Category Archives: day-trip

Trip Report – Rebecca Spit – Heriot Bay Walk – 11 Mar 2026

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Three hikers, and one honorary member, were able to participate in a last-minute posting for a
ramble around Heriot Bay. Braving very inclement weather, we set off at 10:10 am from the Boat Ramp parking lot to walk out to the end of Rebecca Spit, with the intention of making a go/no-go decision when we got back to our vehicles. The immediate hailstorm and blustery winds were not auspicious for a longer outing. However, by the time we got back to our cars, the skies had lightened, the wind dropped, and a light rain was falling so we decided to continue with the trip plan. We walked through the campground, turned south onto Heriot Bay Road then soon crossed over to the trails in IR 9. We followed a northerly route to eventually come out onto Hooley Road, then Buker to Heriot Bay Road. At this junction, Georgia, with her low slung carriage and bare feet, was quite cold and wet so she took her human back to Rebecca Spit to their warm, and dry, truck, meeting up with the rest of the group at Java Bay Café in Heriot Bay.

The remaining hikers walked along the water-side of Heriot Bay Road up to Pilot, up Pilot onto
Schooner, Schooner to West Road to the mall and Java Bay Café for very welcome
refreshments, and were soon joined by our third hiker. Having endured continual bouts of heavy rain and hail throughout the ramble, we gratefully accepted the offer of a drive back to our vehicle at Rebecca Spit. 3 hours including Café stop. 8 km walking; 2.5 driving

This Ramble is a great winter hike when wilderness trails are too wet/icy/snowy . The Café
break is a very welcome bonus. The route allows for several go/no go decision points, and
having one car parked at the Café is suggested in really bad weather.

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Valerie for the photos

Click on photos to enlarge
 

Hiking – Rebecca Spit – Heriot Bay Ramble – 11 Mar 2026

Ramble – Rebecca Spit – 11 Mar 2026

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Activity Ramble
Location Rebecca Spit, Heriot Bay
Date 11 Mar 2026, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca, cell 778 242 5774, 250 285 2329
Description This will be a Hot Chocolate Ramble for exercise, fresh air and friendship. Given the variable weather, this trip can be easily altered, and ramblers can do as much or as little as they wish. We will meet at the boat launch parking lot in Rebecca Spit Park, walk to the end of the Spit and back, and then out of the Park, cross over Heriot Bay Road and take the “Hooleyville trails” coming our onto Heriot Bay Road. A short walk along the road, then up Pilot, down Schooner, along West Road to Java Bay Cafe for Hot Chocolate, or ??? We can then either head back down Heriot Bay Road or take the longer route retracing some or all of our steps.
Meeting Place Rebecca Spit boat ramp parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Easy
Dogs On leash in the park and on roads
Trip Limits None, but will be single file on Heriot Bay Road
Cost None, unless you buy hot chocolate
Notes: MUST CONTACT VAL TUESDAY NIGHT   (tonight) IF INTERESTED FOR TRIP TO GO AHEAD.  If there is no interest, the trip will be cancelled.

Trip Report – Plumper Bay and Point – 4 Mar 2026

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It was a lovely, mild day for our hike out to Plumper Point.  Starting at the trailhead to Maud Island, it was interesting to see the magnitude of the recently trail work, cutting down danger trees near the trail.  Some of that clearing continued after the left turn on the Maud Island trail. At the creek we cut off on a very old logging road which has been flagged and somewhat cleared.  We descended to the beach on Plumper Bay where the camping shelter has been set up.  Some of the construction is quite good.  There was ample beach for us to walk along the shore out toward the point.  It was the day after a full moon, so the tides were big and the currents active.  We were surprised that there was a three hour difference in the low tide between Campbell River and Brown’s Bay. 

The climb up from the beach back to the old, flagged logging road was quite steep.  It was only a very short distance from there to the beautiful, mossy bluff with the great views of Plumper Bay and north in Discovery Passage.   We stopped for lunch and then made our way out to the bluffs on the Discovery Passage side with views toward the west and south.  We returned through the forest with lots deadfall at first, then a better forest.  We picked up the flagged road again and made our way back.    (8 km; 182m; 4 hours)

Norris
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Plumper Bay and Point – 4 Mar 2026

Hiking – Blenkin Park – 1 April 2026

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Postponed from March 16th

Activity Hiking
Destination Blenkin Park
Date 1 April 2026, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info lhquadra@gmail.com or 285-2029
Description We will weave our way around all of the trails and then back to the parking lot. The back trail can be wet, so be sure and bring appropriate footwear. This is an easy hike so we can do it in poor weather if necessary.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Okay, but must be under control.
Notes: As it is only about two hours, if enough people want to, we will go to Aroma for tea and coffee afterwards.

Trip Report – Mt. Menzies Lookout – 23 Feb 2026

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This snowshoe trip was rescheduled from the original date due to no snow in the mountains.  It looked bad for the new date too, but then we had a huge snowstorm.  We weren’t sure if chains were required on the Mt. Washington road or if their snowshoe trails would be broken for us, so we opted for Mt. Menzies first lookout instead.  It was a good decision.  Mt. Washington was a zoo, with the resort trying to deal with snow removal and grooming.  There was a lack of parking space for the demand.  On Menzies, we had fresh snow, no crowds and a beautiful spring day.  We made it to the first lookout, enjoyed the view, then decided to do just a bit more before heading back down.  6.4 km, 340m, 3.75 hours.

