Monthly Archives: February 2024

Trip Report – Chinese Mtn Work Party – 26 Feb 2024

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Monday was a beautiful day, neatly fitted in between the rainy days and the snowy days.  Most of the usual suspects were elsewhere on vacation, but three of us had a great and productive work party, clipping salal, clearing deadfall up the North Chinese Mountain trail.  At the top we made a new side trail to a great viewpoint facing north and west.  We removed some deadfall and brush, smoothed some rocks and  then enjoyed the 180° view, with some cloud over the mainland mountains.  After lunch we descended, discussed the old bridge and then climbed up to South Chinese Mountain for the view.  We then worked our way down the south-side trail, improving the newish section that avoids a water and deadfall damaged part of the old road.  We removed several obstacles on this new section and then built up some rock work to make it easier to cross a stream.  After that we explored an alternate route which avoids a steep eroded stream bed.  A future project will be to reroute this section somehow.  Then back to the vehicle.  (5 hours, 5.2 km)

Norris
 

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Work party – Chinese Mtn – 26 Feb 2024

Trip Report – Shellaligan Pass Loop – 21 Feb 2024

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Our Shellaligan hike began with an unexpected twist. Given the wet, drizzly conditions the plan was to take the eastern forest loop. However, our group of seven hikers first spent a few minutes on the rocky out-croppings overlooking the Hoskyn Channel so our out-of-town guest could see the lovely ocean view. There we encountered three people, obviously very well-equipped for some sort of adventure. We learnt that this was an international crew who film nature videos around the world, Shellaligan was their Canadian destination. Mexico was next! We were undecided if we were pleased that Shellaligan was indeed as unique as we feel it is, or concerned that this would encourage even more visitors to Quadra! (https://lovenature.com/)

We then drove to the trailhead at the first parking lot and began our hike on the western loop in a clockwise direction. After working our way through the logging roads, now well-signed, we began on the gradual incline to the crest of the ravine, then down its steep bank to the shoreline. The trail is in good condition, surprisingly no blowdowns, and bridges all intact. The creek was flowing quite noisily, good to see water in the creeks again! By the time we reached the beach, the drizzle had stopped and we enjoyed a pleasant break on the logs, the oyster farm still visible in the bay. On the steep trail out of the ravine we found two rough-skinned newts, identified by their orange bellies, (https://canadianherpetology.ca/species/species_page.html?cname=Rough-skinned%20Newt)
thanks to the sharp eyes of our guest. At the sign-posted junction we headed back to the second parking lot. The trees along that part of the trail have grown considerably, a pleasant surprise. A short walk back up the logging road brought us to our cars.
Two hours hiking the loop with break; 5.1 km.

Valerie

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Hiking -Shellaligan Loop – 21 Feb 2024

Trip Report – Stramberg Old Growth – 12 Feb 2024

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Eleven of us, and one very polite dog, had a beautiful, sunny, cool day for this hike through varied forest to see some of Quadra’s biggest old growth trees.  The first part of the hike skirts Vic’s Marsh through open forest and meadows passed Vic’s barn-like house.  We stopped briefly at the bluff overlooking the open water part of the marsh to enjoy the view.  The next section follows a narrow, flagged trail which undulates, often along a creek or below bluffs and heads into Main Lake Provincial Park.  After the T-junction with the logging road, the right turn leads more or less north with a gradual grade and wide allowance, though very wet at this time of year.  This area has the feel of a very remote rainforest, with lichen, moss and lungwort.  After crossing a small creek, the trail ascends to the glade with old growth Douglas fir and cedar.  We stopped for lunch in the grove and three followed the loop around the glade before returning the way we had come.

Some of this trail is actively maintained and the flagging on the rest is very helpful.  The Club had not done this hike in nearly four years and it’s good to see the trail condition is not too bad and that people are using it to see into the old Main Lake Park forest.   11.4 km round trip, 5 hours.

Debbie

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Hiking – Stramberg Old Growth Grove – 12 Feb 2024

Hiking – Bike Trails south of WalCan Rd- 19 March 2024

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Originally scheduled for 11 March

Activity Hiking
Destination Bike Trails south of WalCan Rd
Date 19 March, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info hquadra@gmail.com or 285-2029.  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip.
Description We will follow mountain bike trails for this hike. We’ll do some of Nighthawk, Rob’s Ride, Navel and Straight as a Dime. It will probably take about 3 to 3½ hours..
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? O.K. but under control
Notes: Some of this trail can be wet if there has recently been rain. If it is raining hard or high wind, the trip will be rescheduled. Please sign up so that I may contact you if things change. Dress for the weather and bring a lunch as well as poles if you use them.

