Category Archives: day-trip

Natural History – Caving near Sayward – 25 June 2019

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Activity Natural History – Caving
Destination Sayward area caves
Date 25 June 2019, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Cyndy Chidley
Contact Info Cyndy Chidley: 250-285-3575.  Please let the coordinator know as soon as possible if you are interested.
Description Moderate caving on north Vancouver Island with Bill West-Sells as our guide.  We will meet Bill at Sayward and drive to the cave area from there.  Challenges may include bridging, climbing, stretching, wriggling, not to mention small, dark, wet places.  We will be going to caves we have not visited before.  We will walk for about half an hour through brush to reach the cave.  Make sure you read the notes below on what to bring.  We will need some 4-wheel-drive vehicles some clearance as the end of the road is quite steep.
Meeting Place Q Cove ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 ferry to Campbell River; if you are driving come early to avoid the overload
Difficulty Moderate
Costs Ferry and shared gas
Trip limits 12 people or enough 4-wheel-drive vehicles
Dogs? No
Notes:
Wear rubber boots, neoprene socks or booties, or wool socks with runners that you don’t mind getting wet.  The water will be cold.  Bring coveralls, a helmet that you are able to fit with head light, and a head light, if you have one.  Bill has some extras that he will bring.  Flexible gloves, if you have them. A change of shoes and socks with a small towel.  Bring a backpack, as we will walk for a half hour to the cave entrance.   Also lunch and water.  If you have a walkie-talkie or family radio, please bring it with charged batteries.

Hiking – Main Lake from Surge Narrows Rd – 13 June 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Main Lake from Surge Narrows Rd
Date 13 June 2019, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator in advance.
Description This is a flagged route from the Surge Narrows road, following old logging roads and paths through mature forest to the east end of Main Lake.  The route is not far (about 7.0 km round trip), but quite slow due to rough conditions.  Expect wet sections and some climbing over deadfall.  If the group wants more of a walk, we can continue on to Yeatman Bay, which would be about 10 km round trip.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty Moderate due to the rough trail conditions.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch.

Hiking – Mine Lake Bluff – 5 June 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mine Lake Bluff
Date 5 June 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or leshand@gicable.com   Be sure to sign up so I can call you if weather changes
Description We will leave from the Mine Lake parking area and go to Camp Homewood site. From there will take the steep route up to the top and return down the back side.
BE SURE AND READ NOTES BELOW
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Moderate; not long but challenging in places
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? no
Notes: If there has been or is forecast for more than drizzle this trip will be postponed as the rocks can get slippery. Good footwear is needed, no flip flops or loafers. Also if you are afraid of heights or have vertigo, this hike is not for you. There are exposed areas with loose rock on a steep slope. If you have any questions please call before you come.

 

Trip Report – Shellaligan Pass Loop – 15 May 2019

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We had a good group of 11 people and 2 dogs. We parked on Valdez Road and walked the logging road to the shorter loop trailhead. We hiked through the new and the old forest to Village Bay where we stopped for a short break. The day had begun overcast, but cleared to a lovely day. We stopped again to admire the scenery from the rocky bluffs leading into Village Bay before continuing on the trail overlooking Hoskyn Channel. We stopped for lunch on the beach and then hiked back along the logging road to the vehicles.  About 7 km, 2½ hours.

Julie Mellanby

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Shellaligan Loop – 15 May 2019

Trip Report – Noel’s Pizza Peak – 2 May 2019

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Five hikers started from the Nugedzi parking area. It was a partly cloudy day that was perfect for the climb up the old, rough, washed out road. Just past the route up to Beech’s Mountain. we turned off the road. It was a good thing that we had a GPS track from 2014 as the trail was overgrown and had quite a bit of blow down. It was fun to go a little ways and then try to find some old ribbon. Without too many set backs we made it out to the bluffs and were rewarded with some spectacular views of Discovery Passage and Quadra while having lunch. We then retraced our way back to the vehicles. 8km; 4 hours

