Category Archives: day-trip

Trip Report – Quinsam River Trails – 8 April 2026

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Six of us hiked some of the trails on the east side of the Quinsam River, starting at the Boneyard Bypass trail head. We followed mountain bike trails through the forest and ravines down to the river on a lovely day.  The spring flowers were just emerging: trillium, pink fawn lilies, wild bleeding heart, wild current, and yellow violets. We stopped briefly at a viewpoint of some of the high, snow-covered mountains before descending to the river.  We followed the river upstream to a bend with a view and a bench in the sunshine where we stopped for lunch.  There were Kingfisher, Mergansers, and a river otter at the river, and lots of bird song in the forest.  After the lunch break, we climbed back up to the high bank and meandered through the forest on bluffs and around ravines before completing the loop and heading back to the vehicles.  It was a beautiful, spring day for this highly varied walk.  (10.9 km; 4 hours)

Debbie
 

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Hiking – Quinsam River Trails – 8 April 2026

Hiking – Rousseau Ridge – 15 Apr 2026

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Activity Hiking
Destination Rousseau Ridge Loop
Date 15 Apr, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com, 3710 or 250-850-9848; please contact the coordinator iby Monday
Description We will start from the North Gowlland road and hike the Gowlland Harbour trail to Rousseau Ridge.  We will probably continue on short sections of the North Gowlland, Thompson and B&B trails, and logging roads to make a loop.  There has been recent trail work on the North Gowlland trail.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot to arrange carpools
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch and bring hiking poles if you use them.

Trip Report – Blenkin Park Loop – 2 April 2026

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This walk around Blenkin Park was postponed one day and we were rewarded for it. It turned out to be a calm, sunny, warm day for a casual walk in the woods. We did a zigzag path so as to cover all trails in the park without having to do one twice except in two short areas. The sun was glorious shining through the trees, and especially through the long hanging moss. We took a short side trip out to the edge of the low wetlands before we headed up to the big old Maple at the Homestead. After this we wandered to the fire hall and back before continuing on our zigzag path. We wandered down Homestead Trail, and then took a side trip on Swale Trail before going back to the tennis courts. Many trees had come down in this area from the heavy snowfall and high winds. They have all been cut back now, though, and the trail is open. (7.4 km and 2 hours)

Les

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Hiking – Blenkin Park Loop – 1 April 2026

Hiking – Quinsam River Trails – 8 April 2026

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Activity Hiking
Destination Quinsam River Trails
Date 8 Apr, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com; 3710; 250-850-9848  Please contact the coordinator by Monday evening.
Description We will hike along the east side of the Quinsam River, using mountain bike trails and logging roads.  This follows a variety of terrain down to the river and then follow the river upstream and loop back through the forest and ravines. There may be muddy sections.  Ideally there would be spring flowers.  About 11 km; 4 hours
Meeting Place QCove ferry terminal;  after exiting the ferry, we will drive to the parking area together.  Parking is limited and not very conveniently located.
Departure Time 9:30 ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs Ferry
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes:

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

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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
 

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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

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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.