Author Archives: qioutdoorclub

Wild Mushroom Festival – 13-15 October 2017

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Activity Quadra Island Wild Mushroom Festival
Location Opening presentation (Heriot Bay Inn), collecting trips (various spots),   Identification workshop (Quadra Community Centre)
Date 13-15 October 2017, Friday to Sunday
Event Coordinator Darcy Mitchell with Marian McMeekin
Contact Info mitchelldarcy51@gmail.com, telephone: 778-716-7124
Description The Festival consists of 2 parts:

Part 1 – Opening presentation – Friday evening, October 13 at the Heriot Bay Inn. “Tales of the Chanterelle: A Mushroom’s Life in the Woods” by Dr. Shannon Berch, accompanied by delicious mushrooms appies. Seating 6:30 in Herons Dining Room.   Cost for Part 1 – $25.00

Part 2 – Collecting forays and identification workshop

Collecting forays – Saturday, October 14, departing from the Quadra Community Centre at 9:30 a.m. returning to the QCC no later than 3:00 p.m.   Guided field trips to find the greatest possible variety of mushrooms and other fungi.

Identification Workshop by Dr. Shannon Berch – Sunday, October 15, Quadra Community Centre, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with optional Question and Answer session from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Note: if you wish to stay for the Q&A session, bring a lunch or snack as there will be a half hour break.
Cost for part 2 – $70.00

To register for one or both parts of the Festival, call the Heriot Bay Inn at 250.285.3322. Additional information (i.e. what to bring for the collecting forays) will be provided upon registration. Note: all participants in Part 2 (forays and workshop) will be required to sign the Quadra Island Outdoor Club waiver if not already members of the Club.

Trip Report – Savary Island – 7-9 Aug 2017

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We took advantage of Cyndy’s generous offer to visit Savary Island. Getting there can be a challenge, but there are many ways to do it. We came by boat and anchored off Indian Point at the west end of the island. On Tuesday we walked along the beach taking advantage of a very low tide in the middle of the day. The heat of the day was reduced by the smoky haze clouding the coastal skies from inland BC fires. Savary is famous for its sandy beaches and shallow shoreline. Starting at Indian Point, we walked east appreciating the interesting intertidal life. We stopped at the spring, the mermaid rock, admired the burrowing anemone, sand dollars, crabs, snails and shells. After lunch on the beach, we crossed the island on trails in the undeveloped central lands. We passed by the disused airstrip and continued on to the south shore with sand dunes and high bluffs. We met Jen, whose family has had property on Savary since 1930. We made a side trip to the spirit tree before continuing along the shore where some families were enjoying the beach. After checking out an antique store, we returned to Indian Point on the Sunset Trail. Cyndy’s local knowledge made a huge difference in exploring Savary. 16.6 km; 6½ hours.

Debbie

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Multi-day trip – Savary Island – 7-9 August 2017

Trip Report – Open Bay to Breton Island – 9 Aug 2017

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Four members enjoyed an unusually calm and peaceful paddle from Len Road Beach to Open Bay. We paddled past Seal Rock at the mouth of Hyacinthe Bay to check out the seal colony then stopped briefly at Big Beach in Open Bay, where we observed a few tents at the high tide line. Enjoying the foreshore and intertidal exposed by the very low tide, we explored the caves and outcroppings of Open Bay, the extreme infolding and convolutions of the unique geological formations of this area were clearly visible. We continued over to the Breton islets, lazily watched by the seal colony draped over the exposed rocks, and a few curious Bonaparte Gulls. We were pleased to see so many sea-stars back again, and carpets of sea urchins in the more active waters between the islets. After a short lunch stop on the south Breton, we paddled back to Len Beach across the glass-still ocean, concluding the calmest paddle I have ever enjoyed on Quadra.

Valerie van Veen, Trip Coordinator

Note:   In the last photo, Len, our newest member, demonstrates the new membership requirement for carrying kayaks. Existing members are grand-fathered/mothered from this requirement. 😃 lol

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Kayaking  – Open Bay to Breton Island – 9 Aug 2017

Backpacking – Arnica Lake and Phillips Ridge – 21 – 24 August 2017

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 This trip may be postponed due to heat, visibility, air quality as well as forest fire danger.

Activity Backpacking
Destination Arnica Lake and Phillips Ridge
Date 21 – 24 August 2017, Monday to Thursday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the trip coordinator by August 14th.
Description Either three or four days hiking and camping in Strathcona Park. Backpack from the Phillips Ridge trailhead up on a gradual trail with many switchbacks to Arnica Lake to camp (about 12 km; 845m elevation gain).  Day trip(s) up Phillips Ridge for views.
Meeting Place Ferry terminal to Campbell River
Departure Time 07:05 ferry
Difficulty Strenuous
Costs Shared fuel and ferry costs, $10/person/night for back country camping
Trip limits Three tents maximum
Dogs?  no
Notes: The first day will be very long with the ferry, the drive and a long up-hill day. It’s possible that we could camp at Ralph River the night before.

