Category Archives: day-trip

Hike Newton Lake – 13 August 2014

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(postponed from 19 July 2014)

Activity Hiking
Destination Newton Lake
Date 19 July 2014, Saturday 13 August 2014, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Syd Lapan
Contact Info Syd 285-2999 or comoxsyd@gmail.com
Description Lovely hike through the woods to a clear, sometimes cold, lake at the north end of the island
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:00
Difficulty easy to moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch and snacks.  Might want to bring a bathing suit.  Small, extra walk could eliminate the need for that.

Trip Report – Wood Duck Lake – 19 June 2014

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Despite the forecast for rain and gale force winds later in the day, the group of eight proceeded with this hike to an area not familiar to most of the participants. Taking the second logging road on the right after turning onto North Gowlland road, we parked about a half a kilometre down the road, just past a recently harvested area. The mountain bike trail known as Yellow Mud branched to the left and led to a series of meadows and to Wood Duck Lake. The beaver dam, which had failed a few years ago causing some down-stream damage, was in good repair. There were Mergansers with babies on the lake. We continued on and then up on Play Thing trail to an old copper mining site. Finding the Back Door trail we followed this through open forest until we reached a bluff with views of the Chinese Mountain – Beech’s Mountain ridge. We returned via Dick’s Ride trail, making a small loop. 7 kilometres.  The rain and wind held off until we got home.

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Hike Wood Duck Lake & Old Mine Trail 19 June 2014

Trip Report – Nugedzi – 14 June 2014

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The group explored all of the Nugedzi highpoints: the old cedar grove, the lakes, the viewpoint over Discovery Passage, the lily pond and the viewpoint over Georgia Basin. The weather was overcast and hazy, even murky, and there were a few drops of rain at lunch, but the temperature was fine for the climb up the logging road. The wildflowers were excellent, though the forest is unusually dry for this time of year. (If the flowers are not all identified correctly, let us know). The pace was leisurely, with stops at all the beauty points for food and talk. 11.4 kilometres.

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Hike Nugedzi 14 June 2014

Hike Nugedzi 14 June 2014

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Activity Hiking
Destination Nugedzi Lakes
Date Saturday, 14 June 2014
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285 3710; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description Hike up an 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 southeast and west.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00 A.M.
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch

 

Trip Report – Paddling practice strokes, bracing, rescues 28 May 2014

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We had a sunny, breezy day for our paddling practice at Mine Lake.  Jill, with help from Charlie, led a great session.  After a short talk on the beach, the eight of us kayaked over to a more sheltered bay in the southwest corner of the lake.  On the way over we practiced strokes and bracing.  Everyone did at least one successful dump and re-entry, but each person chose what they wanted to do and how much.  The water temperature was fine. We paddled through the narrows to Village Bay, practicing rafting up and getting an unconscious person back into a kayak along the way.   Then we paddled back to the boat launch with the rising northwest wind at our back.  We had drinks and snack on Les’ tailgate before packing up and leaving.  Thanks very much to Jill and Charlie for their tremendous help on this.

Some take-away ideas:  Practice bracing so you don’t end up dumping.  Stay with the group, it’s easier to rescue if you have help.  Don’t let go of your paddle or your boat.

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Paddling practice strokes, bracing, rescues 28 May 2014

Trip Report – Morte Lake Loop – 21 May 2014

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We had a great group of eight hikers, but not great weather for this hike around Morte Lake. The day started with overcast and worked up to drizzle and rain.

We used some route variations to make this loop around Morte Lake, rather than the official maintained trail. We started on George’s flagged route which leaves directly from the parking lot and climbs steeply up to the ridge south of the creek flowing from Little Morte Lake. Everyone helped to find the next flag and we stayed on course. The mossy bluffs and death camas were lovely, but the views were quite limited by the weather. From the ridge summit we joined the under-construction mountain bike trails that lead along the ridge, down to a saddle and up again to the Dead Fish mountain bike trail. We continued on mountain bike trails down to the official maintained trail and then followed the trail clockwise around Morte Lake. We stopped for lunch at the southwest lake viewpoint and admired the sandy beaches along the way. After Little Lake we crossed the creek and re-joined the mountain bike trail, through an open forest with good views of the creek. There were newts and oyster mushroom along the way. About 11.5 km, a bit more than 4 hours.

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Some of the posted photos were taken on a sunnier day earlier in May.

