Monthly Archives: July 2023

Trip Report – Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay – 26 July 2023

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It has been three years since the Club undertook this wonderful hike and four years since a swim was part of the fun! So, seven hikers set a good pace to get things started up the cobbly slope to the Small Inlet Park boundary. It was a soggy go through the thick patches of salal, thanks to our overdue rainy spell, but the sun was out and the day was perfect. The absence of birdsong was quickly noted and seen as a harbinger of the passing of summer.

We rested briefly at Newton Lake and then resumed our uphill hike to the switchbacks that descend quickly to Small Inlet. Here we started to cross paths with numerous boater/hikers on their way to Newton Lake’s inviting waters. We walked the tide flats from the first beach access to the trail head for Waiatt Bay. A brief stop was made to marvel at the bubbling water feature for which we still have no interpretive information. We must conscript a geologist for the next visit to the area!

A short hop through beautifully lit forest brought us to very busy Waiatt Bay. We ate lunch and watched the coming and going of a dozen people, dogs and skiffs between the many moored boats and our beach. As the day heated up our group was motivated to pack up and head to the lake for our long awaited swim. The uphill climb from Small Inlet definitely built up the desire for some of us to jump in on our arrival lakeside, and enjoy the mid-summer “warm” water of Newton Lake. A refreshing dip enabled us to maintain a good pace through the long, rocky downhill trail to the parking lot.

Everyone agreed that it was a fantastic outing on a perfect summer day!  (12.7 km; 5 hours)

Vic

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Hiking – Newton Lake-Small Inlet-Waiatt Bay – 26 July 2023

Trip Report – Surge Narrows Road to Main Lake – 21 July 2023

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Despite the two day postponement, even more hikers signed up, so five of us set out on a pleasant, overcast Friday morning on the newish Surge Narrows Road to Main Lake trail. We found the correct trailhead, thanks Les, and started on the woodland path to Main Lake. With time considerations, we decided to forego the side trip to Roscoe Lake, planning on doing it if time/energy allowed on the return. The trail meanders through the forest, roughly following a very old logging road, eventually running beside a creekbed, now absolutely dry in our current drought conditions. We stopped to admire the magnificent burn-scarred old growth close to a now dry waterfall.

We came in through the back of the large campground at Main Lake east beach, which was occupied by several families enjoying the warm weather. We decided to continue on the portage route to Yeatman Bay and have our lunch break there. After a short break, during which we watched a multi-generational family dig for clams in the rising tide, we headed back to the Lake for a short swim. This refreshing break was now much needed as the heat had returned, despite a forecast of lower temperatures.

Unfortunately, as we began the return trek up the hill from the Lake two members of our group disturbed a wasp nest. The wasps made sure we knew they were not pleased at being stomped on! Our return trip was much less pleasant than our ingress, as pain and heat made the steep, then more gradual, incline back much more challenging. Our discomfort was compounded when another wasp nest was encountered, fortunately only one hiker was stung this time. We did not feel motivated to take the side trip to the small lake, and were greatly relieved to finally reach our cars, with air-conditioning and no wasps!

Given the wasps and the heat, and the steady uphill return, this hike would be best kept for spring or fall, especially when the creek and waterfall would be running.

About 5.5 hours, with lunch break and a quick swim.

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Louise and Les for the photos.
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 19 July 2023

Trip Report – Francisco Point at Low Tide – 17 July 2023

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We had a small but enthusiastic group on the low tide walk at Francisco Point with Deb Cowper’s amazing observations and information. The low tide in the middle of the day was a bit more than half a metre. We walked over the cobbled shore to the tidal lagoon. Deb talked about the seaweeds we were seeing (lettuce, cauliflower, Sargasso, and bladderwrack), the trajectory of the sea star wasting disease and the creatures affected by it, the life cycle of barnacles, the way that marine organisms can draw calcification from seawater to build their shells and outer structures. Deb talked about the moulting process for red rock crabs and what often appears to be a dead crab Is just the outer shell, left behind after moulting.  Five is the magic number for the radial symmetry of echinoderms: sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sand dollars.

We gently turned over rocks to look at the critters hiding beneath while exposed from the low tide. We saw porcelain crabs, Northern kelp crab, chitons, ochre sea stars, a blood star, sea cucumber, periwinkle, barnacles, worms, tubes, snails and a few small fish. Often the things attached to rocks were very small, really a nursery. We saw sea urchins the size of a pin head. We always gently rolled the rock back returning the creatures to their protected nooks.

We want to thank Deb Cowper for coming over to Quadra to share her knowledge.

Debbie

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Hiking – Francisco Point at Low Tide – 17 July 2023

Reconnaissance Report – Woss Lake Provincial Park – 12-14 July 2023

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We had talked about this trip for over a year, but it came together at the very last minute. There is little information available about Woss Lake Provincial Park and much of it is unhelpful or actually incorrect. Historically this was an important trade route for the Namgis and Mowachaht, but today it is not much visited. There are some reasons why this beautiful place is quite inaccessible and little known.

