Author Archives: qioutdoorclub

Hiking – Mine Lake Bluff – 15 June 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mine Lake Bluff
Date 15 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info phone 3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca.  Please contact the coordinator in advance.
Description We will leave from the parking area on the road near the Mine Lake access and walk to Camp Homewood.  From there the route ascends the bluff to the north of Mine Lake with great views (weather permitting).  A loop will be made by a trail which descends to the north and circles back to the trail just before Camp Homewood.  The route up the bluff can feel a bit exposed.  If the weather is nice, there will be time for swimming.  If the weather is awful, we will hike somewhere else.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate, tricky in places
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch.

Trip Report – Open Bay – 6 June 2016

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Our paddle on Monday, June 6, started from a new launch site for most of us, the end of Breton Road in Open Bay; a short downhill, a short walk avoiding the nettles, a few logs and the inevitable rocks though not as big nor as steep as at the more commonly used Valdez beach launch site. Five of us were on the water by 10:30 am. The overcast soon dissipated and the weather quickly turned from warm to hot, northwest winds gusted to about 20 knots throughout the day.

We paddled east along Open Bay shores, admiring the contorted and dramatic geology, peered into one cave, then turned north into Moulds’ Bay. The rapidly dropping tide prevented us from taking the shortcuts so we paddled through Shellaligan Pass into Hoskyn Channel, past the north Breton, then into Village Bay. The snow-dappled peaks of the Coast and Vancouver Island mountain ranges provided dramatic backdrops to the north and west.

Our lunch stop, after one and a half hours of paddling was Village Bay beach where we noted the new signage posted by the We Wai Kai nation, as this is Reserve land. The very low tide revealed eel grass and its many inhabitants and the rich marine life in the intertidal zone.

After a short lunch break we were boosted on our return by a following sea pushed by the north-west winds and the flooding tide. We stayed in Hoskyn due to the very low tide, and turned west to Open Bay on the north side of the southernmost Breton. Here we stopped to admire the seals laying on their backs on rocks just above the tideline, apparently sunning their bellies. We also saw many oystercatchers and a flock of wood ducks as well as several herons, gulls, and eagles.

As we came into Breton Beach we could see sea urchins, pencil stars and bat stars on the rocks below. The very low tide meant a long haul up the rocky beach, the usual challenge of launching from Open Bay. We were off the water by about 2:45 pm after a hot but very pleasant paddle.

Valerie

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Kayaking – Open Bay – 6 June 2016

Trip Report – Surge Narrows Trail – 1 June 2016

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Six of us enjoyed our hike along the Surge Narrows trail. We stopped at the first viewpoint to watch the tidal rapids (8.8 knot flood tide at 11:00), then walked the route trail and shoreline through Raven Bay. We had good views of starfish and urchins. After lunch on the rocky point the tide was still low enough to go to a small island for views up Okisollo Channel.

Julie

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Hike – Surge Narrows Trail – 1 June 2016

Trip Report – Stramberg Old Growth – 25 May 2016

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Four hikers and one dog enjoyed a lovely spring hike, beginning at the south end of Vic’s marsh where we were fortified by ripe salmonberries. We stopped for a look at the old barn built by Vic Balatti. The building is still sturdy but several square-timbered floor and ceiling joists have been removed. The trail winds along the marsh through open Douglas fir forest with occasional old growth fir. Past the end of the marsh the trail passes through stands of moss-covered alder, hemlock and back into mature fir.   Several old growth cedar are lying on the ground where they were cut sometime in the past and left for some reason. One large solitary Western white pine was noted along the trail. We stopped for lunch in a grove of old growth fir, then proceeded on a short distance to the main stand of old fir trees. One giant clearly stood out in the crowd, a massive, stovepipe-straight beauty that was worth the hike all by itself.

The north half of the trail is less used but well-marked with flagging tape. Sections of the trail at this end could be improved by a chainsaw and clippers where downed trees make going slow. On the way back, we stopped off for a snack at the bluff overlooking the lake at the north end of the marsh. By mid-afternoon, the day was warming up so a cool Northwest breeze was welcome.   Hiking time was a bit more than 5 hours moving at a good pace, and including lunch and a snack break (13.2 km).   Highlights were the old fir trees, of course, but also the wide variety of plant communities we hiked through.

Janis

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Hike – Stramberg Old Growth – 25 May 2016

Trip Report – Sooke – 16-18 May 2016

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We began our trip to Sooke by visiting the Sooke Potholes. Eight of us drove up to the Regional Park and spent a few hours walking to the viewpoints and beaches, admiring the channels and sculpted rocks. 5.3 km.

We camped at the Sooke River Campground, which was well located for us and very quiet. We had wonderful appies and socializing each night. There were quite a lot of birds, including quail, rabbits and at least one bear in the area.

On Tuesday, seven of us hiked the Coast Trial in the East Sooke Regional Park. After the car shuffle, we started at Aylard Farm and hiked west to Pike Road Trail. The views along the rugged coast and across the Juan de Fuca to the Olympic Peninsula were spectacular. We really enjoyed the arbutus trees, which were continuous along the exposed bluffs and the excellent wildflowers in spite of the dry conditions. The route, undulating over the many rocky points and bluffs, was quite challenging. Just under 7 hours; 14.7 km.

