Category Archives: day-trip

Trip Report – Bretons and Village Bay – 9 July 2018

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Seven hardy souls braved calm waters, no wind, no rain, light cloud cover, and mild temperatures to venture out to the Bretons and beyond. From the Len Road put-in, we were on the water by 10:17 am, launching taking a little longer than usual thanks to the very low tide. A gentle paddle out to the Bretons gave us a chance to admire the pillow lava in Hyacinthe Bay, and the exposed inter-tidal in Hyacinthe and the Bretons. A few curious seals eyed us from quite close up, they are now obviously much more used to kayakers than when I first paddled in the Breton islets. We saw a few gulls and one small flock of ducks (Goldeneyes ?). The absence of Oystercatchers and other birds usually seen there was possibly due to the large contingent of kayakers from one of the local outfitters who had landed on one of the islets in the very low tide and were busy exploring. We proceeded to Moulds Bay for a brief rest stop, the cabin there seems deserted once again. Passing “Clay’s Cabin” and the oyster lease, we were able to squeak through Shellaligan in the now rising tide. At the oyster lease, heavy rope netting still covers the bagged oysters on the beach, seemingly untouched since my last foray there a few years ago. We also noted the abandoned vessel beached in Shellaligan, no sign of any squatters there this year, nor on Shellaligan Beach. As time, not destination, was the determinant for this paddle, we opted for the first beach on the south side of Village Bay, that is also accessible from the trail, just before it turns inland, as our endpoint, rather than press on to the north beach at Village Bay. After a brief lunch break, we paddled directly back to Hyacinthe Bay, against a light wind, and were rewarded with a high tide landing. 14.5 km; 5 hours.

Valerie

(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Breton Islands & Village Bay – 9 July 2018

Kayaking – Granite/Kanish Bays – 1 August 2018

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Change of start time!  Possible further changes due to weather.  Stay in touch with the coordinator.

Activity Paddling with possible small hike
Destination Kanish Bay (launch from Granite Bay)
Date 1 August 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell
Contact Info mitchelldarcy51@gmail.com
Description Depending on weather (wind) conditions, paddle to Chained Islets, or to Small Inlet with option to hike across to Waiatt Bay.
Meeting Place Boat launch, Granite Bay
Departure Time Assemble at 8:30 9:30 for 9:00 10 a.m. departure. Expected time of return is 4:00 p.m.
Difficulty
 easy to moderate; depending on wind conditions
Costs $ 5.00 launch fee at Granite Bay
Trip limits eight
Dogs? no
Notes: All participants must review and conform to QIOC paddling guidelines. Only ‘sea kayaks’ with skirts for this trip, as weather can change quickly with the potential for strong northwesterly winds. If you have not paddled with the coordinator previously, please contact her no later than July 27. All participants must contact the coordinator by email (preferably) or by phone to 778 716 7124 to confirm participation no later than July 29. The trip will be cancelled if forecast winds are higher than 15 knots, or steady rain is expected. Participants will be informed by 7 p.m. on July 31 if the trip will be cancelled.

Hiking – Crest Mountain – 25 July 2018

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Change of start time!  Stay in touch with the coordinator.

Activity Hiking
Destination Crest Mountain
Date 25 July 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.   Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description There is a good trail through the forest which climbs steadily at about a 22% grade.  Think Pilot Road.  It goes up 1,100 metres in 5.0 km.  It’s strenuous but not difficult other than that.  At the top of the climb there are fantastic views all around and a small alpine lake.  From there the trail to the summit is easier.  14 km, 7 hours, plus driving and ferry time.
Meeting Place We will take the 07:05 Quadra ferry.  Rides to be arranged in advance.
Departure Time 06:20 07:05 ferry
Difficulty
 lots of uphill!
Costs share gas and ferry costs
Trip limits must be fit and have good knees
Dogs? no
Notes: poles, lunch, water

Trip Report – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 4 July 2018

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Twelve hikers, two of whom were new to the Outdoor Club, met at the Hopespring trailhead for a four hour hike. The day was sunny and warm. We headed up Hopespring trail to the top of the ridge and down the west side, turning northwest onto the Gowlland Harbour trail. This trail was followed through shaded second growth forest and along a ten-year-old clearcut, nicely regenerating, to North Gowlland Harbour Road. Crossing the road and up Missing Links Road a short distance, we hiked northeast along Bite the Bullet which parallels the logging road, managing to avoid being dusted by logging trucks. Recrossing the logging road, we turned southeast at a large beaver dam and walked up John Marlow’s woodlot road. At a deep pool in an old quarry at the roadside, we stopped to admire the critters (salamanders?) swimming there. At that point, we turned south onto a faint bike route that led us to intersect with the Gowlland trail at Rousseau Ridge. Climbing to the top of the ridge, we enjoyed lunch with great views to the west over Copper Bluffs, Discovery Passage and the Vancouver Island mountains.

On the return trip, the group split into two at the Thompson Trail intersection. One group followed Thompson Trail to Thompson Road; the other group retraced their hike down Gowlland Trail and up and over Hopespring Trail to the vehicles at the trailhead. We managed to stay in the shade for most of the hike, and out on the open ridge we had some cloud cover and a nice breeze. However, an earlier start may have been in order – by the end of the hike, the temperature was climbing, with my home thermometer on Thompson Road reading 29C.  10.1 km; 4 hours.

Janis

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 4 July 2018

Hiking – Woss Lookout and Little Huson Caves – 27 July 2018

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Change of date, start time and contact information!

