Category Archives: day-trip

Hiking – Fir Crest Loop – 28 Sept 2022

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Activity Hiking
Destination Fir Crest Loop
Date 28 Sept 2022,  Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg and Julie Douglas
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator by Monday night
Description By special request, we will be doing a bar-bell loop of the Golf Course and Haskin Farm trails.  This is a good outing if you want an easy hike which is mostly level and on a good trail.
Meeting Place The small parking area inside and to the south of the Fir Crest Acres gates, off Heriot Bay Road.  If you do not know where this is, please confirm with the coordinator.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Dogs must not run through the group.
Notes: We will do this hike rain or shine.  Bring a snack/light lunch and gear for the weather.

Trip Report – QCove to Smiths Rd – 15 Sept 2022

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With just a few days remaining of summer ’22, seven kayaks set out from Quathiaski Cove to complete a “Round the Cape” adventure. With the help of non-paddling spouses, we managed the shuttling of vehicles between Q-Cove and the Shore Access at the end of Smiths Road that made it possible to do this trip.

By 8:50 we were on the water just as the ferry was docking – one less thing to worry about. Weather, tides and currents were all in our favour as we rounded Whiskey Point and headed south to Cape Mudge. We passed by the Village and the campground and then rounded the Cape. The often turbulent waters were very calm, due to our timing, and we headed into the boulder strewn shallows of the south shoreline.  By this time we were looking for a reasonable place to pull out for a “rest” and stretch. A cobbly beach was the best we could do.

We were treated to a good showing of sea birds throughout the trip and numerous seals and sea lions and/or dolphins quite a ways offshore. No doubt they were after salmon which were seen jumping near our kayaks.

The rest stop ended up being a little longer and some snacked enough that we put off our lunch stop until the takeout. Back on the water and the sun appeared, warming things up even more as we cruised northward from Francisco Pt to our destination at Smiths Road. Once ashore, lunch and beverages were enjoyed on the beach.

List of bird sightings – at least two dozen Common Loons (very vocal), many Harlequin ducks, Common Mergansers, Bonaparte’s, Glaucous-winged, and Mew Gulls, Cormorants, Great Blue Heron, geese, Bald Eagles, Vultures, Horned Grebes,

About 3.5 hours of paddling; Distance – 15.3 km

Vic Gladish

Thanks to Jan and Norris for the photos

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Kayaking – QCove to Smiths Rd – 15 Sept 2022

Hiking – Strathcona Park – 21 Sept 2021

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Activity Hiking
Destination Strathcona Park
Date 21 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie Van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca
Description Celebrate the fall equinox on the beautiful Forbidden Plateau, Strathcona Park. Starting from Raven Lodge we will aim for Kwai Lake following well-established trails. A full day – about 20 km return. Maybe a group dinner in CR? Weather dependent.
Meeting Place QCove ferry terminal to arrange carpools as desired
Departure Time 8:00 am ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate to challenging due to length
Costs Ferry
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Must be on leash in the Park
Notes: This trip is weather dependent. Must contact coordinator by Monday evening, Sept. 19.

Hiking – Shellaligan Pass Loop – 7 Sept 2022

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Change of destination to Rebecca Spit due to wind.

Activity Hiking
Destination Shellaligan Pass long loop
Date 7 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie Van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca
Description A classic Quadra Island hike, we will take the long loop, weather permitting. We will stop early in the hike to look for whales from the rocky bluffs. We’ve been luck on every recent hike/kayak in Shellaligan.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot or logging road turnoff on Valdes Road
Departure Time 10 am: meet at Heriot Bay store parking lot to carpool (see notes); 10:20 meet at turn off to logging road on Valdes Road
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Must not run through group; must be under control; dogs and owners will go ahead of group.
Notes: About 3 hours. Dress for the weather, bring lunch, snacks.  MUST contact coordinator by Monday evening, Sept. 5.

Kayaking – Village Bay Beach – 31 Aug 2022

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Postponed.

Activity Kayaking
Destination Village Bay Beach
Date 31 Aug, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie Van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca
Description Forecast warm day with light winds; high tide just around launch time (yay!), not a huge tidal change that day. We will meander to Village Bay, enjoying maybe the last of summer kayaking weather. Swim at VB if desired, then home. We can go by the lava tunnels at Valdes Beach if anyone hasn’t already seen them.
Meeting Place Len Road launch
Departure Time 9 am meet, on water by 9:40
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 8 kayaks
Dogs? Experienced kayak dogs only
Notes: This is a pleasant paddle, usually seals, maybe the last of the orcas and humpies, migrating birds???
MUST confirm with organizer by Monday eve Aug 29.  Must comply with Club paddling guidelines and Coast Guard requirements.

