra) and the air was clear and still and the sun was warm.  Five of us took advantage of the nice early winter weather to hike to Maud Island.  Because the recent dump of heavy, wet snow left the trail coated with some icy, hard snow, we all wore some sort of ice cleats on our boots, which worked very well.  Actually the road access and the trail were in surprisingly good condition considering the storm. 

We had lunch at the Seymour Narrows overlook, along with a few sea lions.  There wasn’t much turbulence in the Narrows, but the sea gulls were fishing.  On the way back some of us took the high trail and some took the low trail.  For the high trail it was 10.1 km; 4¼ hours.

Norris
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Maud Island – 9 Nov 2022

Hiking – Santana Mine – 16 Nov 2022

Posted on by
1

Activity Hiking
Destination Santana Mine
Date 16 Nov 2022, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710. Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will hike a loop from Mine Lake up the west side of Mine Mountain to the Santana Mine.  From there we will hike out using Conville Point Road to return to Mine Lake.  The route involves a private driveway, old logging roads, flagged routes and recent logging roads.  There may be wet areas.  About 3 hours.  Our thanks to Ellen Russell and Alex Hartford for letting the Outdoor Club cross their private property.  The history of the mine is quite interesting.  Here is a link to the claim information:  https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/summary.aspx?minfilno=092K%20%20013
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: This is not a maintained trail.  Bring a flashlight.  Bring gear for the weather and lunch.

Hiking – ERT Trail – 14 Dec 2022

Posted on by
1

Activity Hiking
Destination ERT (Elk River Timber) Trail
Date 14 Dec 2022, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg Vic Gladish
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710 vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; text 250-287-0459
Description A Campbell River ramble, easy walking but long distance, approximately 15 km.
We will walk on 0900 ferry from the Cove, wend our way through town to ERT north trailhead at 14th and Maple, ERT to Beaverlodge trails to Willow Point Park Sportsplex trails to Seawalk, Seawalk to Willow Point for lunch (Socal or Miki’s?), Seawalk back to ferry terminal or experience CR Transit system. Rain or shine. 9 am ferry from QI, estimated 3:30 or 4:30 ferry return.
Meeting Place Q Cove Ferry Terminal
Departure Time 9:00
Difficulty
 Easy walking over a long distance
Costs None, except lunch and the ferry if you are under 65.
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: This is a long walk, mostly on pavement.
Please contact the coordinator by Monday 12th.

Hiking – Maud Island – 9 Nov 2022

Posted on by
1

Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 9 Nov 2022, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710. Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description Hike to Maud Island through varied forest and terrain.  We will do a loop passing over the shoulder of  Mt. Lolo (if conditions are favourable), crossing the causeway to Maud Island, enjoying views of Seymour Narrows, and returning by the salt water lagoon. The currents in the Narrows will not be impressive at this time.  This trail has recently had trail work done on it.  Allow 5 hours, including the fairly long drive, for this walk of approximately 10km.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: The current will be slack around noon, so we will not see turbulence.  Expect cold conditions.  Bring lunch.  This trip will be weather dependent and we may substitute if necessary.

Trip Report – Chinese Mtns Work Party – 2 Nov 2022

Posted on by
Reply

In between many days of rain we had a beautiful, autumn day for this work party on the Chinese Mountain network of trails. Nine people helped and accomplished a lot branching out to the different approaches to North and South Chinese Mountains.  We cut back brush along the trails, improvised a repair on a bridge railing, and cut out a tree lying across the trail.  After about an hour and a half we came together for a lunch break at the South Chinese Mountain viewpoint, which was perfect on the lovely day. The fresh snow on the mainland and Vancouver Island mountains made the views even better. After lunch everyone continued to work on their way back to the vehicles, except for three who carried on up the Beech’s Mtn trail, doing a bit of brush cutting along the way. Time and distance were variable.

Debbie
 
Thanks to Vic and Norris for the photos
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Work party – Chinese Mtn – 2 Nov 2022