Monthly Archives: September 2024

Hiking – Hornby Island Bluff Loop – 2 Oct 2024

Posted on by
1

Activity Hiking
Destination Hornby Island Bluff Loop
Date 2 Oct 2024, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Cyndy Chidley
Contact Info 250-285-3575; please contact the coordinator by Tuesday
Description
We will hike a loop in the Mount Geoffrey Escarpment Provincial Park, going out on a higher bluff and returning lower on the bluff.  We will pass through Ford Cove and return to Shingle Spit.
Here are the ferry sailings to make this work as a day trip:
Leave QCove, Quadra at 7:00
Leave Buckley Bay at 8:20
Leave Gravelly Bay, Denman Island at 9:40 as pedestrians
Return from Shingle Spit, Hornby Island at 4:00
Hope to return from Denman West at 4:40 or 5:40
Meeting Place: QCove ferry terminal
Departure Time 7:00 sailing to Campbell River
Difficulty
 Moderate, but some flexibility for the group
Costs Ferries and fuel
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: Bring your lunch with you.  The weather forecast is good, but come prepared.  Please make you own carpooling arrangements.

Trip Report – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 27 Sept 2024

Posted on by
Reply

After rescheduling the hike and surviving a major storm on Thursday, Friday dawned a beautiful day.  A dozen of us hiked from the Surge Narrows Road down the trail into Main Lake Provincial Park.  The trail was in excellent condition and we enjoyed the fine mature forest, lots of mushrooms, a quick stop at Roscoe Lake with very high water levels, two waterfalls and a few big old growth Douglas firs along the way.  After admiring the new outhouse at the East Beach campsite and the under-construction bridge, we enjoyed the view of the calm lake before walking a bit further to the big sunny rock where we had lunch.  Most of the group continued on the Yeatman Bay to complete our journey from forest to lake to the ocean.  The trip was very social, but we encountered no one on the trail nor at the campsite. It was a beautiful, autumn day.  (9.9 km; 4 hours)  

Debbie
 
Thanks to Carrie and Norris for the photos.
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 25 Sept 2024

Trip Report – Forbidden Plateau – 18 Sept 2024

Posted on by
Reply

Eight members met at the Q-Cove parking lot to head out to Mt Washington to embark on one of the longest hikes completed so far in 2024. While weather forecasts called for rain and clouds, Mother Nature provided a beautiful day no showers and the clouds clearing to allow us to catch glimpses of the beautiful mountain ranges and peaks.

Starting at Raven Lodge, the group easily walked through the wheelchair accessible part of the Forbidden Plateau Loop. Once past that, the trail was well maintained to hike past Battleship Lake, Kooso Lake, Lady Lake and finally arriving at Croteau Lake for a much needed break and lunch.

After lunch, the hike to Kwai Lake was completed and a decision made not continue the loop to the west of Helen Makenzie Lake due to past rains and the steep, slippery sections we were to encounter with no great views. Therefore, the hike changed from a basic loop to a bell-bar hike and instead of heading back towards Raven Lodge we carried on completing a small loop around Mariwood Lake and back to Kwai Lake. Here we retraced our steps back past Croteau Lake, Lady Lake, Kooso Lake and then crossed over to the other side of the loop walking past breathtaking view of Lake Helen Mackenzie. Here we completed the second part of our bell-bar and closed the loop back up to Raven Lodge.

September was a beautiful time to enjoy the cooler temperatures and fall colors, along with the mushroom and blueberries. (20.5 km, 7¾ hours, 600 m cumulative elevation gain)

Louise

Thanks to Carrie, Jim and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Forbidden Plateau – 18 Sept 2024

Hiking – Santana Mine – 16 Oct 2024

Posted on by
Reply

Cancelled.  Call the coordinator for more information.

Activity Hiking
Destination Santana Mine
Date 16 Oct, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710. Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will hike to the historic Santana Mine from Conville Point Rd.  We will use logging roads of varying ages to reach the mine, along with a short and rough connection.  This outing combines a walk through a good forest and a mine with a horizontal shaft. 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 Community Centre parking lot or other arrangement
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate;  this is not long, but not a maintained trail
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No.
Notes: Bring a flashlight.  Bring gear for the weather and lunch.