Trip Report – Alternate Chinese Mountain Loop – 24 Aug 2022

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It was forecast to be another scorching hot day, so we moved the start time an hour earlier.  Instead of taking the usual hiking trail up South Chinese Mountain, the four of us took a climbers’ path, which goes steeply up to the base of the rock wall.  From there the path is less steep and goes up a swale between the south peak and a minor southeast bluff.  We took a side trail which goes up that bluff for excellent viewpoints, a rest and a snack.  We continued on the path back down to meet the main trail at the “mud hole”.  Coming back down the regular trail we took the new “scenic route” trail which avoids a badly eroded section of the original trail.  Then we took another scenic route, which avoids another part of the main trail which is more stream bed than trail.  The second scenic section is not marked or flagged, but it is a very nice alternative route.  It rejoins the main south bluff trail near a viewpoint.   3.4 km; 2½ hours; 220 m elevation gain.

Norris
 

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Hiking – Alternate Chinese Mtn Loop – 24 Aug 2022

Kayaking – QCove to Smiths Rd- 15 Sept 2022

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Activity Paddling
Destination QCove to Smiths Road Shore Access
Date 15 Sept, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459 text; or phone 250-285-2111.
Description End of Summer – around the Cape; This paddle will involve a shuttle which will require an earlier start in order to be ready for a 0930 put in. We will put in at the Q Cove boat launch and leave the Cove just before the current changes (slack) to ebb and enter the back eddy as we head south to the lighthouse. We will round Cape Mudge and head north along QI’s east coast as far as the Shore Access off Smiths Road.
Meeting Place QCove boat launch
Departure Time Meet at put in at 0800; Shuttle vehicles to take out; On the water by 0930
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate depending on the weather. Currents will be a factor.
Costs None
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No
Notes: The shuttle will be the first challenge of the day. Try to arrange your own shuttle if a spouse or friend is willing to help. Otherwise we will do something like this: All meet at QCove and unload kayaks. All cars will go to Smiths Road (I will stay with the kayaks and gear); As few cars as necessary will drive back to QCove with all paddlers. We should probably meet at 0800, unload, shuttle and plan to put in at 0900.
Be sure to read our paddling guidelines and make sure you are properly outfitted.

Reconnaissance Report – Victoria Peak Ridge – 20 Aug 2022

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We did this hike on impulse after the destination we had wanted was unavailable due to a locked gate on a logging road.  From Quadra it’s quite long as a day trip.  The drive from Campbell River was nearly 6 hours round trip.  And it was a very hot day.  Normally this is a route for climbers on their way to Victoria Peak, but we were after a hike to the sub-alpine with good views.  Forty-eight kilometres out from Sayward, we turned onto W79, which is signed as the road to Victoria Peak. This road is in decent condition and winds its way up fairly steeply.  There were 16 cross ditches, none of which were impossible, but it was very slow going.  After a while we decided to walk, but we could have driven another 2½ kilometres.  From the trailhead to the ridge it’s short, but quite steep.  A typical climbing access route, the path to the ridge rises 213 m over 713 m, for about a 30% incline.

Wandering along the sub-alpine ridge is very pleasant.  It continues up for a bit more than a kilometre until the ridge is quite level and more distant views are revealed.  There was significant heat haze, making it tricky to see Quadra from the ridge and there was forest fire smoke to the west from lightening strikes the night before in the Nimpkish Valley.

After lunch and a bit of exploring on the ridge, we headed back down, going quite slowly in the heat.  ( 8.6 km; 658 m elevation gain)  Once back on the logging road toward Sayward, we stopped at the White River Provincial Park to walk through the old growth grove to the White River.

Debbie

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Trip Report – Kanish Bay Paddle – 17 Aug 2022

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Six paddlers got an early start – 9:15 – from the Granite Bay boat launch on a beautiful summer day, with the forecasted northwesterly looking very manageable. Taking a counter clockwise route this time we headed to Orchard Bay for a quick pit stop and a stretch. We headed along the north side of Kanish Bay for a couple of kilometers and then decided it was time to head across to the Chained Islands in case the wind got any stronger. We encountered some chop coming nearly broadside and then some interesting waves as we got close to the second last island. Circling this island we arrived at the campsite in a sheltered bay and had a leisurely lunch in the shade. As the day was getting much warmer a couple of us attempted a swim in the very chilly water.

Getting back on the water we cruised in the shelter of the islands along the south side of Kanish Bay. Several salmon were spotted jumping and a flock of mergansers were working hard to keep ahead of us. With the day getting much hotter it was a good time to head to the take out and go in search of cold beverages.  12.0 km; 4 hours.

Vic Gladish

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Kayaking – Granite Bay and Beyond – 17 Aug 2022