Monthly Archives: August 2024

Hiking – Forbidden Plateau Loop – 18 Sept 2024

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Activity Hiking
Destination Forbidden Plateau Loop, Strathcona Park
Date 18 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Louise Squire
Contact Info lsquire@sasktel.net
Description Due to longer hike, we will be meeting at the Q-Cove parking lot to ensure we are on the 8:30am ferry to travel Mt Washington. We will be starting at Raven Lodge. While there are actually three potential loops, we will be taking the larger loop through Paradise Meadows, past Battleship Lake and carrying on past Croteau Lake and eventually making our way around Kwai Lake and back to Raven Lodge. September should be a beautiful time to enjoy the lower temperatures and fall colours. There will be 2 or 3 km to the west of Helen Mackenzie Lake that will be harder, so the decision of which way we decide to complete the loop will be finalized once we have arrived. Bring lots of water and a lunch and snack as the trip will be about 6-7 hours, plus driving time and 18km.
Meeting Place Q Cover Ferry Terminal
Departure Time 8:30 am ferry departure time
Difficulty
 Moderate for long day and elevation
Costs Ferry costs and shared fuel
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Car pooling to be organized in advance to limit vehicles and costs. Please let me know if you will be driving or if you would like to carpool with someone else.  This trip is weather dependent.

Trip Report – Deadfish – Tripod Loop – 28 Aug 2024

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This hike had been rescheduled from Aug 26 to Aug 28th due to a heavy rain that decided to set upon the hikers on Monday. Nevertheless, the wait for two days was worth it as the skies were clear and the sun bright. The hike included seven members and one guest from Saskatchewan.

The hike started at Morte Lake parking lot, which we quickly veered off of onto Deadfish hiking/biking trail. We followed the trail all the way to the end where there was nice “peek a boo” view of Morte Lake. The group then started on Seven Sins trail that wound us back and forth to Ridge trail eventually ending up at Tripod. The most recent storm had knocked down our trail marker Tripod so three hikers set to resurrect it if only as a temporary measure until it can be secured in place.

From Tripod the group continued down and followed Mud Lake until we turned back up on Ridge to Lost Rider. Instead of heading back to Deadfish trail, the group travelled up Morning Beer to have a great lunch overlooking the valley and enjoying the August sunshine. Due to the rain, the group did not complete the hike on Morning Beer but cut across back to Deadfish and completed the loop back to the Morte Lake parking lot.

Duration was approximately 2hrs 45min and 8.3km

Louise and Nicole

Click on photos to enlarge
 

Hiking – Deadfish – Tripod Loop – 26 Aug 2024

Hike – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 4 Sept 2024

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Activity Hiking with swim
Destination Nugedzi Lakes and Views
Date 4 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-9459 text
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 Quadra Community Centre. NOTE – NOT Heriot Bay Store.  
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate due to steep, rutted approach.
Costs Nil
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch and swim wear if you want to swim. This is a view hike and will not be done in poor weather.
Carpooling – if I can arrange carpools by phone or message, we can skip the meet up and go straight to trailhead.

Hiking – Beech’s Mountain – 11 Sept 2024

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Activity Hiking
Destination Beech’s Mountain
Date 11 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Allan Liimatta
Contact Info 250 416 9338 (text) or allanliimatta @ gmail.com
Description Hike to top of Beech’s Mountain with excellent views of coast and Vancouver Island mountains, weather depending. Also views of Campbell River and Drew Harbour. The trail is uphill with elevation gain of 1200 ft. Lots of rock on trail with some sections to scramble up. In and out about 2.5 to 3 hours with lunch break at summit.
Meeting Place Chinese Mountain trailhead
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate to difficult
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes:

Trip Report – Kanish Bay – 22 Aug 2024

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The planned three day outing, once again, became a day trip thanks to the weather. Waiting out the rainy weather, at home, paid off with an exceptional Kanish Bay day. We (seven paddlers) put in late in the morning on the low tide and headed out through Granite Bay for Orchard Bay where we took our lunch break.

After lunch, on calm seas, we continued westward on the north shore of Kanish Bay. We lingered at the pictograph cliffs and then, just before Granite Pt., made the decision to turn south and head across the mouth of the bay. A slight northwest breeze rippled the water as we headed for the Chained Islands. After two hours of paddling we took a much needed 10 minute break.

With tide and breeze in our favour, we headed east and worked our way back to the Granite Bay boat launch. As the tide was close to its high point, the takeout was made much easier, topping off a very good day of paddling.

Very little wildlife was spotted on this outing – a few small fish jumping, a murrelet, a few gulls.

(8.3 NM 4 hrs paddling)

Vic

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Granite Bay and Beyond – 22 Aug 2024

Kayaking – Granite Bay and beyond- 22 Aug 2024

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Granite Bay/ Kanish Bay/ Small Inlet
Date 22 Aug, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459
Description Paddle into Kanish Bay and/or into Small Inlet. About 4 to 5 hours depending on what we decide to do. Bring a lunch.
Meeting Place Granite Bay boat launch
Departure Time Meet at 8:45; on the water by 9:15
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate depending on the weather.
Costs Launch fee – $5.00
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No
Notes: The tide will be very low in the middle of the day.
Be sure to read our paddling guidelines and make sure you are properly outfitted.

