Category Archives: day-trip

Hiking – Mt. Seymour – 23 September 2015

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 Postponed to October 7 and then postponed again

Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Seymour
Date 23 September 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 285-3978; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description This is a great hike with wonderful views on a clear day.  It’s a steady climb up old logging roads, until the trail branches off and follows open bluffs and forest to the summit at 620 m, the highest point on Quadra Island. We will then descend by the same route.  Four to five hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch

 

Trip Report – Far West Wall – 5 Sept 2015

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The Chinese Mountains have recently become a popular climbing area.  On the down side, the trailhead parking lot is now often full (there are plans to fix the road into it and expand the parking lot), but on the plus side, there are new trails to explore and new viewpoints opened up.   On this trip, ten of us explored the path to what was called “Far West Wall” last year.  The new name is “Eagle Crag” because some climbers found an eagle’s nest on it.  The trip is short, only 4.4 km round trip, half on official trails and half on the new path.  And there is a section about 200 meters long where it is easy scrambling and not walking, where the path goes up a series of small ledges to reach the top of the crag.  There is about 200 metres elevation gain in total.  The view from the top of the crag goes from Morte Lake and Little Morte Lake, about 180 degrees to the south end of Cortes Island.  The view from the bottom of the crag is pretty good too.

For climbers, the guide book to this area is Philip Stone’s “Quadra Island Rock Climbs”,
http://www.wildisle.ca/quadrarockclimbs/

There are also some maps and photos online which show the climbing areas and the access paths to them.
http://www.quadraisland.ca/adventure-recreation-tours/rock-climbing/chinese-mountains.html

Norris

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Hiking – Far West Wall – 2 Sept 2015

Kayaking – Open Bay & Hoskyn Channel – 12 Sept 2015

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 CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

Activity Kayaking
Destination Open Bay and Hoskyn Channel
Date 12 September 2015, Saturday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca, 250 285 2329;
Please contact the coordinator not later than Thursday.
Description Paddle to explore the islands/islets in Hoskyn Channel: the Bretons and King Islets
Meeting Place End of Breton Road, Open Bay to determine which launch site to use, alt is end of Valdez
Departure Time Meet at 10:00 am
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate, depending on wind/weather. Go/nogo will be made after 4:30pm marine forecast on Sept 11.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Plan to be back at launch by 4 pm at latest. Bring lunch, snacks. Lunch might be early on in trip due to lack of beaches beyond the Bretons

Hiking – Elk Falls – 30 Sept 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Elk Falls and Campbell River
Date 30 Sept 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Emily Toman
Contact Info emitoman@shaw.ca or 250-923-7122; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will take the 9:00 ferry to Campbell River.   It’s possible to do a loop around the Campbell River and Elk Falls, including the new suspension bridge and the upper falls.  This hike includes some great views and sections of old growth forest.   It’s about 12 km round trip with some steep sections.  The trail has a very good surface.
Meeting Place Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River.  Car pools should be arranged in advance.
Departure Time Those taking cars need to be early enough to get on the 9:00 ferry.
Difficulty
 easy to moderate
Costs ferry
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay, but must be on a leash at all times.
Notes: Bring lunch

 

Kayaking – Main Lake Provincial Park – 9 Sept 2015

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Main Lake Provincial Park
Date 9 Sept 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell
Contact Info darcm@telus.net or 285-2739.  Please contact Darcy by Monday if you plan to go.
Description A relaxed paddle/picnic/swim/hike at the Lakes
Meeting Place Boat launch, Mine Lake
Departure Time 10:00 am
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: We’ll plan to be back at the boat launch by 3:00 p.m.  Bring lunch and snacks.

Trip Report – Nugedzi Lakes & Overlooks – 22 Aug 2015

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The Nugedzi hike is special because there are so many highlights along the way. Six of us hiked up the logging road, passed the lily pond to the viewpoint looking southeast over Rebecca Spit, Georgia Basin and the nearby islands and coast. We continued on through the undulating forest and cedar grove, and stopped for lunch and a swim at Nugedzi Lake. The water levels are significantly lower and the forest is very, very dry. After lunch we hiked out to the viewpoints over Discovery Passage toward Vancouver Island. On the return trip, we made the short loop to Little Nugedzi Lake. This was a fairly leisurely trip with everyone taking time to enjoy the special scenic points along the way. 5 ½ hours, about 12 km.

