Category Archives: day-trip

Hiking – Carrington Bay – 23 Jan 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Carrington Bay, Cortes Island
Date 23 January 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info tel 250.285.2393.  Please contact the coordinator well in advance of the trip, so that car pools can be arranged.
Description Sabina is going to join us to be our guide and naturalist. This will be a great treat; Sabina is always filled with marine and environmental knowledge. We will drive to Carrington trailhead and proceed on the trails to Carrington Bay. This deeply cut bay is magnificent with the adjoining lagoon. Glaciers receded over the shoreline of Carrington Bay 10,000 years ago; lots to see and learn. We will have lunch at Carrington Bay and continue on to Grandmother’s Grove following the stream. We plan to return on the 3:50 p.m ferry.
Meeting Place Cortes ferry line-up.
Departure Time 9:05 a.m ferry; vehicles need to be in the ferry line-up not later than 8:15 a.m as this is a busy sailing.
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate.
Costs Ferry travel costs; bring your experience card and ID
Trip limits
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch and gear for weather.

Trip Report – Two Mines and Some Karst – 12 Dec 2018

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Having decided that Mt. Washington needed more snow before we make that trip, we substituted this outing.  Seven of us visited a number of caves and karst formations at the north end of Quadra Island.  We started at the Lucky Jim mine, an historic gold, silver and copper mine, which is well signed and has been made safe with gratings over the vertical shafts.  The steam donkey is huge and in good condition considering it was installed in about 1910.   We next visited a mine off of Open Bay Main, which we know very little about.  The horizontal shaft is in good condition. We continued to a karst cave with excellent marbling and were impressed by the risks inherent in the nearby grikes or eroded fissures in the limestone. 

After lunch in the parking area we cut over to the Granite Bay Road and an area of sink holes.  We started at a very large sinkhole with a lovely waterfall and then moved a short distance south for a walk following a creek which is insurgent and resurgent in the limestone.  There are areas where the creek seems to have re-routed for it no longer emerges.  The large sinkholes and walls are impressive.  We didn’t walk very far, but took our time enjoying the sites and the incredible green forest at this time of year.  A bit more than four hours, without the drive out.

Debbie

Photos by Norris

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Exploring – Two Mines and Some Karst – 12 Dec 2018

Exploring – Two Mines and Some Karst – 12 Dec 2018

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Activity Exploring
Destination Two Mines and Some Karst Formations
Date 12 December 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will visit an old mine off of Open Bay Main, a limestone cave and grikes in the limestone.  We will also stop at the Lucky Jim mine before continuing on to some sinkhole formations.
The weather is forecast to be very rainy in the afternoon.  Having three sites gives us the flexibility to alter plans if necessary.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot for car pooling.  This will involve some driving on logging roads.
Departure Time 9:30 am
Difficulty
 easy; this will more a visit to multiple sites than a lot of exercise.
Costs
Trip limits none
Dogs? No
Notes: Be prepared for wet.  Bring a good flashlight if you have one.

 

Trip Report – Deepwater Mine and Bay – 5 Dec 2018

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Deepwater Bay is on Discovery Passage, north of Seymour Narrows.  Deepwater canyon or valley (for lack of a better name;  it’s not quite a canyon and it’s more than a valley) is a big gap between Mt. Seymour and North Mountain, complete with a mountain stream which can be impressive.

Twelve of us set off on a clear, cold morning to explore it.  It was a winter wonderland, even without snow, all white from hoarfrost.  We stopped first on the Deepwater Main logging road to visit the old rail trestle, which is in ruins.  Then we hiked up the old logging road to the copper mine on North Mountain. The horizontal shaft is full of water and fascinating, but no one was tempted to go swimming.  We then hiked down the old road to the Bay, passed the abandoned fish hatchery, and had lunch in the beautiful warm sunshine, with great views of Deepwater Bay and Discovery Passage.  A lone sea lion swam by close to shore.  This area is full of the history of logging, mining and fishery on Quadra.   6.8 km; 3¼ hours.

Norris

Photos by Norris

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Hiking – Deepwater Copper Mine and Bay – 5 Dec 2018

Trip Report – Open Bay and Breton Islands – 2 Dec 2018

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It was a chilly day, as there had been frost, but sunny and calm. Five paddlers set out from Len Road access to enjoy the sun and an afternoon on the water. There were a large number of eagles and loons out enjoying the sun as well. We paddled out of Hyacinthe Bay and headed over to the North Breton Island. The tide was quite high, 15.7 feet, so we were able to cross the rocks near the south end. From there we traveled north and came back down through Shellalligan Pass. We stopped on a little stretch of sand in Moulds Bay for tea and cookies. It was quite warm in the sun for this time of year. Afterwards we made a circle into Open Bay before returning to the cars. 3 hours, 6.6 nautical miles

Les

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos

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Kayaking – Open Bay & Breton Islands – 2 Dec 2018

Hiking – Q Cove Trails – 2 Jan 2019

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This hike has been re-scheduled to  January 1st, Tuesday.  