Trip Report – Quathiaski Cove – 9 Aug 2024

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Ten members of the Club gathered at the Quathiaski Cove boat launch at 1830 on a beautiful summer evening. Eight paddlers launched their kayaks and we left two onshore as they had no paddles!

On calm seas we set out on a flood tide for the green blinker by the seal rocks near Grouse Island. As the currents and very light wind presented no concerns we paddled out of the Cove and along the length of Grouse Is. and then across the gap to the north shore of Q Cove. The Discovery Passage currents were pretty benign so we continued on to the cliff to view the now deserted Guillemot (a small jet-black seabird) colony and its “whitewashed” rockface. As we turned to the south, we could feel the tide carrying us in that direction and we headed back into the Cove, over a boulder field, under the watchful eye of the local eagles.

With the sun getting lower in the smoky skies, the golden hour was upon us as we rounded the corner into Unkak Cove and paddled its very shallow waters. The many crabs and small fishes (sculpins?) scurrying along the bottom were just a foot or two below us. The rising tide allowed us to get very close to the end of the cove where we turned 180 and headed south once again.

We left Unkak Cove and paddled past the numerous docks and buildings adjacent to the old ferry landing and then crossed back over to Grouse Island amidst the raucous screeching of an eagle family with recently fledged eaglets. After viewing the all but abandoned residence and its dilapidated sign it was time to head to the take out. With the red ball of sun at our backs and a beautifully lit Cove ahead we cruised in to the boat launch mere minutes before a stunning sunset. (2.9 NM, 1.75 hours)

This idyllic summer evening paddle ended with a social hour with snacks and beverages and friendly conversation around a propane campfire at the Gladish residence.

Wildlife: Eagles, Oystercatchers, Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Crows, Harlequin Ducks, Harbour Seals

Vic

Thanks to Vic and Norris for the photos.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Social Paddle – Quathiaski Cove – 9 Aug 2024

Social Picnic – Open Bay – 30 August 2024

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Activity Social Picnic
Destination Big Beach, Open Bay
Date 30 Aug, Friday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca, 778 242 5774 (cell)
Description End of summer sunset social, bring your picnic dinner, beach blanket, join the seals and eagles of Open Bay to celebrate a great summer season for QIOC. No campfires, but marshmallows do toast quite well over a portable camp stove.  We will meet at parking area end of Marina, then schlep down the trail to the beach. Swimsuit and towel for the keeners. Note..may need to wade across the small stream.
Meeting Place End of Marina Rd, Open Bay
Departure Time 5 pm
Difficulty Easy, but short steep path down to beach
Costs None
Trip limits None
Dogs? No
Notes: Sunset at 8 pm Aug 30. Trip cancelled if rain, windy, cold. I will notify all registered participants by 10 am Friday morning if cancelled. Thursday Aug 29 8 pm sign-up deadline.

Trip Report – Thomspon-Hopespring Trail Loop – 7 Aug 2024

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Eleven hikers, including five guests, started on a morning hike from the end of Thompson Road. It was a beautiful sunny day although warm and a bit smoky already. We continued on past the Gowlland Harbour Trail and turned onto the small trail down into the creek valley with the group of old growth trees. This is a stunning area with some very beautiful majestic, old growth-trees. We then went back to the Hopespring trail and onward to the Three Sisters which are some of the largest old-growth Douglas firs on Quadra. A little way down the trail we turned off again to view another group of nineteen old growth trees. Back on the trail we climbed up to the Heriot Ridge Trail and proceeded to the bench to have lunch and enjoy the view. Afterwards we hiked down to the end of Hopespring and walked the road back to our vehicles. (6.1km, 3 hours).

Les
 
Thanks to Les, Chris and Norris for the photos
 
(click on photos to enlarge)
 

Hiking – Thompson-Hopespring Trail Loop – 7 Aug 2024

Hiking – Deadfish-Tripod Loop – 26 Aug 2024

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This hike has been re-scheduled to August 28, Wednesday!

Activity Hiking
Destination Deadfish-Tripod Loop
Date 28 August, Wednesday  26 August, Monday
Trip Coordinator Nicole and Louise
Contact Info Nicole: email quadranick@gmail.com or Louise: text 306-539-3813
Description The hike will start at Morte Lake parking lot,  making a big loop on biking/hiking trails south of Morte Lake.  We will ascend Morning Beer and Nirvana trails, then west along south Morte Lake.  Turning back on Tripod, Ridge trail and Lost Rider, we return by Deadfish to the parking lot.  Duration should be about 2 hours (3 hours max).
Meeting Place Meet at the Morte Lake trail head
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes