| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | |
| Date | |
| Trip Coordinator | Norris Weimer |
| Contact Info | 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip |
| Description | |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay Store for car pooling |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty |
Moderate to challenging, for steep sections and unmaintained trail |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | no |
| Notes: | Bring lunch. If you use poles, bring them. We won’t do this trip if the weather is poor. |
We returned to Mt Washington on a day with a skiff of fresh snow on a very good base and mild conditions. We had four in the cross-country ski group and six in the snowshoe group, all starting at Raven Lodge. The skiers headed out along Paradise Meadows to the Far East trail, returning to the Lodge for lunch. The snowshoers crossed the Meadows and headed up the summer trail to Battleship Lake. One person had a snowshoe malfunction, but continued walking on the well-packed path without any problem. After crossing the Lake and the next rise, they made the steep descent to Helen Mackenzie Lake and stopped for lunch. They then continued across Helen Mackenzie Lake and followed the summer trail back down to the Ponds area and back to the Lodge. 7.5 km; 3½ hours.
Debbie
(click on photos to view larger)
Thanks to Norris, Vic and Les for the photos
| Activity | Ramble |
| Destination | Campbell River |
| Date | 4 April 2018, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Valerie van Veen and Darcy Mitchell |
| Contact Info | 250 285 2329 |
| Description | A Campbell River ramble, easy walking but long distance, approximately 15 km. We will walk from the ferry terminal (come over as walk-ons) to ERT north trailhead, ERT to Beaverlodge trails to Willow Point Park Sportsplex trails to Seawalk, Seawalk to Willow Point for lunch (café in Willow Point or bring your own), Seawalk back to ferry terminal. Rain or shine. 9 am ferry from QI, estimated 3:30 or 4:30 ferry return. |
| Meeting Place | Ferry Terminal |
| Departure Time | 9 am ferry walk-on |
| Difficulty |
Easy, but long |
| Costs | Ferry foot passenger |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | Yes, but must be on leash part of the way |
| Notes: | Must contact organizer by Monday, April 2 evening. Thanks. |
| Activity | Snow |
| Destination | Mt. Washington |
| Date | 7 Mar 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 are willing to drive and whether you are snowshoeing or cross country skiing. |
| Description | We hope to have both snowshoeing and cross country skiing on this outing. We will probably leave from Raven Lodge. As always, the trip is weather dependent. |
| 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 or the cross country pass is $23 for adults or $19 for seniors. It may be slightly cheaper if you buy in advance online. |
| Trip limits | Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington. Technically cars going up need to have chains. |
| Dogs? | No |
| Notes: | Bring equipment, warm clothing and lunch. |
The weather forecast was not good. Bad actually: heavy rain and high winds. But seven hikers ventured out anyway. First we walked a trail along Open Bay Creek, a nice salmon stream, and walked back on a logging road. There had been quite a lot of logging east of the road since our last trip here. 3.2 km; 1 hour.
There was snow on the trail and it was slippery, so for the second act we hiked to Stramberg Lake instead of the planned Crikey Creek mountain bike trails. The mountain bike trails were steep and the route to Stramberg was flat, but the snow was a bit deep in places. We stopped for lunch out of the wind and then took the old logging road into Main Lakes Park. We followed the side trail down to Stramberg Lake for the wintery view and then returned. 4.5 km; 1½ hours.
There were some wet feet from the snow. On the plus side, we were quite sheltered in these forests from the wind, and it didn’t start raining hard until we got back. There were lots of huge wolf prints in the snow.
– Norris
(click on photos to view larger)
Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos
Three hikers and one dog enjoyed a lovely 2½ walk in the woods. Because Daphne wanted to add lots of steps on her FitBit, the coordinator ensured this would happen by going the wrong way, not once, but twice. We began at the Hopespring entrance, continued past the three sisters on to the grove of old growth. We then headed up the trail, supposedly toward the Thompson trail, which actually took us close to Rousseau Ridge, adding about half an hour to the total trip. According to the FitBit we took about 14,000 steps.
Sandra
Thanks to Sandra and Vic for the photos.
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Hopespring-Thompson Trail loop |
| Date | 21 Feb 2018, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Sandra Burns |
| Contact Info | sandraburns.ca@gmail.com |
| Description | This is a classic loop on official trails, with lots of variety: a big descent, old growth Douglas fir, some optional views, creeks, and forest. The hike will be about two hours. |
| Meeting Place | Hopespring trailhead |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty |
Fairly short and undulating |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | |
| Notes: | Bring a snack and poles if you use them. |
Another day in Paradise – Meadows and surrounding area. Six of us enjoyed the warm sunshine and clear views, provided by the fresh north wind for some show-shoeing and cross-country skiing. The few centimetres of snow from the night before provided excellent conditions. The snow-shoers did the Great Big View loop and the Snow Paws trail. 5.9 km, 2½ hours, plus lunch. The skier did a loop of the Ponds, Paradise Meadows, Jack Rabbit, and later, Jutland. Approx 15km. We had lunch on the sunny balcony at Raven Lodge with great views and Whiskey Jacks.
– Norris
(click on photos to view larger)
The weather forecasters promised much better weather if we postponed this trip one day, so we did and they were right. The wet winds from the southeast shifted to dry winds from the northwest, and the day was sunny, with clear sky and views of the mountains with all their fresh snow.
Seven of us made the trek to the Maud Island viewpoint overlooking Seymour Narrows and the Ripple Rock site. We did the hike as a loop, stopping at the Mt. Lolo bluff on the way out and continuing through the forest and over the causeway to Maud Island. We were impressed with how much tidal action there was only a half-hour after slack water, with the wind against tide. A group of sea lions used the calmer water right beneath the cliffs to relax and play. We had lunch at the viewpoint, including Les’ wonderful smoked salmon, and then returned via the Saltwater Lagoon. 10.1 km; 4⅓ hours.
– Norris
Photos by Norris and Les
(click on photos to view larger)
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Miracle Beach and Salmon Point |
| Date | 28 March 2018, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Les Hand |
| Contact Info | 285-2029. Please contact coordinator 2 days ahead as schedule may change. |
| Description | We will drive to Miracle Beach and walk along the ocean to Black Creek. This is a short 3.5 km walk up the creek and thru the campground. We will then drive to Salmon Point and have lunch. Afterward we will do the 7 km walk along the ocean to Oyster River and back. This goes by a Ducks Unlimited area so is good for bird watching. |
| Meeting Place | Quathiaski ferry terminal |
| Departure Time | Early enough for 10:00 ferry car-pooling |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | The shared ferry, fuel cost and your lunch. Their menu is online. |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | Must be on a leash due to the birds. |
| Notes: | This is along the ocean so not a good walk for heavy wind and/or rain. |
Quadra Island Outdoor Club 