Six of us in two kayaks and two canoes set out on a beautiful summer day to explore this area hoping to find the campsite and the Grease Trail. We launched at 11:30 in calm water from the Woss Community Cabin, which is about 8 kilometres down Woss Rd. The views on this in-land fjord are wonderful with Rugged Mountain and the glacier at the southwest end of the Lake. By 13:00 the diurnal wind from the south began to build and continued to increase to about 20 knots until after sunset, but the wind didn’t die completely until midnight. We spent several hours pulled out on the shore waiting for the wind to abate. Magically, a large Namgis cedar dugout canoe came quickly down-wind while we were on shore.

The campsite was not where we expected because the trail location on Backroads map is incorrect. The campsite is in much better condition than we expected since the BC parks says there are no facilities, and other sites simply repeat that there are a “few tent pads.” The campsite was built and the trail re-established as an initiative by the Namgis between 2001 and 2005. Lindsay Elms’ information in Beyond Nootka is the most complete. While some of the tent platforms have rotten wood, the general facilities and location are excellent for rustic camping.

The following day we planned to hike up to the pass on the Grease trail, which would descend to Tahsis on the far, south side. The trail was in better condition than we expected, since BC Parks are certainly not maintaining this. It seems likely that the Namgis are working on it. It was well flagged and most of the creeks were bridged for the first 3 kilometres. Then there was lots of flagging in different colours, but no convincing trail and no logical continuity. Because Backroads maps shows the trail on the wrong side of the creek and Lindsay Elms says that the grant was to develop 3 kilometres of trail, our expectations were that this would be a short steep hike. That was not the case and we had not allowed sufficient time to continue to the pass. We returned to the campsite through this excellent forest with many streams. The diurnal wind started earlier and persisted longer than the previous day.

The last day we paddled out following the west-side shore with interesting geology and small bays. Starting earlier in the day, we arrived at our launch site by noon and encountered virtually no wind at all. We learned a lot about this area on the trip, but definitely not everything and hope to return.

Debbie

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Hike – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 16 Aug 2023

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Change of start time due to heat!

Activity Hiking
Destination Nugedzi Lakes and Views
Date 16 Aug 2023, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description Hike up a steep, eroded, 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.  About 11 km and 5½ hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 7:30 9:00
Difficulty At the upper end of moderate for us.  Quite long and steep.
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Must not run through the group.
Notes: Bring lunch and swim wear if you want to swim.  This is a view hike and will not be done in poor weather.

Multi-day Kayaking, Camping – Granite & Kanish Bays, Small Inlet – 22-24 Aug 2023

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This is now a day trip on August 22, Tuesday.

Activity Multi-day kayaking, camping and hiking
Destination Granite and Kanish Bays, Small Inlet
Date 22-24 Aug 2023, Tuesday to Thursday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; text 250-287-0459
Description This will be a two night multi-day paddling trip out of Granite Bay. We will set up a base camp at Orchard Bay and explore the familiar haunts of Small Inlet and Kanish Bay. As well as doing lots of paddling we will do the hikes to Waiatt Bay and Newton Lake.
Day 1: paddle to Chained Islets and Bodega Pt and finish at Orchard Bay on a rising tide.
Day 2: paddle to east end of Small Inlet and hike to Waiatt Bay and/or Newton Lake (not a lot of tidal change on this day); camp at Orchard Bay
Day 3: paddle to Granite Pt., Nixon Is, Ashlar Creek and return to Granite Bay and take out on a rising tide.
WEATHER/WINDS will determine the final trip plan and itinerary. We will be very flexible.
Meeting Place Granite Bay boat launch at 0830
Departure Time 0900
Difficulty Distances, winds, and tides make this a moderately difficult multi day trip.
Cost Parking and launch about $15 to $20. Carpooling means fewer cars in the lot and lower costs.
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No.
Notes: Must have ocean kayaks with sealed hatches and sprayskirt with all Transport Canada required safety equipment. PLEASE REVIEW OUR PADDLING GUIDELINES. You will not put in unless fully equipped. (https://qioutdoorclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/paddling-guidelines-july2023.pdf ) Trip is weather and wind dependent. Only signed-up participants will be contacted of any changes in plans. MUST sign up by Sunday evening, August 20.
You need drinking water for 3 days, your own camping gear and food. Be aware of the weather forecast when prepping your gear and clothing. There are no food caches or outhouses. We will hang our food and have a designated “outhouse” area.

Trip Report – Open Bay to Village Bay – 10 July 2023

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Six Club members and one guest enjoyed an (almost) idyllic summer day on the Salish Sea on our July 10 paddle from Open Bay to Village Bay and beyond.

