Category Archives: day-trip

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

Posted on by
Reply

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.

(click on photos to view larger)

Paddling practice strokes, bracing, rescues 28 May 2014

Trip Report – Morte Lake Loop – 21 May 2014

Posted on by
Reply

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.

(click on photos to view larger)

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

Posted on by
2

(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

Posted on by
1

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

Posted on by
1

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

Posted on by
Reply

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.

 

Trip Photos – Gowlland Harbour 5 May 2014

Posted on by
Reply

The sea Gods were with us and we had spectacular weather for the Gowland paddle. The winds were light to none, the sun shone bright and the sky clear. The Sea Blush was in full bloom on all the small islands and many other flowers as well so it was a great day for taking pictures.

There were also many animals and birds out as it was a lower tide. The Canadian geese with the goslings were abundant and were quite humorous to watch. We saw quite a few mink and three river otters were playing on a knoll.

When we were in south Gowland we paddled thru the small opening to April Point. Here there were many sea urchins to look at and quite colorful. All and all it was a fabulous day and to bad that more people could not have experienced it.

(click on photos to view larger)

Kayak Gowlland Harbour 5 May 2014

Trip Photos – Deepwater Bay – 1 May 2014

Posted on by
Reply

Started off the month of May with great weather and an adventurous hike. We were headed to Deepwater Bay via the old logging road but decided to take time out to look for the old logging train trestle. Debbie, Norris and Les had looked for this before but to no avail. It seemed that everyone we had talked to had not been there in a few years back and you know how memories are. This time though we found it, much to our pleasure. There is not much left but sure leaves you with a great appreciation for old engineering skills. It was quite a feat to cross that canyon and the old pilings give you an idea of the immense size.

We then walked down the old part of the logging road to Deepwater Bay. There are old remnants of a land based fish farm there. We had lunch by a small creek and enjoyed the sun. The hike back up was harder but it is not far and well worth the time.

(click on photos to view larger)

Hike Deepwater Bay 1 May 2014

Trip Photos – Maud Island 31 Mar 2014

Posted on by
Reply

The weather could not have been more perfect for our hike to Maud Island. It was a beautiful spring day with plenty of sunshine. We reached Seymour Narrows just before a maximum current of 14.1 knots. It was like a roaring river, complete with whirlpools and back eddies that sea-lions were playing in.

On the return trip we went over Mt. Lolo. This proved to be a bit of an adventure as the trail is not marked as well from that direction. We were rewarded with bright sunny views though.

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking Maud Island 31 Mar 2014

Trip Photos – Ripple Rock – 19 March 2014

Posted on by
1

Although the day dawned dark and rainy, the weather was great by the time we started down the trail around 11:00.  The group enjoyed the walk on this well constructed, undulating trail including stairs and a swinging suspension bridge.  Points of interest along the way include a few excellent old growth trees, lush mosses and ferns, an old corduroy road, a few creeks, the view point over Menzies Bay from a rocky bluff, the sandy beach at Nymphe Cove and budding fawn lilies.  After the final push up the hill and stairs to Wilfred Point, the group was rewarded with great views of Discovery Passage and a warm and sunny lunch stop.   There were sea lions and seagulls feeding in the current. The area is steeped in the history of early logging and the major efforts made to blow up Ripple Rock in Seymour Narrows to improve the safety of navigation through those waters.  When we arrived the ebb was running about 7 knots.  Although it can run more than double that speed, the turbulence was quite impressive.  The hike, round trip, is 8 kilometres.

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Ripple Rock 19 Mar 2014

The Ripple Rock explosion was 9:31 a.m. on 5 April 1958.  The Museum at Campbell River is offering a hike to this lookout to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the explosion on April 5, 2014.  Cost is $20, register with the museum at 250-287-3103.