Category Archives: day-trip

Hiking – Beech’s Mountain – 11 Sept 2024

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Activity Hiking
Destination Beech’s Mountain
Date 11 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Allan Liimatta
Contact Info 250 416 9338 (text) or allanliimatta @ gmail.com
Description Hike to top of Beech’s Mountain with excellent views of coast and Vancouver Island mountains, weather depending. Also views of Campbell River and Drew Harbour. The trail is uphill with elevation gain of 1200 ft. Lots of rock on trail with some sections to scramble up. In and out about 2.5 to 3 hours with lunch break at summit.
Meeting Place Chinese Mountain trailhead
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate to difficult
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes:

Trip Report – Kanish Bay – 22 Aug 2024

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The planned three day outing, once again, became a day trip thanks to the weather. Waiting out the rainy weather, at home, paid off with an exceptional Kanish Bay day. We (seven paddlers) put in late in the morning on the low tide and headed out through Granite Bay for Orchard Bay where we took our lunch break.

After lunch, on calm seas, we continued westward on the north shore of Kanish Bay. We lingered at the pictograph cliffs and then, just before Granite Pt., made the decision to turn south and head across the mouth of the bay. A slight northwest breeze rippled the water as we headed for the Chained Islands. After two hours of paddling we took a much needed 10 minute break.

With tide and breeze in our favour, we headed east and worked our way back to the Granite Bay boat launch. As the tide was close to its high point, the takeout was made much easier, topping off a very good day of paddling.

Very little wildlife was spotted on this outing – a few small fish jumping, a murrelet, a few gulls.

(8.3 NM 4 hrs paddling)

Vic

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Granite Bay and Beyond – 22 Aug 2024

Kayaking – Granite Bay and beyond- 22 Aug 2024

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Granite Bay/ Kanish Bay/ Small Inlet
Date 22 Aug, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459
Description Paddle into Kanish Bay and/or into Small Inlet. About 4 to 5 hours depending on what we decide to do. Bring a lunch.
Meeting Place Granite Bay boat launch
Departure Time Meet at 8:45; on the water by 9:15
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate depending on the weather.
Costs Launch fee – $5.00
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No
Notes: The tide will be very low in the middle of the day.
Be sure to read our paddling guidelines and make sure you are properly outfitted.

Trip Report – Quathiaski Cove – 9 Aug 2024

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Ten members of the Club gathered at the Quathiaski Cove boat launch at 1830 on a beautiful summer evening. Eight paddlers launched their kayaks and we left two onshore as they had no paddles!

On calm seas we set out on a flood tide for the green blinker by the seal rocks near Grouse Island. As the currents and very light wind presented no concerns we paddled out of the Cove and along the length of Grouse Is. and then across the gap to the north shore of Q Cove. The Discovery Passage currents were pretty benign so we continued on to the cliff to view the now deserted Guillemot (a small jet-black seabird) colony and its “whitewashed” rockface. As we turned to the south, we could feel the tide carrying us in that direction and we headed back into the Cove, over a boulder field, under the watchful eye of the local eagles.

With the sun getting lower in the smoky skies, the golden hour was upon us as we rounded the corner into Unkak Cove and paddled its very shallow waters. The many crabs and small fishes (sculpins?) scurrying along the bottom were just a foot or two below us. The rising tide allowed us to get very close to the end of the cove where we turned 180 and headed south once again.

We left Unkak Cove and paddled past the numerous docks and buildings adjacent to the old ferry landing and then crossed back over to Grouse Island amidst the raucous screeching of an eagle family with recently fledged eaglets. After viewing the all but abandoned residence and its dilapidated sign it was time to head to the take out. With the red ball of sun at our backs and a beautifully lit Cove ahead we cruised in to the boat launch mere minutes before a stunning sunset. (2.9 NM, 1.75 hours)

This idyllic summer evening paddle ended with a social hour with snacks and beverages and friendly conversation around a propane campfire at the Gladish residence.

Wildlife: Eagles, Oystercatchers, Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Crows, Harlequin Ducks, Harbour Seals

Vic

Thanks to Vic and Norris for the photos.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Social Paddle – Quathiaski Cove – 9 Aug 2024

Trip Report – Thomspon-Hopespring Trail Loop – 7 Aug 2024

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Eleven hikers, including five guests, started on a morning hike from the end of Thompson Road. It was a beautiful sunny day although warm and a bit smoky already. We continued on past the Gowlland Harbour Trail and turned onto the small trail down into the creek valley with the group of old growth trees. This is a stunning area with some very beautiful majestic, old growth-trees. We then went back to the Hopespring trail and onward to the Three Sisters which are some of the largest old-growth Douglas firs on Quadra. A little way down the trail we turned off again to view another group of nineteen old growth trees. Back on the trail we climbed up to the Heriot Ridge Trail and proceeded to the bench to have lunch and enjoy the view. Afterwards we hiked down to the end of Hopespring and walked the road back to our vehicles. (6.1km, 3 hours).

Les
 
Thanks to Les, Chris and Norris for the photos
 
(click on photos to enlarge)
 

Hiking – Thompson-Hopespring Trail Loop – 7 Aug 2024

Hiking – Deadfish-Tripod Loop – 26 Aug 2024

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This hike has been re-scheduled to August 28, Wednesday!

