| Activity | Hot Chocolate Walk |
| Destination | Campbell River waterfront, to FoggDukkers, return |
| Date | 9 Feb, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Valerie van Veen |
| Contact Info | vvv@qisland.ca; 250 285 2329 |
| Description | This will be a brisk walk along the CR waterfront to FoggDukkers for Hot Chocolate (or ?), probable return on 1:30 pm ferry. FoggDukkers will open for us, on request, regardless of weather. Seating will probably still be only outside, current VIHA Covid restrictions. If weather is really awful, we will follow Plan B and turn right instead for a shorter walk, and take our own thermoses (or pick up a hot chocolate at the new coffee shop in Discovery Plaza) to Dick Murphy Park at the Spit, and return. |
| Meeting Place | Ferry Terminal , CR, sidewalk at walk off area |
| Departure Time | 10:00 ferry |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | Ferry and hot chocolate |
| Trip limits | None |
| Dogs? | Leash only |
| Notes: | Dress for the weather, and especially for sitting outside. Maybe bring a waterproof sit-upon. Those taking their cars must phone coordinator before Wednesday to arrange a meeting place. Must register by Monday night, phone or email coordinator. Participants will be notified by Tuesday night if Plan B is decided. |
Category Archives: day-trip
Trip Report – West Road Woodlot – 29 Dec 2021
Due to the snow and cold, the planned trip to Village Bay Lake loop was saved for a better day. The road conditions, the busy holidays and water pipes freezing in the cold kept the group small. So three of us did a short local hike on logging roads instead.
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Gowlland Harbour
- The fairy house
Hiking – West Road Woodlot – 29 Dec 2021
This is a last minute substitution.
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | West Road Woodlot |
| Date | 29 Dec, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Norris Weimer |
| Contact Info | norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710. Please contact the coordinator before the trip. |
| Description | We will walk down a few of the out-and-back logging roads. The route includes mature forest, replanted forest, a view of Gowlland Harbour, and a meandering trail. About 3km; 1 hour. |
| Meeting Place | Park on Gowlland Harbour Road, near the junction with West Road, by the transformers. |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty |
Very easy, but expect winter conditions – cold and snow covering some ice. |
| Costs | None |
| Trip limits | None |
| Dogs? | |
| Notes: | Bring gear appropriate for the weather and trail conditions. |
Hiking – Quinsam River Trails – 23 Feb 2022
This trip was originally scheduled for Jan 5th.
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Quinsam River Trails |
| Date | 23 Feb |
| Trip Coordinator | Debbie Quigg |
| Contact Info | debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; 250-285-3710. Please contact the coordinator by Monday evening. |
| Description | We will hike along the east side of the Quinsam River, using mountain bike trails and logging roads. This follows a variety of terrain down to the river. Expect some muddy conditions. |
| Meeting Place | QCove ferry terminal; after exiting the ferry, we will drive to the parking area together. |
| Departure Time | 10:00; drivers will need to be early to ensure that they can board |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | Ferry |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | |
| Notes: |
Trip Report – Gowlland Harbour – 21 Dec 2021
Paddle into Winter (Solstice)
A very nice winter day provided an opportunity for seven club members to get together for a 2 hour paddle to celebrate the Solstice. With an icy boat launch at April Point and a skim of ice in the harbour it was a wintry day. We paddled out of the marina on calm seas, overcast skies and temperatures around freezing. The three paddlers that put in further east in Gowlland, paddled against the current in the channel and met up with us for the trip out and along Gowlland Island. We rounded the top of Gowlland with Steep Island on our port side and then altered course towards the smaller island group and away from a cold northerly breeze.
The group split up again and four of us rounded Doe Island and headed for April Point and rode the ebb current through the channel.
The highlight of the trip was watching the efforts of an eagle in its attempt to snare a cormorant for its afternoon meal.