Norris

(click on photos to enlarge)

Snow – Mt. Washington – 23 Feb 2026

Snow – Mt. Washington – 23 Feb 2026

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Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 23 Feb, Monday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710
Description We will follow some of the Mt. Washington snowshoe trails leaving from Raven Lodge.  On Friday there are only two snowshoe trails open, but the area is expected to receive significant snowfall over the weekend, increasing the snow base and reducing wet areas.  This may mean the trails are not packed down.  We will adapt to conditions.
Meeting Place Quathiaski Cove Ferry terminal
Departure Time 8:30 ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs Ferry, fuel and day pass (full, weekday, snowshoe pass is $14)
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch, well-functioning snowshoes, and gear appropriate for the weather.

Hiking – Plumper Bay and Point – 4 March 2026

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Activity Hiking
Destination Plumper Bay and Point
Date 4 March, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator in advance by phone or email.
Description We will start out on the trail to Maud Island, but turn off onto an old logging road to Plumper Point.  However, we divert from that in order to walk the beach at a low tide.  When the beach runs out we will go up on mossy bluffs and continue to the Point.  We will return through the forest on the old logging road.  About 6.5 km, 3 to 4 hours.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot; we will convoy in our cars from there.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate, but varied: easy trail, beach walking, routes on old, unmaintained logging roads, a few steepish ascents on bluffs
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch and gear for the weather.

Trip Report – Heriot Ridge Bluffs Loop – 10 Feb 2026

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Four of us had a leisurely ramble on the south Heriot Ridge bluffs on a gentle, partly sunny winter day.  We started at the Hopespring trailhead and climbed to the two principal Heriot Ridge viewpoints, one facing east and one facing west.  We turned off the main trail and made our way to the communication tower, through some salal, wet places and undulating rock.  We used the handy platform as a place to stop for lunch.  We descended the sometimes steep, mossy bluffs until we reached the forest and the trail to the High Bluff.  After enjoying that view and returning to the trail, we found that the trail down to the North Gowlland trail was so wet that it was not appealing, so we climbed back up to the south-facing, open, mossy bluffs for more views.  In places there are paths, but often the route was quite steep up and down.  We rambled west back to the Hopespring trail and returned to the vehicles. (4.1 km, 3.5 hours)

Debbie

Click to enlarge the photos

Hiking – Heriot Ridge Bluffs Loop – 10 Feb 2026

Trip Report – Nighthawk Lake Loop – 4 Feb 2026

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We got a lucky break in the weather for the long planned jaunt around the bike trails south of Walcan Road. Our final count was eleven hikers and one furry companion enjoying a dry, mostly overcast, and mild winter day.  Most carpooled from the Community Centre, met up at the yellow gate off Upper Gowlland Harbour Road, then drove the short gravel stretch up to Rob Ride’s trailhead. We checked out the beaver dam at the outlet of Nighthawk Lake but it isn’t currently maintained. There were no obvious signs of recent beaver activity. We backtracked to Dick’s Ride to start our excursion through the maze of trails interlacing the hilly terrain west of the Lake. We followed Dicks Ride to the intersection with Cash Only, turning right onto Cash Only. Cash Only came out onto a logging road, which we crossed to pick up Back Door on the other side. We had lunch on a grassy knoll facing north-west with some views. Quite quickly we intersected with Silk Stocking and followed it to Copperhead Road. We turned off the road onto Straight as a Dime which intersected with the north end of Rob’s Ride. It was heart-warming to see the daffodils coming up around the beautifully carved sign designating Rob’s Ride, honouring much missed Club members Rob, and his wife, Diana. With some relief, we followed the easy trail along the creek and were soon at the head of Nighthawk Lake. All of the trails had had some wet sections, there were two beautiful waterfalls coming down the slopes on the west side of Rob’s Ride. Some ducks were spotted on Nighthawk, but no Swans. About 4.5 hours and 9 km later we were back at our cars. Altogether a lovely hike on what was more like a day in spring than mid-winter.

NOTE All of the trails had been recently maintained and were in good condition. Other than Rob’s Ride, none of these trails are signposted. There are occasional yellow tapes around trees, but these are no longer legible. Any hikers who do not already know these trails well must have reliable GPS maps. There was cell reception throughout the hike. As this is a long hike consider taking battery backup for your cellphone, especially if you are also taking photos. 
Many thanks to Debbie, Norris, Carrie and Stephen for providing GPS consultation and backup. We were pleased to meet Greg Ross at the start of the hike and John Barclay just as we finished, both equipped with various clippers and pruners. These two, and other members of the Trail Committee. are instrumental in keeping these trails in great condition so we can enjoy them year-round.  As always, big thanks to Norris for photos . 
8.6 km, 4.5 hrs.
 
Valerie
 
Click on photos to enlarge
 
Nighthawk Lake

Hike – Nighthawk Lake Loop – 4 Feb 2026

Hiking – Heriot Ridge Bluffs Loop – 10 Feb 2026

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Activity Hiking
Destination Heriot Ridge Bluffs Loop
Date 10 Feb 2026, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com, land 3710, cell 250-850-9848.  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip departure.
Description We will hike the Hopespring Trail, make a quick stop at the Heriot Ridge viewpoint, continue to the communication tower, descend and then climb up to the High Bluff viewpoint.  We will descend from there to the North Gowlland trail, perhaps visit the Aisle of 19 before climbing back up the Hopespring Trail to the vehicles.  We will be using maintained trails, less maintained trails and routes.  There will be wet places.  The forecast is not perfect.
Meeting Place Hopespring trailhead, because this is off a paved road.
Departure Time 10:30
Difficulty
 Quite short but there will be steep, possibly slippery sections, and little maintained trails and routes
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: Poles may be helpful if you use them. Bring a lunch/snack and gear for the weather.