Les

Thanks to Les and Vic for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Noel’s Pizza Peak- 2 May 2019

Kayaking – Village Bay – 29 May 2019

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Village Bay
Date 29 May 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; (cell 250-287-0459).  The coordinator should be contacted no later than 24 hours prior to departure.
Description We will meet at and launch from Len Rd Beach access and paddle to Village Bay, and return. Approximately 16 km. You MUST use a fully equipped sea kayak with all required safety equipment as per Club guidelines. (https://qioutdoorclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/paddling-guidelines-aug2018.pdf) Bring water and lunch.
Meeting Place Len Road Beach Access
Departure Time Meet at put-in 0830; Depart by 0900
Difficulty
 Moderate depending on winds
Costs Nil
Trip limits 7 + coordinator
Dogs? No
Notes: If you want to carpool (saves space at put-in) email me. If you can take 1 more person, kayak, and gear please let me know. I can take 1 additional paddler.
It will be mid ebb tide when we put in but should be an easier take out in mid afternoon.

Hiking – Noel’s Pizza Peak – 2 May 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Noel’s Pizza Peak
Date 2 May 2019, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or leshand@gicable.com   Be sure to sign up so I can call you if weather changes
Description Noel’s Pizza peak is the informal name for the west ridge of Beech’s Mt. It is a flagged route, not an official trail therefore there may be some blow down and scrambling.  About 4 hours
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: If you use poles bring them. You need good footwear for this hike.

 

Trip Report – Ripple Rock Trail – 17 April 2019

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Four of us were lucky to have a dry day between monsoon-like rains.  Everywhere we went there were signs of spring.  We started out from the trailhead on the wide trail down to a creek edged with big Sitka spruce and pink fawn lilies.  The trail narrows as it approaches Menzies Bay and then undulates through lovely, open-understory forest and bluffs with views of the Bay and Vancouver Island.  In between the array of spring flowers, we admired some great old-growth Douglas fir trees.  The wooden bridges and stairs were often in need of maintenance, and the trail is quite busy by our standards.  We climbed the big stairs to the overlook of Seymour Narrows and stopped there for lunch. It wasn’t a really big current, but we watched the flood increase before heading back the way we had come.  We were accompanied much of the way by a cheerful, high-energy dog, who we finally convinced to follow another group back to its owner.  9 km; 4 hours.

Debbie

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Ripple Rock Trail – 17 April 2019

Hiking – Shellaligan Loop – 15 May 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Shellaligan Loop
Date 15 May 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 285-3978.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description Three different loops are available.  Stay in touch with the coordinator for details.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot for car pooling.
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate.  There are a few rocky bluffs to scramble up and some undulating sections.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Dogs must not run through the group.
Notes: Bring lunch and gear for weather.

Hiking – Beech’s Mtn Loop – 18 Sept 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Beech’s Mountain Loop
Date 18 Sept 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info phone 3614
Description Starting at the Chinese Mountains trailhead, we follow the South Chinese Trail to its juncture with Beech’s Mountain Trail. Along this trail we ascend many steep rock bluffs with spectacular views to the east, west and south from the open bluffs. At the top of Beech’s Mountain, we make a steep descent through the forest to an old rough logging road. Eventually the route veers away from the road onto mossy bluffs with convoluted route-finding using flagging tape. The route connects with the North Chinese Mountain Trail (essentially a steep rubbly old logging road) which we descend to the parking lot.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot to carpool
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty Moderate to difficult (many steep and potentially slippery bluffs to negotiate, as well as steep rocky logging roads)
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Okay if under owner’s control
Notes: Sturdy hiking shoes/boots required. Hiking poles may be helpful. Bring a lunch or snack. Estimated time 3 to 3½ hours. Please read the Outdoor Club Hiking Guidelines before the trip. If you leave a phone message, also leave your phone number in case trip plans change. Hikers who show up without pre-registering may not be allowed on the trip due to group size maximum.