Activity Hiking
Destination Deadfish-Tripod Loop
Date 28 August, Wednesday  26 August, Monday
Trip Coordinator Nicole and Louise
Contact Info Nicole: email quadranick@gmail.com or Louise: text 306-539-3813
Description The hike will start at Morte Lake parking lot,  making a big loop on biking/hiking trails south of Morte Lake.  We will ascend Morning Beer and Nirvana trails, then west along south Morte Lake.  Turning back on Tripod, Ridge trail and Lost Rider, we return by Deadfish to the parking lot.  Duration should be about 2 hours (3 hours max).
Meeting Place Meet at the Morte Lake trail head
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes

Trip Report – Eagle Crag Loop – 31 July 2024

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Five of us hiked the trail to Eagle Crag, then the steep path to the top of the bluff.  Here we rested, had a bite to eat, and enjoyed the fantastic view.  There were clouds over the Vancouver Island mountains, but other than that the visibility was very good, especially considering how much fire smoke there is elsewhere.  We enjoyed the perfect temperature, the sunshine, and the gentle breeze for quite a while.  We were visited by a hummingbird and a grouse.

After that, we continued up an old path, originally for climbing access to a higher bluff, surprising a garter snake.  At the top of this path, we again sat and enjoyed the beautiful day.  Then we took the trail down from Beech’s Mountain, back to the vehicles.  (4.9 km; 3.5 hours)

Norris

(Click to enlarge)

Hiking – Eagle Crag Loop – 31 July 2024

Trip Report – Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay – 24 July 2024

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A large group of 11 hikers (including 1 guest and 1 new member) undertook our “annual” midsummer trek to Newton Lake, Small Inlet, and Waiatt Bay. It was a cooler day after some rainy days, but a swim was still happily anticipated by some. After regrouping and adjusting the pace at the Small Inlet Park Boundary, we had a soggy go through the thick patches of salal, thanks to recent rain, and then arrived at Newton Lake for a short rest.

Our long line of hikers became longer as we descended the switchbacks down the steep slope to Small Inlet. We walked out onto the mudflat and shortly realized that we were in one of the inlet’s many clam gardens. The tide seemed exceptionally low and revealed the long arc of piled boulders that enclosed the clam bed.

A few minutes later we crossed the mudflat to the Waiatt Bay trail head, stopped to marvel at the freshwater spring a few strides later and then made the short hop to Waiatt Bay. By this point we had only met up with a few pairs of hikers coming from the anchorage. At the bay on Quadra’s east coast, dozens of “yachts” were visible. Perhaps the very big tide flat was discouraging them from coming ashore?

After a leisurely lunch the group was again on the move and ready to tackle the uphill leg back to Newton Lake. We ascended slowly, and with it being a cooler, overcast day, everyone arrived at the top in good shape. Arriving at the lake with a light rain shower starting made a dip in Newton Lake’s inviting waters even less appealing. So, after a brief rest, we tackled the final leg of this classic hike. (12.8 km; 5 hours 48 min)

Vic

Thanks to Carl and Norris for the photos

(Click to enlarge)

Hiking – Newton Lake-Small Inlet-Waiatt Bay – 24 July 2024

Trip Report – Century Sam Lake – 13 July 2024

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Five of us hiked to the picture postcard called Century Sam Lake.  It’s named after a character that Sid Williams played.  Must have been quite a character to have a lake like this named after him.  We wanted to hike to it when it was in full sunshine, to show off the deep blue-green.  The trade off was that it was very hot.  But the crowd that was there was fully into swimming and diving off cliffs, so it was perfect weather – cloudless, a bit of breeze.  The Lake is located below the Comox Glacier.  This contributes to the other attraction of this hike which is the ice cave.  It wasn’t as good as on a previous trip, maybe too early in the season, but still very interesting.  And the wildflowers were excellent.

The Lake is in Strathcona Park, but the approach is not.  Trail maintenance is ambiguous, but someone had just clipped the aggressive brush, including Devil’s Club, so that was good.  The route is rough everywhere and steep in the headwall up to the Lake.  The access to this trail is on a logging road through Mosaic lands and the gate is only unlocked on weekends and only when Mosaic is not logging and the fire danger is low.  We timed it well, so all was good.  (11.3 km; 7.5 hours; 423 m elevation gain)

Norris 

Thanks to Louise, Jim and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking -Century Sam Lake – 13 July 2024

Trip Report – Gowlland Harbour – 10 July 2024

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Ten people gathered on a beautiful, calm, sunny day for a paddle and social. The Stuart’s place is a bit difficult to launch from as there is a steep driveway with a switch back and only one vehicle can come down at a time. Then you have to pack the kayak around the pond. This was made easier by the fact that I live here, two members paddled over from their place, and another member brought his kayak in by boat to the dock. All in all it worked out well and we managed to leave a little ahead of schedule. We paddled south around the south end of Gowlland Harbour to start. After passing the old sunken barge, we stopped where the two abandoned boats have sunk to talk about how bad the government is managing abandoned boats on our coastline. We then paddled on flat water up the east side of Gowlland Island and stopped to stretch our legs on the north end. As we proceeded toward Gowlland Resort there was a colony of seals on some of the small islets. At Seascape Resort, now called Jade Resort, we stopped to look and discuss the falling apart of the old barge hotel. This is a total disaster of waste and garbage being emptied into our beautiful harbour because of the inability of government and courts to deal with a problem.
We then had an easy paddle back to our entry point. Here we had a great social on the deck, complete with chips and salsa, smoked oysters and meats with cheese and crackers, veggie platter, and Smokies and buns from the barbecue.  Plus drinks and desserts.  (7 km; 2 hour paddle)

Les

(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 10 July 2024