Category Archives: day-trip

Trip Report – Bluffs West of N Gowlland Rd – 22 Feb 2017

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The trip Wednesday was a partly off-trail adventure over some classic Quadra scenery – open moss-covered ridges, with views from along the top of cliffs on those ridges.  Seven of us took advantage of the sunny, almost-Spring day.  From the active quarry on the NW side of North Gowlland Road, we followed the open ridges to the high point near the Little Black Dress mountain bike trail.  From there we opted to do a loop of mountain bike trails including Little Black Dress, Silk Stocking and Back Door.  We descended back to North Gowlland Road on a partially developed trail.  7.6 km; 3¾ hours.

Norris

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Hiking – Bluffs West of N Gowlland Rd – 22 Feb 2017

Hiking – Bluffs West of N Gowlland Rd – 22 Feb 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Bluffs West of North Gowlland Rd
Date 22 Feb 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description This hike starts up briefly on an active logging road and then climbs steeply up onto open bluffs.  There is no trail or flagged route, but there are views to the south and west.  The route continues through mostly open forest and mossy bluffs (only a bit of bushwhacking) to join the Little Black Dress trail.  The trip is flexible in length by choosing the many mountain bike trail options.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot for car pooling.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 This trip includes industrial logging roads, steep mossy bluffs without trails and mountain bike trails.  It will have a bit of everything.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay
Notes: Bring lunch and gear for weather.

Bird Watching – Qualicum shoreline – 29 March 2017

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 Change of date from March 29 to April 12!

Activity Bird Watching
Destination Qualicum area shoreline
Date 12 April 29 March 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Mark Zimmerman
Contact  mz.markzimmerman@gmail.com or 285-2103; please contact the coordinator ten days to one week prior to the trip to ensure car pooling availability.
Description The focus of the trip will be on local area birds and water birds, particularly brants.  The group may visit more than one location depending on the cooperation of the birds.  Actual destinations will be decided closer to the time of the trip and will remain flexible.
Meeting Place Q Cove ferry terminal
Departure Time Early ferry departure TBD
Difficulty
 Easy walking
Costs Shared fuel and ferry costs
Trip limits
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch, gear for the weather and binoculars.

Hike – Chinese Mountain – 22 Mar 2017

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 POSTPONED

Activity Hiking
Destination South and North Chinese Mountain
Date 22 March 2017 Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description We will go up the south side to South Chinese Mtn. and have lunch while enjoying the view. Then down the north path and up North Chinese Mtn. and back to the vehicles.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot for car pooling
Departure Time 10:30
Difficulty
 Moderate, but up and down
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? No, as trail is narrow in spots.
Notes: It is only 3.4 km around South Chinese so we will go up north as well. Not everybody has to do both.

Hiking – Thompson & B&B Trails Loop – 15 Mar 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Thompson & B&B Trails Loop
Date 15 Mar 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info 285-3614; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description This hike will include official trails, flagged routes and unofficial trails.  The loop will pass over rocky bluffs with views, follow along creeks and travel through undulating forest.  There are a variety of options depending on the interests of the group, including Rousseau Ridge.
Meeting Place Trailhead for Thompson Trail on Thompson Rd.
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? okay
Notes: Bring lunch, a pole and gear for weather

 

Hiking – Eagle Ridge Loop – 8 Mar 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Eagle Ridge Loop
Date 8 March 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description This hike will include the official trail to Eagle Ridge and an unmarked route descending the ridge and continuing on to the higher ridge to the north.  From there we will descend to the logging road and return to the vehicles. The descent from Eagle Ridge is very steep on mossy rocks.  There is no trail.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot for car pooling.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 The section up to Eagle Ridge is a maintained trail of moderate difficulty.  The descent from Eagle Ridge is challenging.  The segment to the next ridge and down to the logging road is on an  unmarked route through mostly open forest.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Depends on the dog.  Would need to be completely controlled during the descent.
Notes: Bring lunch and gear for weather.

Hiking – Kay Dubois & Fox Main Loop – 1 Mar 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Kay Dubois and Fox Main Loop
Date 1 March 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 285-3978.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description This hike will be a loop including the Kay Dubois trail and some of the logging roads in Dick Whittington’s woodlot.  There are some hills and wet places, but mostly easy walking.
Meeting Place Kay Dubois trail head at the south end of Wa Wa Kie Rd
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? okay
Notes: Bring gear for the weather and maybe a snack.

Trip Report – Mt Washington – 8 Feb 2017

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Three of us snow-shoed at Mt. Washington on Wednesday. The clouds were low, but the snow was excellent. It was absolutely a winter wonderland, with snow clinging to branches and bark in the forest. We crossed Paradise Meadows on the Old Cabin and Crooked Creek trails before taking the summer trail up to Battleship Lake. The trail had been well used, so it was easy to follow. It was completely quiet in the forest and we met very few people. We continued over the Lake and through the forest to Lake Helen Mackenzie. The steep descent was great in the deep powder. We crossed some of the Lake and then had lunch in a sheltered spot out of the wind. Around 1:00 it began to snow lightly. We returned to Paradise Meadows and completed the Old Cabin Loop. 8.1 km; 3 hours.

Debbie

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Snow – Mt Washington 8 Feb 2017

Natural History – Karst Formations – 22 February 2017

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 Postponed to 5 April 2017

Activity Natural History
Destination Quadra’s karst formations
Date 5 April 22 February 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator by Sunday if you are interested in going
Description Visit some of Quadra’s Quatsino limestone formations, an area which contains karst sinkholes, intakes, resurgences and underground streams.   We will visit two or three areas, which involves a bit of driving on logging roads and bush walking.  We will not be walking in caves.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot for car pooling. High clearance vehicles will be preferable.
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch and gear appropriate for the weather.  Also, bring a flashlight to see into these geological formations.

Trip Report – Salmon Pt to Oyster River – 24 Jan 2017

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Six of us met at Salmon Point Resort for lunch at noon. This is something we had not tried before but was a good social outing. If you have not tried this restaurant you should. It has a great view to Mitlenatch Island and the coastal mountains beyond. They have lunch specials. Their seafood chowder in a bread bowl as well as the calamari is delicious.

After lunch we walked from the resort to the Oyster River. This time of year the trail head can be covered with water but the resort lets the public go through the trailer park sites. Dogs must be leashed. The low land at the first of the walk is a great place to bird watch. We saw many birds, ducks and some trumpeter swans. Last summer much of the trail was moved closer to the ocean and covered with bark mulch. At the south end you go into the Oyster River Nature Park. It is only a 12 acre park but has many small trails. Be careful near the river as part of the path was eroded during the heavy rains. If it is a cold day or you want a break you can stop at the Fisherman’s Pub. We returned to the vehicles via the same route. It was about 6.5 km and took 2 hours.

Les

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Hiking – Salmon Pt to Oyster River – 24 Jan 2017