| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | South and North Chinese Mtn Loop |
| Date | 1 Jan 2025, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Louise Squire |
| Contact Info | lsquire@sasktel.net |
| Description | We will go up the south side to South Chinese Mtn. and have lunch while enjoying the view. Then down the north path and up North Chinese Mtn. and back to the vehicles. |
| Meeting Place | Chinese Mtn parking lot |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Costs | None |
| Trip Limits | 8 |
| Dogs | No |
| Notes |
Seven of us had a lovely day of sun and cloud, sandwiched between days with lots of rain and wind. We had 46mm of rain in the previous 24 hours, so we knew that the trail would be very wet, and it was. The purpose of the walk was not to go as directly as possible, but to walk as many of the trails as possible in two hours. We started out on the old wide path which crosses to the Heriot Bay Road and then circled back to admire the old Big Leaf Maple on the historic homestead. We tried to avoid the worst of the wet-walk by not going along the marsh. We took the Sheppard and Black Jack Trails, with short sections of the Homestead Trail, leading to the Swale Trail. This is a beautiful, open under-storey forest. The creek, which is usually dry, was very active. After the walk we had lunch at the Community Centre, with a few more people joining the group. We enjoyed the great variety of food and refreshments that the group had brought and had a very social gathering. It was great to walk in the forest and to see everyone on these short, dark days in December. (6.7 km; 2 hours)
Debbie
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| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Maud Island |
| Date | 6 Jan 2025, Monday |
| Trip Coordinator | Les Hand |
| Contact Info | 285-2029 or lhquadra@gmail.com |
| Description | We will meet at the Community Center and carpool out to the trailhead. Depending on the weather, we may just stay on the lower trail and not go over Lolo. |
| Meeting Place | Community Centre parking lot |
| Departure Time | 10:30 |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Costs | None |
| Trip limits | 8 |
| Dogs? | OK, but must be under control. And on a leash in difficult areas if we go over Lolo, there is a hard spot that is steep for dogs. |
| Notes | Dress for the weather and bring a lunch. This is about a four hour hike, depending on the course that will not be decided until day of the hike. |
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Haskin Farm and Fircrest Trail |
| Date | 23 Dec 2024, Monday |
| Trip Coordinator | Les Hand |
| Contact Info | lhquadra@gmail.com or 285-2029 |
| Description | We will do a series of small trails – Haskin Farm, Fircrest, golf course and maybe Todd’s trail. In this way, we can adjust the trip according to the weather. About two hours. |
| Meeting Place | Haskin Farm trailhead |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Costs | None |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | O.K. But must be under control and on leash while at the golf course. |
| Notes | This trip may vary due to weather, but can usually be done. Please dress for the weather and bring a lunch or snack. |
The Outdoor Club hadn’t done this hike for six years. The day was better than forecast for the eight of us who headed out on these logging roads. We began at the big painted sign showing the trails and highlights of the Big Tree Woodlot. We then meandered through recent cut blocks and forest over to the access roads from Open Bay Main and then east into Main Lake Park. We followed the more enclosed forest trail, taking a side trail down to the view of Stramberg Lake. We returned to an open area of the woodlot for lunch and then continued on the curving roads, following a newly constructed short-cut back to the Bold Point paved road and the quick return to the vehicles.
This is a simple and easy hike, with a surprising amount of variety in the forest and environment. (7.1 km; 2½ hours)
Debbie
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(click on photos to enlarge)
Hiking – Snowden Demonstration Forest – 4 Dec 2024
Nine of us caught 9:05 am ferry from Heriot Bay to Whaletown on Cortes Island. The day was overcast with glimpses of sunshine. We had a short ride up Carrington Rd to the trailhead where there is ample parking. We hiked a counter clockwise loop through Grandmothers’ Grove to the Lagoon, then on to the campsite at the head of Carrington Bay where we stopped for lunch. Grandmothers’ Grove is through mature Cedar and Douglas Fir with lots of moss and lichen covering the ground and low hanging branches making a very soothing hike. The lagoon was very serene with mist hanging over the water which was like a mirror. The campsite is interesting with some old logging equipment, picnic tables and a makeshift shelter. The lagoon is tidal and the water exits through a narrow channel with an aluminum bridge over it. The main trail coming in and out is old logging road and because of the recent rains there are lots of big puddles. This is not a problem because there is enough foot traffic that there are trails around the puddles. We arrived back at Whaletown with plenty of time to catch the 2:00 pm ferry to Quadra. (8.0 km; 3 hours)
Allan
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| Activity | Hiking and social |
| Destination | Blenkin Park |
| Date | 18 Dec 2024, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Debbie Quigg |
| Contact Info | dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710. Please RSVP by Monday night. |
| Description | Starting at the Community Centre, we will hike a complex loop through the Blenkin Park trails. The walking is easy but likely wet and muddy with some great variety in this forest. About 6 km and 2 hours. After that we will have some lunch and share some seasonal cheer in room 3 at the Community Hall. |
| Meeting Place | Community Centre parking lot |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | None |
| Trip limits | None |
| Dogs? | Okay, but must not run through the group. |
| Notes: | You are encouraged to bring and share any Christmas goodies you have. But it doesn’t all have to be sweets. If the weather is really bad, we may shorten the walk by starting later. |
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Big Tree Woodlot |
| Date | 9 Dec 2024, Monday |
| Trip Coordinator | Debbie Quigg |
| Contact Info | dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710. Please contact the coordinator by Saturday night. |
| Description | We will start at the sign at Benner’s woodlot. We will meander along his logging roads to Open Bay Main and then do a loop back to Village Bay Road. The last part of the loop is on the Bold Point Rd. Roughly 7 km. |
| Meeting Place | Community Centre parking lot |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | Okay, but must not run through the group |
| Notes: | Bring a snack and gear for the weather |
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Snowden Demonstration Forest, Campbell River |
| Date | 4 Dec 2024, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Norris Weimer |
| Contact Info | 250-285-3710, norris.weimer@ualberta.ca Please contact the coordinator by Monday night |
| Description | We will hike a few trails in this labyrinth of mountain bike trails. Beginning at the Lost Lake parking area, we will follow Mudhoney Pass, Lost Lake trail, around Riley Lake and back to Lost Lake parking. |
| Meeting Place | Q Cove Ferry terminal |
| Departure Time | 9:30 ferry |
| Difficulty |
Mostly easy (but I don’t know this area well). |
| Costs | Ferry costs |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | Okay, if on leash and not passing through the group |
| Notes: | Bring lunch. Due to BC Hydro construction, the drive to the Lost Lake parking is a bit out of the way, using Duncan Bay Main. |
Quadra Island Outdoor Club 