Debbie

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Hiking – Nugedzi Lakes – 22 Aug 2015

Trip Report – Channel Rock & Kw’as Park – 18 Aug 2015

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Such a beautiful day, filled with sunshine. Ten individuals attended this trip, we caught the 9:05 a.m. ferry to Cortes Island. We drove to 431 Whaletown Road, parked at Channel Rock parking lot.  Steph (manager) for Channel Rock met us and we walked the lovely path to Channel Rock.  Channel Rock is a 140-acre, off the grid paradise, protected by land covenant, powered by solar energy, and only accessible by boat or by foot.  Steph took us on a tour of Gilean Douglas’s home, which is in need of care and attention.  Our donation went towards this restoration program.  Steph gave us further details of the life of Gilean Douglas during her time on Cortes Island and the present owners.  We then toured the gardens and the amazing locally crafted dwellings of Channel Rock.  Each structure fitted into the natural landscape, such beautiful craftsmanship.  We ate our lunch overlooking the stunning coastline and gardens.

Trekked back along the path to the parking area.  We dropped two hikers off at Whaletown Commons and the rest proceed to the Kw’as trails.  This is a large network of trails and we only had the time to cover a small section.  The section we chose took us along the side of Gunflint Lake and through deep old forests, up to high covered bluffs.  We crossed a bridge that gave us a view of Hague Lake and then continued up and over the manzanita covered bluffs.  We stopped a couple of times at different view spots and to read the information boards posted.  This trail is well marked and indeed beautiful. Unfortunately, we did not have the time to hike to the Old Growth area and all decided we need to return for the whole day next time.  It was a pleasure walking in the cool woods on such a hot day.  The group decided to take a side trip to the Co-op for a nice cold beverage and then onto the ferry line-up.

This was truly a rewarding day and again filled with beautiful memories of another visit to Cortes Island. All hikers arrived home safely and we look forward to seeing the pictures.

Lets return again!

Margot

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Hiking – Channel Rock & K’was Park – 18 Aug 2015

Hiking – Far West Wall – 2 Sept 2015

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 POSTPONED to Saturday, September 5th

Activity Hiking
Destination Far West Wall
Date 2 5 Sept 2015, Wednesday Saturday
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 begins on the south side of South Chinese Mountain.  It then follows a flagged route to a climbing wall.  The route goes around and up to the top of the climbing area.  This involves some big steps and minor scrambling. The effort is rewarded with great views.  About 3 hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate.  This is a short hike (5km) mostly without a maintained trail and one very steep section
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch

 

Hiking – Nugedzi Lakes – 22 Aug 2015

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 Rescheduled

Activity Hiking
Destination Nugedzi Lakes and overlooks
Date 22 Aug 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 285-3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will hike up the old logging road and into the forest.  This trip takes us through some old forest groves and on to the Nugedzi Lakes.  Hopefully, it will be warm enough for a swim.  We would like to visit both of the overlooks, which makes this a fairly long hike (about 12 km) with a moderate amount of elevation gain.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring a lunch and possibly a bathing suit.

 

Hiking – Channel Rock & Kw’as Park – 18 Aug 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Channel Rock and Kw’as Park Trails, Cortes Island
Date 18 August 2015, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 285-2393; Please would you let me know before Aug 4th. I need to inform Channel Rock of numbers.
Description I will organize car-pooling for this trip. We will leave on the first ferry to Cortes. The group will visit Channel Rock starting with a beautiful hike along the coast line to Channel Rock. Channel Rock is a 140 acre paradise, protected by a land covenant, powered by solar energy, & accessible by boat or by foot. Surrounded by stunning coastlines, lush forests, & magical ecosystems. Many interesting dwellings have been built over the years, built by the islander’s talented woodworkers, that fit into the natural landscape & offer examples of highest quality craftsmanship & natural building mediums. The gardens are not just bountiful but beautiful. This was the home of Gilean Douglas for over 40 years. Gilean was a journalist, historian, feminist & a nature writer. I have booked a tour for us. This will be our morning trip & in the afternoon we will hike the Kw’as Park Trail Network. This large network of trails varies in difficulty & time depending on the route taken. Trails lead along the side of Hague & Gunflint lakes, through deep old forests & over high manzanita covered bluffs. We will return on the 3:50 p.m ferry.
Meeting Place Cortes ferry line-up.
Departure Time 9:05 a.m. ferry
Difficulty
 easy – moderate
Costs Ferry cost plus Channel Rock tour $15
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring your lunch and water