Category Archives: day-trip

Hike Mt. Seymour – 12 July 2014

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Seymour
Date 12 July 2014, Saturday
Trip Coordinator Mark Zimmerman / Kathryn Manry
Contact Info 285-2103 or kamanry@gmail.com
Description We will drop off some vehicles at the Nugedzi Lakes parking lot, then head on to the departure point on Granite Bay Road to hike up to Mount Seymour from that access point. The trail is a steady climb up for about 620 m to a 360 degree view point from the highest point on Quadra Island. We will then descend via Nugedzi Lakes, through some lovely forest and back to where the shuttle vehicles were parked. Then a bit of vehicle shuffling, and we will return to the HB Store by about 4 pm. Bring lots of water, a lunch and snacks. Hiking poles may be a good idea. We will be grateful to those who offer vehicles for the shuttle to accommodate the loop trip.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 9:00
Difficulty moderate to difficult (summit is 620 m)
Costs none
Trip limits 15 enthusiastic hikers
Dogs? ok on leash
Notes: We would like to make this a loop trip – leaving from the Granite Bay Road access point and returning via the Nugedzi Lakes trail. This will entail a bit of car shuffling, and a bit longer day to accommodate this, but should make for a more rewarding hike.

Trip Report – Heriot Ridge Route – 29 June 2014

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We had eight people on this short hike on short notice. Starting at the end of Hope Spring Road, we hiked up to the east and west viewpoints of Heriot Ridge on a warm, mostly sunny day. We continued north on the flagged route, which undulates through open forest and mossy bluffs. The most unusual naturalist event of the hike was a dragonfly with a bee in its mouth that landed on the trip coordinator’s shirt. The dragonfly did not leave until the bee was completely consumed, even during walking or close-up photography. The meal lasted at least 15 minutes. We returned by the Thompson Trail, with about half the group visiting the northern viewpoint over Hyacinthe Bay, and then following the road back to the cars.

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Hike Heriot Ridge Route – 29 June 2014

Trip Report – Village Bay 25 June 2014

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Wednesday morning came and the wind was blowing 15 knots at Chatham Point and a forecast of 25 by noon. We therefore decided to move the paddle from Chain Islets to the east side of Quadra. After many phone calls it was agreed to launch at Len Road into Hyacinthe Bay.  Six people showed up and we had a great day on the water.

First we headed over to Hyacinthe Point and then on to Shellaligan Pass. The tide was out so we had to go around and then on to Village Bay. There were a few small white caps at the entrance but this was the most wind we had all day. The group stopped at the head of the bay for lunch. Afterwards we hiked up the old trail to Village Bay Lake. It is not maintained with a few logs over the trail but still very doable. It is a lovely walk along the creek.  At this point half of the group needed to go back because it was already 2:30. The other three of us went on to Crescent Channel and around Bold Island. After this we took the most direct path back which was good as it still ended up 5:30 before we were off of the water. The total trip was about 11 nautical miles. The change of venue we made was for the best as we had not much wind and beautiful skies all day.

– Les Hand

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Kayak Chain Islets & Orchard Bay 25 June 2014

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.