Activity Hiking
Destination Q Cove Trails
Date 1 2 January 2019, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will explore a network of forest trails on private, undeveloped land in what will eventually be downtown Q Cove, but which at present is a natural area surrounded by private homes.  The trails are used by the locals from their backyards.  The forest and streams are charming and the locals have added a bit of artwork to it.  About 2 hours.
Meeting Place Behind the Q Cove store
Departure Time 10:00 am
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Dogs must not run through the group
Notes:

 

Snow – Mt Washington – 12 Dec 2018

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Postponed!

Activity Snow
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 12 Dec 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710;  please contact the coordinator by Sunday night.  Please indicate whether you want to x-country ski or to snow shoe.
Description  Mt. Washington plans to open on Dec 7th, but as of Dec 1st there is very little snow, so this outing may need to be rescheduled.
We can go the Rampart Hill area or to the prepared trails at Strathcona Park.  This will depend on the weather, the snow and the group.
Meeting Place Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River.  Car pools should be arranged in advance.
Departure Time 9:00 ferry to Campbell River.  Those taking cars need to be early enough to get on the 9:00 ferry.
Difficulty
 Depends
Costs Ferry, shared fuel and the trail pass (If we go to Raven Lodge).  The snowshoe day pass is $10 and the x-country day pass is $24 for adults and $20 for seniors..
Trip limits Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington.
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring equipment, warm clothing and lunch.

 

Hiking – Deadfish/Tripod Loop – 10 April 2019

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This hike was originally scheduled for March 6th.

Activity Hiking
Destination Deadfish/Tripod Loop
Date 10 April 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info 3614.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description Starting at the Morte Lake parking lot, we make a big loop on biking/hiking trails south of Morte Lake.  We follow Deadfish  and Nirvana trails, then west along south Morte Lake.  Turning back on Tripod, Ridge trail and Lost Rider, we finish off by going over a high bluff and steep descent back to the parking lot.  Duration should be about 2 hours (3 hours max).
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot for car pooling.
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay under owner’s control
Notes: Bring a snack or lunch. Hiking pole(s) recommended (we will be crossing one stream).
This trip was originally scheduled for January 9th and then February 6th.

Trip Report – Backdoor-Yellow Mud Loop – 28 Nov 2018

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Fifteen hikers, along with Kona and Joey, the dogs, enjoyed a three hour hike in the area south of Walcan Road, starting at the pullout at Reed Lake. The weather was great for November – cloudy but with no rain, no wind and a pleasant 8° C. We headed south on Straight-as-a-Dime Trail, following a combination of newer bike trail sections and old logging roads. Turning east onto Backdoor Trail, we hiked over vibrant green moss-covered rock bluffs, through pine forest and past a perfectly mirrored pond. Shortly after going past some old mining camp debris, we headed north and followed Dick’s Ride down to Nighthawk Lake (variously named Yellow Mud, Hilda’s, Wood Duck and Beaver Pond Lake). Walking alongside the large lake created by a 20-meter-long plus beaver dam, we spotted Bufflehead and other waterbirds, and an unidentified hawk. We continued northwest down Yellow Mud Trail through lush sword fern, hemlock and Doug fir forest, paralleling McKercher Creek before arriving back at Reed Lake.  8.1 km.

Janis McLean

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Backdoor-Yellow Mud Loop – 28 Nov 2018

Kayaking – Open Bay and Breton Islands – 2 Dec 2018

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Open Bay and Breton Islands
Date 2 Dec 2018, Sunday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or leshand@gicable.com   Be sure and sign up so I can call you if weather changes
.Description The weather forecast is sunny but cold so dress accordingly. We are leaving as late as possible so it will warm up a bit. Have lunch before you come but we will stop for a snack so bring one and maybe something warm to drink. The exact course will be set by conditions and the people that go.
Meeting Place Len Road public beach access
Departure Time Meet at 12:30, launch at 1 P.M.
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: All participants must conform to QIOC paddling guidelines. Participants must have all Coast Guard required equipment and spray skirts.  The standard for participation in winter trips is higher than for summer outings.