Hiking – Stramberg Old Growth Grove – 2 April 2019

This hike has been re-scheduled to Tuesday

Activity Hiking
Destination Stramberg Old Growth Grove
Date 2 April 2019, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 285-3710.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description This trail begins near Village Bay Lake and follows open meadows leading into and through the forest on old, unmaintained logging roads. The forest is varied with occasional old growth, creeks, and wetlands.  This is not an official trail.  Expect blow-down and brush. About 13 km; 5 hours or more.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools
Departure Time 09:30
Difficulty
Moderate, due to unmaintained trail and quite long
Costs None
Trip limits None
Dogs? Dogs must not run through the group
Notes: Bring lunch and water.

Snow – Mt Washington – 20 March 2019

Activity Snow
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 20 March 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description  We are expecting warm, spring conditions.  We will find a route that works for the group.
Meeting Place Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River.  Car pools need to be arranged in advance.
Departure Time We can take the 9:00 or 10:00 ferry depending on what the group wants.  Drivers should be in line early.
Difficulty
Depends
Costs Ferry and shared fuel.
Trip limits Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington.
Dogs? No
Notes:

 

Trip Report – Haskin’s Farm Loop – 13 Mar 2019

Eight hikers arrived on such a magnificent day for the Haskin’s Farm hike.  We did a short hike through the woods to join the main trail and headed down to the beach. We enjoyed time to sit in the warm sunshine and take in the magnificent views of Sutil Channel and other islands. After leaving the beach we took the trail to the north, to view some old growth trees. Returned to the main trail and up the hill, kept right walking on a wood lot road to eventually reach the abandoned orchard of Haskin’s Farm. Continued on the trail arriving at Fir Road. Back tracked down the trail and returned to our starting point. We took two dogs with us and they loved the attention. It was a joy to hear the birds singing and chatting to each other. We were certainly blessed with a gorgeous day and a lovely, leisurely walk in the park. 4.7 km; 2 hours.

Margot Wood.

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Hiking – Haskin’s Farm Loop – 13 March 2019

Trip Report – Blenkin Park – 6 March 2019

Five hikers and two dogs enjoyed a one and a half hour hike through Blenkin Park. Starting on the Homestead Trail, we explored two side trails, one called the Swale Trail, and the other a new trail to Smokey’s place on Heriot Bay Road. At the junction of that new trail with the old trail to Smokey’s, we stopped to wonder at the “trinket” tree. Backtracking to Homestead, we continued to Daisy Trail, then west on the Community Trail to Sheppard Trail. Reconnecting to Homestead Trail for a short distance, we turned off onto Blackjack Trail, ending the hike at the east end of the baseball diamond. The weather was dry and partly sunny. Trail conditions were mainly dry with a few snow patches in open areas, but not icy. Along the route we admired many large Douglas fir and beautiful White Pine, large and small, and thick moss draping parts of the forest as the sun shone through the branches. Despite the good trail condition and weather, we saw no other trail users.

Janis

Hiking – Blenkin Park – 6 March 2019

Hiking – Blenkin Park – 6 March 2019

Activity Hiking
Destination Blenkin Park
Date 6 March 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info 3614.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description Starting at the Community Centre, we will hike a loop through the Blenkin Park trails.  The walking is easy with some great variety in this forest.  This is the first time the Outdoor Club has visited these trails.  Including the extension to Smokey’s on the Heriot Bay Road, this will take less than 2 hours.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
Easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay under owner’s control
Notes: This trip was re-scheduled from the Deadfish Loop due to icy trails.

Trip Report – Kay Dubois Loop – 27 Feb 2019

Since the snow on the local trails has compacted into slippery ice, we moved this trip to a low altitude sunny trail.  Six of us and two dogs hiked the Kay Dubois trail then came back on the logging road between Sutil Road and Fox Drive.  That part still had ice patches.  Then we took the trail down the hill to join the Kay Dubois trail at the strange old sitka spruce tree.  5.2 km; 1½ hours.

Norris

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Hiking – Kay Dubois Loop – 27 Feb 2019

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 25 Feb 2019

For our third trip to Mt. Washington area in less than two weeks, seven of us went x-country skiing at the nordic area.   We had yet another day of beautiful weather and snow.  We broke into three groups, with two people skiing the Lake Trail, three skiing out through Paradise Meadows to Far East, and two skiing through the Meadows to Jack Rabbit.  Linda was getting her ski legs back after many years and she was amazing. Five of us had lunch on the balcony at Raven Lodge.  After lunch, one of the five had a “Merry Monday” (mocha and Baileys), two skied out Jutland and back, and two skied out Jutland and up Legacy View before turning back.  The longest day was 20.7 km; about 5 hours.  

Debbie

Thanks to Norris and Stephen for the photos

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 25 Feb 2019

Hiking – Snowden Demonstration Forest – 10 April 2019

Activity Hiking
Destination Snowden Forest, Campbell River
Date 10 April 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie Van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329; vvv@qisland.ca
Description For those not going on the multi-day Cowichan Valley trip; a ramble/hike through Snowden Forest in Campbell River to explore the trails to the southwest of Riley Lake. We will take the 9 am ferry over and plan on returning on the 2:30 ferry at the latest. Bring lunch. We can arrange carpooling as needed. .
Meeting Place Q Cove ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 am ferry departure
Difficulty
easy to moderate
Costs ferry
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must be under control at all times; this is a popular mountain biking area.
Notes:

 

Hiking – Kay Dubois Trail – 27 Feb 2019

Yet another change of destination!

Activity Hiking
Destination Kay Dubois Trail
Date 27 Feb 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.
Description In our ongoing search for a relatively snow and ice-free walk, we will try Kay Dubois.  This is a classic trail along the shore through a mixed forest with great views of Sutil Chanel. A short walk.
Meeting Place Kay Dubois trailhead at Wa Wa Kie
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
Easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay if they don’t run through the group.
Notes: Bring a snack and poles if you use them.

Hiking – Hopespring-Thompson Trail loop – 27 Feb 2019

Activity Hiking
Destination Hopespring-Thompson Trail loop
Date 27 Feb 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.
Description Our local source says that this trail is not too slippery.  We will give it a try, starting on Thompson Trail and working counter-clockwise.  This is a classic loop on official trails, with lots of variety: creeks, old growth Douglas fir, some wetlands and a big ascent.  The hike will be about two hours.
Meeting Place Thompson trailhead
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
Fairly short and undulating
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay if they don’t run through the group.
Notes: Bring a snack and poles if you use them.