Hike Morte Lake Loop – 21 May 2014

Kayak Chain Islets & Orchard Bay 20 August 2014

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(rescheduled from 25 June 2014)

Activity Kayaking
Destination Chain Islets & Orchard Bay
Date Wednesday, 25 June 2014 20 August 2014
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029
Description We will leave Granite Bay and go around the Chain Islets. Then cross Kanish Bay to Orchard Bay and back to boat launch.
Meeting Place Granite Bay boat launch.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs $5 to launch
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: This is about 9 nautical miles or 15 km so will take about 5-6 hours depending on how many stops. Please be there about 9:30 so we can leave at 10. NW winds are a factor here, so may change course. If trip is canceled I will call the people who have signed up by 8 A.M.

Hike Cruickshank Canyon 29 July 2014

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Activity Hiking
Destination Cruickshank Canyon Lookout at Strathcona Park
Date Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Trip Coordinator Emily Toman
Contact Info 250-923-7122
Description This is a moderate, but a day long hike of 20-22 kilometers round trip with a few steeper sections. Estimated hiking time is 7 hours, plus lunch & drinking breaks (add another hour). The daylight is long and to our advantage. The hike is planned as a loop. Starting at Paradise Meadows going up to Battleship Lake – Lady and Croteau Lakes – Kwai Lake.  Past Kwai Lake we take a fork to the plateau with Lake Beautiful (& many other lakes) to Cruickshank Canyon Lookout. Our way back will take us back to Kwai Lake fork from which we go up the hill towards Hairtrigger lake. From there it shall be downhill to Helen McKenzie Lake, back to Paradise Meadows & to trail head at Raven Lodge.
Meeting Place Ferry parking lot on Quadra Island at 7:30 a.m. for car pooling for 8 a.m. ferry sailing
Departure Time 10:00 a.m. at Paradise Meadows trailhead next to Raven Lodge
Difficulty Moderate terrain with some steep sections & long day
Costs the ferry and carpooling costs
Trip limits none
Dogs? Allowed, but according to Park’s rules they must be leashed
Notes: Awesome lookout over Cruickshank Canyon 600 meters deep with river at the bottom and Comox Lake visible is the final reward. During a sunny day the massive ridge of Albert Edward, Frink and Castlecrag mountains should be just across the canyon valley.   The Comox Glacier and Red Pillar are visible a little further south. Emily will meet Quadra hikers at the ferry terminal on Campbell River side and will have 2 seats available in her car for ride to Mt. Washington trail head.

 

Hike Wood Duck Lake & Old Mine Trail 19 June 2014

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Activity Hiking
Destination Wood Duck Lake off North Gowlland (log dump) Rd
Date Thursday, 19 June 2014
Trip Coordinator Heather and Rolf Kellerhals
Contact Info 250 285-3570
Description Hike to lake along foot trail and along route built by mountain bikers to abandoned mine site.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot for car pooling at 9:45 or directly to the corner of Hyacinth Bay Road and North Gowlland  Road. Be aware of possible logging trucks turning in.
Departure Time 10:00 A.M. at corner of Hyacinth Bay Road and North Gowlland Road.
Difficulty easy
Costs nothing
Trip limits none
Dogs? No
Notes: The lake outlet has an interesting and active beaver dam that broke recently and sent down a flood that managed to pass through the highway culvert but took out the road going to our place for several weeks.

 

Hike Main Lake from Surge Narrow Rd. 14 June 2014

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POSTPONED

Activity Hiking
Destination Main Lake from Surge Narrow Rd
Date Saturday, 14 June 2014 TBA
Trip Coordinator John Brears
Contact Info 250 285 3853.  Please confirm no later than one week ahead (by June 7) if you will be participating.  Leave a message with your phone number if no answer.
Description The trip will follow a flagged route from Surge Narrows Rd to the east end of Main Lake.  The walk to the Lake has attractive features, including some large old growth timber, the first lake and Main Lake, a small waterfall, two beaver dams, beautiful moss-covered terrain.  The walk involves tricky navigation through a lot of deadfall, blowdown, and confusing gullies. There is no established trail for about 50% of the trip. The route crosses a few small wet areas. Depending on the return route there may be some disgusting salal bashing.  People should be fully prepared for the above, with proper footware etc. and prepared to stick with the group for the whole trip. It is easy to get disoriented. Hiking time about 4 hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:00 A.M.
Difficulty
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? You know your dog best.
Notes: Bring lunch and bug repellant.  Not on if the weather is foul/wet.