Vic
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Leaving April Point
- West of Gowlland Island
- Steep Passage
- Gowlland Harbour
- The eagle hunting
Trip Report – Rampart Hill – 15 Dec 2021
It was an adventure; not everything went smoothly. First we missed the 10:00 ferry, thinking mistakenly that it wouldn’t be a busy sailing. After waiting an hour for the next departure, the three of us drove up the Strathcona Parkway. For this time of year, there is an amazing amount of snow, nearly down to the highway. The road up to Mt. Washington was good enough, but there was so much snow, we decided to snowshoe at Rampart Hill instead. It was snowing hard and we had lunch in the car before heading out. Although the logging roads had snow packed down on the weekend, there was no visible trace and we were doing some serious trail breaking. Once we left those packed roads it was even more challenging, because the snow was so unconsolidated, especially around brush. Norris fell through twice, the first time down over a metre and he had real difficulty getting the snowshoe back to the surface. Then Bonnie fell through and we decided we had had enough trail breaking for the day, so we headed back, rather than forward. We never encountered anyone else on the trail. It was beautiful in a monochromatic way and very quiet. 4 km, 2½ hours.
Debbie
(click on photos to enlarge)
- After digging out
- Cheerful but frosty
Trip Report – Drew Creek and Rebecca Spit – 11 Dec 2021
On Saturday nine people decided to try a hike even though rain was threatening. To start we did the small trail at the mouth of Drew Creek. This is a wonderful little trail. It even has benches to sit and watch the creek roll by. The tide was extremely high and had the creek backed up for about 150 m.
We then walked to Rebecca Spit and turned south along the ocean down to the Sasquatch sculpture. It was about here that the heavy rain showers started off and on. We proceeded down through the new camping spots that have been developed very well. On the way back to the vehicles we were treated to a rainbow. 5.2 km about 1½ hours
Les
Thanks to Les and Norris for the photos.
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Bridge over Drew Creek
- Elkhorn Lichen
- The Sasquatch
- Shoreline trail
- After the showers
Trip Report – South Chinese Mtn Loop – 8 Dec 2021
After waiting a bit at the Heriot Bay meeting point, due to icy road conditions that morning, four of us met at the Chinese Mountain trailhead. We started clockwise on the South Mountain trail around 10:40. Although there was snow left on the trail from the last snowfall, it was not too deep, and the abundant sunshine made wonderful conditions for the ascent. Although some clouds remained over Vancouver Island, the view to the south from the western bluff lookouts was spectacular. Although the snow on the trail had us deviating from the main trail, we easily regained it above us, and were able to follow the trial easily to the south lookout. The views were superb as we took a short lunch. We took our time descending the eastern trail down in to the valley between north and south peak, as the steep steps down presented some slippery sections, and the old mining road down had a lot of running surface water causing some slippery parts. The total trip took just over 2½ hours.
Brent
Thanks to Brent and Norris for the photos.
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Southside bluffs
- Break at the viewpoint
Hiking – Drew Creek Trail and Rebecca Spit – 11 Dec 2021
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Drew Creek, then Rebecca Spit |
| Date | 11 Dec, Saturday |
| Trip Coordinator | Les Hand |
| Contact Info | 285-2029; lhquadra@gmail.com |
| Description | Easy walk around Drew Creek Trail and then to Rebecca Spit. At the park we will go south to the Sasquatch and then return to the cars. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay Rd. at Rebecca Spit Rd. |
| Departure Time | 1:00 pm |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | None |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | O.K. but under control |
| Notes: | Waiting until after lunch so it warms up a little. Bring a snack if you like as will have short break if weather cooperates. South end is wet so good boots would help. |
Trip Report – Kay Dubois Trail and Whittington Woodlot – 1 Dec 2021
Seven of us started out from the end of Fox Road, walked down the hill and along Wa Wa Kie Road. We entered the Kay Dubois Trail and hiked the loop clockwise. For the first half of the walk, it almost looked as though the sun could come through. At the midpoint, when we stopped at the beach viewpoint for tea and a snack, a light rain started and followed us back to our parking spots. It was an easy, social walk and just felt great to be out even if it was a bit wet and muddy. 5.9 km and 1½ hours.
Diana
Thanks to Norris and Rob for the photos.
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Spooky Sitka spruce
- Snack stop on the shore
- Along Fox Main



















