Kayaking – Open Bay to Breton Island – 9 Aug 2017

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Open Bay to Breton Island
Date 9 August 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca,  or 250 285 2329; must contact coordinator 24hrs before to confirm
Description A casual half-day paddle to Open Bay and islets.
Meeting Place Len Road launch
Departure Time Arrive in time for 10:00 departure
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: No lake or recreational kayaks. Kayaks must be ocean-worthy wilth all safety equipment. Bring snack, water, appropriate clothing for a half day paddle. Cancelled if winds greater than 20 knots.

Trip Report – Kanish Bay & Darkwater Lake – 1 Aug 2017

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The hike to Mt. Becher was postponed due to super hot weather, poor visibility from BC forest fires, and ferry overloads. Instead we opted for a cooler, local hike to Kanish Bay and Darkwater Lake. After a long drive over rough logging roads, with a few stops for lake views and wildflowers, we parked and walked to Kanish Bay along a somewhat overgrown old logging road. It was pleasant and cool in the forest and there were still more wildflowers. Views of Kanish Bay don’t come easily, but we bushwhacked down to a gravel beach for lunch, views and a breeze.

We walked back to the vehicle and drove toward Darkwater Lake. The walk is very short, through open understory forest, to the mossy peninsula. We sat on the rocks by the lake and Julie swam in the cool water.  4.0 for Kanish Bay; 1.4 km to Darkwater; 2½ hours total without the driving.

– Norris

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Hiking – Darkwater Lake & Kanish Bay – 28 June 2017

Trip Report – Newton Lake and Beyond – 26 July 2017

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Seven hikers trekked from the Newton Lake trail parking lot to the Lake, where several people swam and we had a quick lunch, accompanied by the intermittent serenade of loons.   We then headed down the trail to Small Inlet, and over to Waiatt Bay.  We returned through the ‘portage’ branch,  which skirts a rather mysterious bubbling spring, then along the beach and back to the main trail. There was a bit of puffing and panting up the rather steep climb back to Newton Lake, where swimmers again enjoyed a cool break.  It was a lovely day, sunny and not too warm.  We met several other parties on the trail (busy for Quadra!).  Except for the steep bit on the return from Small Inlet to Newton Lake, the trail is good throughout, although there is a fair amount of loose rock between the parking lot and the Lake, which makes for tricky footing in parts.  14.8 km; 6¼ hours.

Darcy

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Hiking – Newton Lake and Beyond – 26 July 2017

Hiking – Mine Lake Bluff – 5 Sept 2017

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 This trip has been postponed or cancelled.  

Activity Hiking
Destination Mine Lake Bluff
Date 5 September 2017, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info phone 3978.  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 steeply the rocky 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.  On the return, there will be the opportunity for a swim in Mine Lake.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty moderate, and challenging if not comfortable with exposure
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch and swimming gear if you wish.

Hike – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 16 August 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Nugedzi Lakes and Views
Date 16 July 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 3978; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description Hike up a steep, old logging road and meander through open forest to the lovely Nugedzi Lakes.  If the group wants more, there are side trips to viewpoints looking northeast, southeast and west.  Nugedzi Lake is a good swimming spot.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?  okay
Notes: Bring lunch

 

Hiking – Forbidden Plateau plus Nymph Falls – 1 Aug 2017

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Postponed

Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Becher
Date 1 August 2017, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info Please RSVP to qioutdoorclub@gmail.com or 3710 if interested; please contact the coordinator by Sunday in order to assure car pooling
Description The plan is to go to Mt Becher which is on the SE corner of Forbidden Plateau. The trail goes from theold Plateau Ski Lodge up to the sub-alpine summit (1390 m). There is a view down to Boston Lake and views over Forbidden Plateau, Comox Lake, Georgia Strait and the norther Gulf Islands from the top.  On the return, we plan to stop at Nymph Falls to admire the Puntledge River and swim (for those that want to).
Meeting Place Q Cove Ferry parking area
Departure Time Early enough for the 8:00 ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate to strenuous;  about 13.5 km return, 580 m elevation gain, about 7 hours
Costs Shared gas and ferry fee
Trip limits None
Dogs? Dogs would need to be on leash in Strathcona Park
Notes: Bring lunch, gear for changes in weather, poles if you use them.  If you plan to swim at Nymph Falls, bring that gear too.