Trip Report – Elk Falls Loop – 5 Feb 2024

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Seven hikers set out on a frosty but bright and sunny day to see the massive amount of water that is coming over Elk Falls due to the atmospheric river and the huge snow melt last week. There is a lot of work still going on at the dam, upgrading it for the possibility of an earthquake. They are now filling in the old trench, where the three huge aqueducts were, with dirt and gravel from work on the dam.

After walking across this area, we turned right and hiked down the long hill to the old powerhouse. There is a nice viewing spot there with totem poles. This did make for quite a few stairs and a long hike back up the hill though. We then walked down the multiple stairs to the suspension bridge. The amount of water coming over Elk Falls is phenomenal.  We were the only ones there so we ate lunch on the far side of the suspension bridge in the nice warm sunshine. Afterwards we went back across and down to the viewing platform right in front of the falls. There was a huge amount of mist being churned up by all the water coming over the falls.

We then proceeded to do a loop through Elk Falls park. We went through the old growth and then down to Moose Falls and followed the trail around to the old viewing platform. There were a few trees down on the trail that we had to crawl over and under. The view from this platform was very good as well. After this we proceeded back to the vehicles.  5.8 km; 2½ hours.

Les 

Thanks to Les, Bonnie and Norris for the photos

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Hiking – Elk Falls Loop – 5 Feb 2024

Hiking – Shellaligan Loop – 21 Feb 2024

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Activity Hiking
Destination Shellaligan Pass Trails
Date 21 Feb, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie Van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca 778 242 5774
Description This will be a moderately-paced hike, probably on the shorter route, going clock-wise so we can enjoy lunch on the rocky bluffs overlooking the Channel. A well-developed trail, a few uphill stretches, through woodlands to the ocean bluffs, then a short walk on the logging road back to our cars.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot or Valdes Drvie
Departure Time 10 am Heriot Bay store parking lot OR 10:20 am (approx) at turn-off to logging road on Valdes Drive. Call for directions if needed.
Difficulty
 Moderate.
Costs None
Trip limits None
Dogs? Must not run through group; must be under control; dogs and owners will go ahead of group
Notes: Call coordinator if you need directions to meeting point on Valdes, and/or if you have any questions about this hike. Dress for the weather, light rain ok.  Co-ordinator will notify registered participants if weather might be an issue.  Bring lunch or a snack.

Hiking – Hyacinthe Point – 24 Mar 2024

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This hike was rescheduled from March 6th and March 27th; start time changed to 10:00.

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Activity Hiking
Destination Hyacinthe Point
Date 24 Mar 2024, Sunday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710. Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description The Kellerhals have kindly allowed us to access this trail from Chauntaluf Farm.  We will hike up an old logging road and then switch to a trail along the Hyacinthe Bay shore.  This route meanders through the forest to a viewpoint overlooking Hyacinthe Bay and Rebecca Spit.  If time allows, we will visit the Coast Mountain Lookout and loop back.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No.  This is a private farm with animals.
Notes: Bring lunch and poles if you use them.  We will not do this trip in poor weather.

Work Party – North Chinese Mtn – 26 Feb 2024

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Please contact the coordinator for arrival information!!

Activity Work party
Destination Chinese Mountain
Date 26 Feb, Monday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator in advance of the outing.
Description This work party will focus on three areas of North Chinese Mtn: drainage at the bottom, salal cutting intermittently along the trail, and extending the trail to a new viewpoint.  We are very excited about this new north-facing view. The Trail Committee provides tools.  Bring your own gloves, and your own tools if you prefer them.  We will have lunch at a scenic location.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot to organize tools and carpool to the trailhead
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate work
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch.

Trip Report – Little Black Dress-Silk Stocking Loop – 2 Feb 2024

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Five of us hiked the loop Little Black Dress, Back Door, Silk Stockings (counter-clockwise).  The weather was good and getting better.  The moss was bright green from all the recent rain, but the trail was surprisingly dry (though still slippery) and in mostly good condition.  We observed again the old copper mining sites and artifacts and we stopped for lunch on one of many open mossy bluffs.  The loop took us twice by the lake with high water, water birds, and the impressive beaver dam, which we visited.  (6.3 km; 3 hours)

Norris

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Hiking -Little Black Dress – Silk Stocking – 2 Feb 2024