Hiking – Quinsam River Trails – 9 Oct 2024

Posted on by
1

Activity Hiking
Destination Quinsam River Trails
Date 9 Oct, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com; 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday evening.
Description We will hike along the west side of the Quinsam River, using hiking and mountain bike trails starting at Argonaut Rd.  This follows a variety of low and high bank along a picturesque river.  There will be some muddy sections and possibly trail damage from dirt bikes.  About 12km; 4 hours.
Meeting Place QCove ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:30 sailing
Difficulty
 Mostly easy
Costs Ferry
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Please arrange carpooling in advance.  Come prepared for the weather and bring lunch.  We have not been in this area since 2021 and hope that the trail is still in good enough condition.

Trip Report – Beech’s Mountain – 11 Sept 2024

Posted on by
Reply

Six hikers started out from the parking area at Chinese Mountain trailhead at approximately 10 am. Morning showers had been forecast the night before, but the trail was dry with no rain. There are some areas of trail which could be awkward if there has been any amount of rain as the trail follows a dry creek bed for a short distance and would require a bit of bushwhacking to get around. Also most of the trail is on bare rock so in damp conditions it could be slippery in sections. The weather was overcast in the morning with more blue sky peeking through as day went on. There are several viewpoints on the way up with good views of Drew Harbour, East and West Quadra Island and views beyond. One viewpoint just before the top of the mountain gives an amazing 180 degree view of the East side of Quadra Island and if we had less cloud cover the peaks of the Coast Mountains. It was close to 12 noon when we reached the peak so we stopped for a lunch break and a rest after the steep ascent. We retraced our trail and had an easy downhill trek back to the parking area.  (6.9 kilometers up and down, 4 hours, 350 meters elevation gain)

Allan

Thanks to Jim and Norris for the photos.

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Beech’s Mtn  – 11 Sept 2024

Trip Report – Mt. Seymour – 9 Sept 2024

Posted on by
Reply

On short notice three of us decided to hike to Mt. Seymour on a lovely fall day.  It wasn’t completely clear, but it was mostly sunny and still a good temperature for hiking up a big hill.  The trail is in good condition and we reached the summit in about an hour and a half.  We enjoyed all the viewpoints: overlooking Nugedzi Lakes, the views west over Discovery Passage, the view to the north from the somewhat hidden viewpoint, and finally the classic view to the east and southeast.  There was a very large hiking group from Courtenay, who were just leaving as we arrived, so the timing was perfect.  We had a leisurely lunch and returned the way we came. (8.0km; 380m elevation gain; 3¾ hours.)

Debbie

Thanks to Carrie for the photos.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 27 Sept 2024

Posted on by
1

Change of date due to weather!

Activity Hiking
Destination Main Lake and Yeatman Bay from Surge Narrows Rd
Date 27 Sept, Friday – new date!
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710; Please contact the coordinator by Wednesday night.
Description This moderate hike starts from Surge Narrows Road through a beautiful old forest, passing by a lake and along a creek, to the east end of Main Lake. We will continue on the portage track to Yeatman Bay.  Those that want a shorter hike can wait at Main Lake.
Meeting Place Community Centre Parking lot or by arrangement
Departure Time Meet at 9:30
Difficulty Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 12
Dogs? Must not run through group.
Notes: Come prepared for the weather

Trip Report – Big Beach Dinner Picnic – 30 August 2024

Posted on by
Reply

Beautiful weather, wonderful company, and delicious treats all made for a delightful picnic social at Big Beach, Open Bay, enjoyed by eight club members and three enthusiastic guests. Ten participants arrived by car, and one paddled in from Heriot Bay … maybe something to consider next time? High tide kept us confined to the foreshore on the east side of the creek, but there were plenty of comfortable logs for those who didn’t pack in their beach chairs. A few gulls, a couple of paddle boarders, and a few other beach-goers were also enjoying the very peaceful West Coast evening. One member, and our guests, braved the cool waters for an evening swim.
Definitely an event worth including repeating on our Summer Schedule.
(2.5 hours, 200 feet distance, some altitude change)

Valerie van Veen

Of Interest: the following day at Open Bay two swimmers and one kayaker were joined by a pair of curious porpoises who swam with the humans for about 10 minutes.

Thanks to Valerie and Norris for the photos
 

Click on photos to enlarge

Social – Picnic at Big Beach – 30 Aug 2024