On Wednesday, several people headed home, while four of us had an easy walk at Whiffen Spit and Sooke Harbour House. We then went separate ways, with some biking on the Galloping Goose trail to Matheson Lake; hiking up to Babbington Hill in East Sooke Regional Park; and visiting the Sooke Museum. It was too windy for kayaking. There were lots more destinations we couldn’t begin to visit in two and a half days.

Debbie

Here is a list of flowers:
harvest brodiaea
death camas
yarrow
smooth alumroot (heuchera)
white rhododendron
evergreen huckleberry
tiger lily
nootka rose
red paintbrush
sea blush
field chickweed
red columbine
nodding onion
fool’s onion (brodiaea)
fireweed
starflower
orange honeysuckle
farewell-to-spring
wild strawberry
broad-leaved stonecrop
false lily-of-the-valley
small-leaved montia
Siberian miner’s lettuce (candy flower)
white-flowered hawkweed
narrow-leaved hawkweed
arbutus
salal
manzanita

 

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Hiking – Sooke – 16-18 May 2016

Trip Report – Around Mt. Seymour – 13 May 2016

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Five of us hiked from the Nugedzi trail head, up the old logging road north of Beech’s Mountain, along the old logging road that runs on the west side of the Nugedzi plateau, up a trail to a viewpoint of Nugedzi Lake, then down along a flagged route and trail to connect up with another old logging road which continues below the west and north sides of Mount Seymour and then descends, ending in a recently logged area just south of the gravel pit. The old logging roads can be very nice for walking, covered by a carpet of moss when they are level. The steep ones can be rough walking though.

The west side of the Nugedzi plateau features a number of small lakes or ponds. The north side of Seymour features some nice views to the north.

The trip was 14.4 km and took 5.5 hours, not including the car shuffle.

Norris

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Hike – Mt. Seymour logging roads – 13 May 2016

Kayaking Training – Mine Lake – 29 June 2016

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Activity Kayak training and refresher course
Destination Mine Lake
Date 29 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell and Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca.
Description Doug Taylor, Paddle Canada kayak skills instructor, will provide training (or skills review) in assisted rescue, self-rescue and bracing (techniques to avoid kayak capsize). Depending on the number of registrants and their background and experience, we may have one session for those without prior training, and one for those with training in these skills. Assignment of individuals to particular sessions will take place once registration is complete; if most people are looking only for skills review, we may not be able to offer basic training in this session. Contact Val van Veen at the email address given above to be sent a registration form that will include requested information about your current skills level and completed training.
Meeting Place Mine Lake boat launch/ beach access, 2 km beyond Village Bay Lake
Departure Time Session 1 – 8:30 am; Session 2 – 12:30 pm
Difficulty
 NA
Costs $55 per person
Trip limits 10 (5 per session)
Dogs? no
Notes: Space is very limited and participants will be registered on a first-come, first served basis. Deadline for mailing the registration form with payment is 8 June.

Multi-day Kayaking – Carrington Bay – 12-14 June 2016

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 CANCELLED

Activity Multi-day Kayaking
Destination Carrington Bay, Cortes Island
Date 12-14 June 2016, Sunday to Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 250-285-2393.  Please contact the coordinator by June 1st.
Description We will leave on the 10:50 a.m. ferry to Cortes. Drive over to Coulter Bay and launch from there. A nice paddle to Carrington Bay, to set-up our tents at the tent site. Explore Quartz Bay/Penn Islands. After dinner we can explore Grandma’s Grove plus the trails in Carrington Bay Park, which has a rich homesteading history along with a gorgeous lagoon. Next day paddle to Von Donop Inlet to explore.
Planning to leave Tuesday afternoon, returning to Quadra. Time either 3:50/5:50p.m. ferry.
Meeting Place Cortes ferry line-up
Departure Time 10:15 for the 10:50 ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate to difficult, weather dictates the difficulty.  Some exposed crossings.
Costs Ferry and gas cost.
Trip limits Must have kayak rescue skills.
Dogs? no
Notes: I will organize car-pooling and pot-luck dinners. Bring your own breakfasts, lunches and water for three day’s.
Ocean kayak and all necessary safety equipment, camping equipment, walking boots.

Hiking – Open Bay – Big Beach Creek forests – 22 June 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Open Bay – Big Beach Creek forests
Date 22 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie
Contact Info 285-2329 or vvv@qisland.ca.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description North Island people can meet at intersection of Hyacinthe Bay Rd and Granite Bay Rd. We will make the loop that was identified in a few explorations this winter/spring, using trails, routes, and logging roads. Be prepared for some bushwhacking. About 3-4 hours of hiking. Bring snack/lunch. Alternative may be arranged if raining.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Parking Lot at 10 am; Granite Bay Rd. intersection at 10:15
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must be under control at all times
Notes:

Hiking – Ripple Rock – 20 June 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Ripple Rock
Date 20 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie
Contact Info 285-2329 or vvv@qisland.ca.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description 8 km round trip. A moderate to challenging hike on the improved Ripple Rock Trail to see the famous Ripple Rock site from the other side (if you have already done Maud Island). Bring lunch. Return on 3:30 or 4:30 ferry expected.
Meeting Place Meet at ferry to carpool if arrangements not already made.
Departure Time 09:00 ferry to Campbell River
Difficulty
 Moderate, some steep sections
Costs Ferry costs
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must be on leash
Notes: Good trail/hiking shoes recommended. Cancelled if raining.