Before embarking, we reviewed  our Club’s Paddling Guidelines and discussed the proposed route, predicted weather, tide and currents . Two paddlers volunteered to take the going and returning sweep positions.

We enjoyed the easy launch from Open Bay using the beach property of a Club member and were soon perusing the islets around the Bretons. The calm, almost benign conditions encouraged us to take the outside route around the Bretons up Hoskyn Channel. We saw seals and many seabirds, including Mergansers, Oyster Catchers, Harlequins, Guillemots, and, most notably, Arctic Terns, possibly attracted by the large shoals of herring visible around the rocky reefs. Even though there were several boats apparently watching the whales who were audibly breaching and blowing south of us, disappointingly we did not see any whales during our paddle.

We arrived at Village Bay in time for a leisurely lunch, enjoying the warm sun and social time. As predicted, the wind began to rise just after 12:00, creating some visible chop. Still feeling energetic, we decided to proceed further north to paddle around Bold Island and visit the oyster and mussel farm. The aquaculture-farm was in full operation as we paddled leisurely by, to the envy of the workers. As expected, the conditions changed from benign to more challenging as we left the protection of Bold Point and came out into Hoskyn Channel. Given the wind/wave conditions we opted to head directly across to the entrance to Shellaligan Pass. The pass was a peaceful respite before the even more challenging conditions in Open Bay. A short, invigorating paddle through the rocky reef brought us back to the protected, calm waters of our launch site.  (15.1 km; 5 hours with lunch)

Once our kayaks and gear were loaded, we very much enjoyed a social hour on our Club member’s shaded and tranquil deck. We were also well entertained by the hummingbirds and swallows attracted to the many feeders, and nesting boxes on this lovely property.

With many thanks to the two volunteers who acted as sweeps on this trip, and especially to the Club member who offered us the use of their beach access, and then a social hour on their lovely deck afterwards.

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Valerie and Norris for the photos.


(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Open Bay to Village Bay – 10 July 2023

Trip Report – Heriot Bay – 7 July 2023

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Eight paddlers launched at the Esplanade Park beach and headed off at 1900 for a meander along and around the islands between Heriot Bay and Hyacinthe Bay into the bright evening sun. It was a perfect summer evening, with favourable tides, a convivial group, and very light breeze.   We paddled between Heriot and Quadra Islands, and up into Hyacinthe Bay, turning around Turtle Island and heading back toward our launch site.

Unfortunately all was not perfect and a number of circumstances resulted in two of the eight paddlers becoming separated from the group.  This was a good heads-up to review the paddling guidelines and tighten up our Club practices.

With all eight paddlers back on the beach we quickly loaded up our gear, debriefed somewhat, and regrouped at the Heriot Bay Inn for cold beverages and very congenial conversation.  (About 5 km)

Debbie and Vic

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Happy Hour Paddle – Heriot Bay – 7 July 2023

Trip Report – Noel’s Pizza Peak – 3 July 2023

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Five hikers decided to leave an hour earlier because it was going to be another hot, dry summer day. We met at the Nugedzi Trail parking lot and started up the old road. The last two winters have done a lot of damage to the old road with all the heavy snow and run off. There was also a lot of blow down, but someone had been up with a chainsaw to take out the large trees.

We turned off the old road just past the back way up Beech’s Mountain. From here the trail was very rough and not maintained as it is not an official trail. We didn’t have too much trouble following the old route though and bushwhacked up to the bluffs. Here there are many wonderful views south, west and north. There was a lot of smoke in the air from all the forest fires, but still great views. After lunch, we returned to the vehicles another great hike completed. (8 km in 4½ hours)

Les

Thanks to Les and Norris for the photos

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Hiking – Noel’s Pizza Peak- 3 July 2023

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 19 July 2023

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Postponed to 21 July, Friday.

Activity Hiking
Destination Main Lake and Yeatman Bay from Surge Narrows Rd
Date 21 July, Friday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca 778 242 5774
Description This moderate hike starts from Surge Narrows Road through woods, past a lake and beside a creek, to the east end of Main Lake. We can then hike the portage track to Yeatman Bay. We can stop for lunch at the beach or the bay. Be prepared to drive a fair distance on unpaved roads. Bring swimsuit and towel if you wish. The beach and swim rock are great for sunbathing as well.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 9:00 from the store; 9:45 at the trailhead
Difficulty Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 12
Dogs? Must not run through group; must be under control; dogs and owners will go ahead of group
Notes: About 9-10 km. NOTE early start time. Trip weather dependent. Only signed-up participants will be contacted re any changes. Must sign up by Monday night, July 17. Bring lunch, water, snacks. I will meet the group at the junction of Valdes Drive and Village Bay Lakes Road at about 9:15.