Hiking – Carrington Bay and Forest – 1 May 2023

Posted on March 25, 2023 by qioutdoorclub

Rescheduled from March 6th.

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Carrington Bay and Forest, Cortes Island
Date	1 May 2023, Monday
Trip Coordinator	Debbie Quigg
Contact Info	dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710. Please contact the coordinator well in advance of the trip, so that car pools can be arranged.
Description	After the ferry crossing we will drive to the Carrington trailhead and follow the trails to Carrington Bay and lagoon. We will have lunch at Carrington Bay and continue on to Grandmother’s Grove following the stream. We plan to return on the 3:50 pm ferry.
Meeting Place	Cortes ferry line-up.
Departure Time	9:05 am ferry; vehicles need to be in the ferry line-up not later than 8:15 am for this busy sailing.
Difficulty	Easy to moderate.
Costs	Ferry travel costs; bring your experience card and ID
Trip limits	12
Dogs?	no
Notes:	Bring lunch and gear for weather. Please arrange carpools in advance.

Trip Report – Mt. Washington & Mt. Elma – 22 Mar 2023

Posted on March 23, 2023 by qioutdoorclub

Reports are that Mt. Washington has lots of snow. It’s true. We started out on the snowshoe trail from Raven Lodge with the vague intention of going to the lakes. Snow conditions were perfect for snowshoeing. The trails were broken and there was a sparkling layer of fresh snow. The sun was bright and warm, the air temperature was good, there was no wind. The sky was clear and blue. As I said, conditions were perfect.

Except for one thing. The trail to Lake Helen Mackenzie crosses a stream on a bridge. The bridge was packed with snow, up to about a metre above the hand rail. It was well packed, but too narrow for snowshoes. And there was no way to avoid it since the stream was open. We crossed it, but once was enough, so we came back the Battleship Lake route. It also has a stream crossing with a snow-packed bridge. That one felt much safer, but it looked as if it might collapse sooner or later.

So we arrived at Lake Helen Mackenzie and stopped for lunch. We looked around for a further destination. Mt. Elma looked perfect, so we headed there. The trail was broken already, so it was an easy, though steep, climb up to the ridge. The summit ridge was amazing, open meadows with fabulous views. In particular the mountains io the Forbidden Plateau skyline, all snow covered in bright sun with no clouds blocking the view for once. (13.1 km, 6 hours)

Norris

(click on photos to view larger)

: Ferry to Vancouver Island

: Mt. Albert Edward

: Frost crystals

: Crossing the sketchy bridge

: Lake Helen Mackenzie

: Coming out on the Mt. Elma ridge

: Mt. Albert Edward & Regan

: Mt Frink

: Mt Elma ridge

: Comox Glacier

: Castlecrag and Mt. Frink

: Mt Frink and ridge

: Mt. Albert Edward and Regan

Snow – Mt. Washington – 22 Mar 2023

Hiking – Trout Creek Falls – 10 Apr 2023

Posted on March 18, 2023 by qioutdoorclub

If you would like to do this hike, but not on Easter Monday, please let the coordinator know.

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Trout Creek Falls
Date	10 April, Monday
Trip Coordinator	Norris Weimer
Contact Info	norris.weimer@ualberta.ca; 250-285-3710. Please contact the coordinator by Saturday evening.
Description	We will drive out Menzies Main a short distance to the trailhead for Trout Creek. This undulating and varied trail passes by three falls, each very different and scenic. The trail is basic and it may be a bit muddy, rooty and rocky. There are a few steep sections, but it’s quite short overall. It can be made into a loop by returning on a logging road. About 5km; 2½ hours.
Meeting Place	QCove ferry terminal
Departure Time	10:00
Difficulty	Moderate
Costs	Ferry
Trip limits	10
Dogs?	No
Notes:	Bring gear for the weather and lunch.

Trip Report – Haskins Farm-Fir Crest Loop – 15 Mar 2023

Posted on March 17, 2023 by qioutdoorclub

On March 15, 2023 a small group joined the Haskins Farm and Fir Crest walk. It was an easy walk which took approximately an hour and fifteen minutes. We began at the head of the Haskins Farm trail and at the first intersection took a left and walked through the forest, and through the new growth area over to the golf course where we walked along the cart path, past the Fir Crest trail parking and onto the start of the Fir Crest trail continuing down behind the houses of the subdivision to the bottom of the trail where we began the Fir Crest to Haskins Farm trail along the ridge. Deciding to skip the trail down to the beach, we took the trail back through Haskins Farm up to the vehicles.. The whole way is very lovely with a mixture of forest, new growth, and open fairways, while the ridge is particularly beautiful with the moss covered trees and ocean views. (5.9 km)

Vikki

(click on photos to enlarge)

: Fairway walk

: Big Douglas fir

Hiking – Haskin Farm & Fir Crest Loop – 15 Mar 2023

Snow – Mt. Washington Area – 22 Mar 2023

Posted on March 15, 2023 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Snowshoeing
Destination	Mt. Washington area
Date	22 Mar, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator	Norris Weimer
Contact Info	norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710. Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description	We will either go Paradise Meadows or to Ramparts Hill, depending on the conditions and the group.
Meeting Place	QI Ferry terminal
Departure Time	9:00 ferry
Difficulty	Easy to moderate
Costs	Transportation costs and trail pass if we go to Paradise Meadows (Adult $13)
Trip limits	None
Dogs?	No
Notes:	Bring lunch as we may not eat at Raven lodge. Have reliable equipment and winter gear.

Kayaking – Maud Island and petroglyph at mouth of Morte Creek – 19 Apr 2023

Posted on March 15, 2023 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Kayaking
Destination	Maud Island and petroglyph at mouth of Morte Creek
Date	19 Apr 2023, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator	Vic Gladish
Contact Info	250-285-2111; or 250-287-0459 text
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 creek just east of Maud Island. We will put in at the Leishmans Rd shore access by 0900 am and paddle north towards Maud Island. It is about a 1 hr paddle to the old village site of Kawstin at the outflow of Morte Lake creek. 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	Shore access at Leishmans Rd
Departure Time	0900 on the water; meet at 0830
Difficulty	Moderate depending on weather and currents.
Costs	None
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 – Maud Island – 4 April 2023

Posted on March 13, 2023 by qioutdoorclub

This trip was originally scheduled for March 13th

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Maud Island
Date	4 Apr 2023, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator	Vikki O’Brien
Contact Info	resvo2004@yahoo.com, 250-938-2864
Description	Maud Island is situated beside Seymour Narrows and has a spectacular view of the narrows and it is a scenic walk in many areas. We will begin the trail from the far end of Morte lake at the Maud Island parking area. This hike is easy walking overall except for a section where it climbs up the bluffs at the base of Mt Lolo and there is a hill to get to the lookout. It is good to have your poles for the bluffs. On the return we will not take the bluffs, but rather will take the shoreline route. Maud Island has a beautiful lookout area where we will have lunch. This is approximately 4 – 4 1/2 hours including the lunch break.
Meeting Place	Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time	10:00
Difficulty	Moderate
Costs	Nil
Trip limits	12
Dogs?	Yes, if under control.
Notes	Bring lunch, water, good footwear and walking poles. This hike is approximately 10 km.

Hiking – Heriot Ridge Loop – 29 Mar 2023