Activity Hiking
Destination Woss Lookout and Little Huson Caves, Vancouver Island
Date 26 27 July 2018, Thursday Friday
Trip Coordinator QIOC
Contact Info qioutdoorclub@gmail.com
Description The recently restored Woss Lookout, about 1.5 hrs north of Campbell River, is accessed by a short but steep, rope-assisted, hike, about 4 km round trip. Even at a moderate pace, allowing for the steepness, this hike will not take all day. So for a more relaxing afternoon, we will then drive north and west to the LIttle Huson Caves, on the Zeballos Road, to explore this little known regional park. These caves are perfect for those who prefer to admire caves from the outside only, as they are shallow caves with wide entrances.
www.vancouverislandnorth.ca (Things to do, Caving) for more information on the Caves.
Meeting Place QCove Ferry Terminal; we will organize carpooling before trip
Departure Time 6:20 8 am ferry
Difficulty
 Woss Lookout – Difficult; LIttle Huson Caves – Easy
Costs Ferry and gas contribution when carpooling
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: A long day is expected. Some may want to stay in Campbell River for dinner to avoid ferry lineups. Must bring lunch, snacks, water. Good hiking boots recommended for the Woss Lookout hike; suggest that poles, if used, be of the foldable type for the rope sections. Flashlights may be useful to look into the caves. Trip cancelled if steady rain. Must phone or email the trip coordinator by 9 pm Wednesday, July 25 to join this hike.

Hiking – Mt. Seymour – 11 July 2018

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Change of starting time due to hot weather

Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Seymour
Date 11 July 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca; or 250 285 2329
Description We will do this long hike as a crossover, using two cars, going up the Nugedzi Trail from Hyacinthe Bay Road then down the Mt. Seymour Trail to Granite Bay Road. We will park at least one car at each trailhead to ferry drivers back to their cars. Swim time in Nugedzi if desired. Lunch at either Nugedzi or Mt. Seymour (or both?). Bring lunch, snacks, water. Cancelled if raining as trails can be slippery.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Parking Lot; north enders meet at Nugedzi Parking Lot no later than 8:15 10:15
Departure Time 8:00 10 a.m. at HB store parking lot
Difficulty
 This is a long, more challenging hike. Good hiking shoes highly recommended for the rubble on the Nugedzi Trail especially.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs no
Notes: Must confirm with coordinator by 8 pm the night before at the latest to be on my participant checklist; only confirmed participants will be notified if hike cancelled due to weather.

Hiking – Newton Lake and Beyond – 18 July 2018

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Change of start time! 

Activity Hiking with swiming
Destination Newton Lake and beyond
Date 18 July 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell
Contact Info mitchelldarcy51@gmail.co
Description Hike into Newton Lake, down to the portage between Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay and back to the Newton Lake parking lot. Distance about 15 kilometres – will take approximately 6-7 hours (including lunch and short swim stops at Newton Lake)
Meeting Place Newton Lake parking lot. Drive to the end of Granite Bay Road, cross the small bridge and turn right. There is a sign. Or arrange carpools
Departure Time We will meet at the HB store parking lot at 8:00, to be at the Newton Lake trailhead at 8:30  (Not 10:00)
Difficulty
 Moderate, with a steepish grade between the portage trail and Newton Lake.  Fairly long day.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring plenty of water, lunch and snacks, and swimming stuff if you want to take a dip in the rather cold but very clear lake.

Trip Report – Morte Lake Loop – 13 June 2018

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We decided at the last minute not to go to Surge Narrows to hike. The weather forecast was sketchy and the recent rains would have made it a wet walk. Ten of us had a lovely walk around Morte Lake without more than a few drops of rain. We hiked the loop counter-clockwise, stopping at some of the high bluff viewpoints. We had lunch at the northwest beach and admired the lovely green water. After the south beach, we took the side trip to the lake viewpoint on the south shore. We returned to the vehicles on Lower Dead Fish, enjoying views of the creek and some old growth fir. The forest seemed to have been refreshed by the recent rains. 10.1 km; 3¾ hours.

Julie

(click on photos to enlarge)

Trip Report – Caves near Sayward- 23 May 2018

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Eight of us met Bill, our all-knowing-guide, at the beginning of the long, dusty logging road into Cave Land.  Bill took us through Chicken II, a standing-room passage way leading to interesting geology.  After which a short drive took us to Scallop Falls Cave.  We spent slightly over an hour winding single file through narrow, curving, scalloped marble passages, with water running through them.  We scrambled, manoeuvred and slithered up to the top of the falls.  The beautiful limestone cave features and the contortions to navigate the route were impressive.  We debriefed together over lunch at Bill’s new campground.  As the adventure drew to an end, the participants felt a unified sense of accomplishment. .

Cyndy

(click on photos to view larger)

Thanks to Norris, Cyndy and Bill for their photos

Natural History – Caving near Sayward – 23 May 2018

Hiking – Broken Eye Mountain – 8 June 2018

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The new date is July 19th.

Activity Hiking
Destination Broken Eyes Mountain, aka Campbell River Lookout
Date 19 July 2018
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca.  Please contact the coordinator well in advance of the trip.
Description

 

 This hike is located about 20 km north of Campbell River.  It includes some difficult sections over a long, narrow log bridge and very steep climbs, sometimes assisted by fixed chains.  There are excellent views form the summit.  500 m elevation gain; 7 km.  Participants on this hike need to be fit, experienced and confident.  You need good cardio and knees.  For more information see:
https://qioutdoorclub.org/2018/06/12/reconnaissance-report-broken-eyes-mtn-11-june-2018/
Meeting Place Q Cove Ferry terminal.
Departure Time 8:00 ferry
Difficulty
 Overall this is a challenging hike, with a mix of trails, logging roads, and very steep sections.
Costs Shared ferry costs
Trip limits 10 participants
Dogs?
Notes: This trip is weather dependent.  Highly recommended: protective gloves for chains and good boots.  Poles are optional.  Bring lunch and water.