| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Hopespring – Thompson Trail Loop |
| Date | 15 November 2017, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Julie Mellanby |
| Contact Info | phone 3978. Please contact the coordinator in advance. |
| Description | This is a moderate loop through varied forest, including some old growth. The walk passes by wetlands, creeks, rocky bluffs. This is relatively protected in rainy weather, but if the day provides the opportunity, there are views along the way. |
| Meeting Place | Hopespring Trailhead |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty | moderate |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | okay |
| Notes: | You might bring a snack, but lunch isn’t expected on the trail. |
Category Archives: dogs OK
Trip Report – Main Lake from Surge Narrows Rd – 8 Nov 2017
Six of us hiked the flagged route from the Surge Narrows Rd to the east end of Main Lake. The day was mild and the brush was dry as we followed the old logging road making a side trip to an un-named lake. After briefly thrashing in the brush in the wrong direction, we continued through lovely, open forest with lots of white pine and some old growth cedar and fir. However, there are some sections with major blow-down, which is not just stepped over, but involves the full-body climb up and over. Near to Main Lake we admired some exceptional old growth Douglas fir and the water falls. We had lunch at the picnic tables at the campground, enjoying the view of the Lake. After lunch some remained and enjoyed a fire in the campground fire ring, while others hiked on to Yeatman Bay. We followed the flagged route back to the vehicles, which is rather more uphill. 9.7 km; 4½ hours.
Debbie
(click on photos to view larger)
- Joe in the un-named lake
- Stump with springboard notches
- Impressive old growth Fir
- Main Lake
- Main Lake
- Mushrooms
- Yeatman Bay
- Wide trail to Yeatman Bay
- White pine cone clothes line
- Moss and mushroom
- Puff balls
Trip Report – Mt. Seymour – 30 Oct 2017
Six of us took advantage of the fantastic fall weather to hike up to Mt. Seymour to enjoy the views. The cooler, crisp air was perfect for hiking. There were hardly any mushrooms on the way up in this drier environment. We enjoyed the views all along the open, rocky bluffs and visited the three outlooks at the summit for a nearly complete view. We had lunch on the east-facing bluff and stayed quite a while. We could have stayed there all day! 8.0 km; 4½ hours.
– Norris
(click on photos to view larger)
- Fungus
- Little Nugedzi Lake
- Mt Doogie Dowler
- Mainland mountains
- Looking east
Hiking – Alternate Morte Lake Loop – 1 Nov 2017
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Alternate Morte Lake Loop |
| Date | 1 Nov 2017, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Debbie Quigg |
| Contact Info | debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 285-3710. Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip. |
| Description | We will use mountain bike trails and official trails to make a loop. We expect to start on Morning Beer, but the exact length of the loop will depend on conditions and the group. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty |
moderate |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | okay if under control |
| Notes: | Bring lunch and water. |
Hiking – Stramberg Old Growth – 25 Oct 2017
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Stramberg Old Growth |
| Date | 25 Oct 2017, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Norris Weimer |
| Contact Info | norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 285-3710. Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip. |
| Description | This trail begins near Village Bay Lake and follows open meadows leading into and through the forest on old, unmaintained logging roads. The reward at the end of the hike is a grove of old growth firs. This is not an official trail. Expect blow-down and brush. About 13 km; 5 hours or more. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools |
| Departure Time | 09:30 |
| Difficulty |
moderate, due to unmaintained trail and quite long |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | okay if under control |
| Notes: | Bring lunch and water. |
Hiking – Shellaligan Pass – 27 Sept 2017
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Shellaligan Pass |
| Date | 27 Sept 2017, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Julie Mellanby |
| Contact Info | 250-285-3978; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip |
| Description | This is a classic Quadra walk along rocky bluffs overlooking Hoskyn’s Channel and Village Bay, and through forest. Depending on the group, we can do the shorter or the longer loop. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay grocery store parking lot |
| Departure Time | 9:30 am |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | yes |
| Notes: | Bring lunch |
Trip Report – Nugedzi Lakes & Lookouts – 16 Aug 2017
The five of us and a dog enjoyed all the lakes and lookouts along the Nugedzi trails. We stopped at two viewpoints off the steep section on the old road, with views to the northeast which were somewhat hazy with smoke. We then continued on to the Lily Pond and the viewpoint looking southeast. We hiked through the ancient forest arriving at Nugedzi Lake in time for lunch and a refreshing swim. Continuing on, we stopped at the viewpoints over Discovery Passage and then retraced our steps, making the loop to Little Nugedzi on the return. Everyone enjoyed the hike and returned pleasantly tired, especially Joe, the dog. 11.5 km; 5½ hours.
Debbie and Julie
(click on photos to view larger)
- Looking northeast
- Sundew
- the Lily Pond
- Looking southeast
- in the Ancient Forest
- Nugedzi Lake
- Looking west to Vancouver Island
- Busy in Discovery Passage
- Gentian
Trip Report – Kanish Bay & Darkwater Lake – 1 Aug 2017
The hike to Mt. Becher was postponed due to super hot weather, poor visibility from BC forest fires, and ferry overloads. Instead we opted for a cooler, local hike to Kanish Bay and Darkwater Lake. After a long drive over rough logging roads, with a few stops for lake views and wildflowers, we parked and walked to Kanish Bay along a somewhat overgrown old logging road. It was pleasant and cool in the forest and there were still more wildflowers. Views of Kanish Bay don’t come easily, but we bushwhacked down to a gravel beach for lunch, views and a breeze.
We walked back to the vehicle and drove toward Darkwater Lake. The walk is very short, through open understory forest, to the mossy peninsula. We sat on the rocks by the lake and Julie swam in the cool water. 4.0 for Kanish Bay; 1.4 km to Darkwater; 2½ hours total without the driving.
– Norris
(click on photos to view larger)
- Sundew
- Pearly Everlasting
- Fireweed
- Hop clover
- Kanish Bay looking NE
- Kanish Bay looking NW
- Canada Geese
- Puff balls
- Darkwater Lake
- Dragonfly
Hike – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 16 August 2017
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Nugedzi Lakes and Views |
| Date | 16 July 2017, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Julie Mellanby |
| Contact Info | 3978; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip. |
| Description | Hike up a steep, old logging road and meander through open forest to the lovely Nugedzi Lakes. If the group wants more, there are side trips to viewpoints looking northeast, southeast and west. Nugedzi Lake is a good swimming spot. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay Store for car pooling |
| Departure Time | 9:30 |
| Difficulty | moderate |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | okay |
| Notes: | Bring lunch |
Trip Report – Mt. Seymour – 19 July 2017
After some discussion about the most advantageous direction for doing the loop around Nugedzi Lake and Mt Seymour (lake-then-summit won) 8 hikers set off, did a quick car drop-off and started up the Nugedzi Lake trail. It is steeper than the approach from the Granite Bay Road, and we were happy to do that climb before the day got any hotter. Brief stops were made at a couple of viewpoints, and before noon the group was settled on the “mermaid rock” by Nugedzi Lake. A couple of hikers plunged in for a quick swim. We ate our lunch enjoying the breeze across the lake, and then made our way along the path that skirts the rest of the lake. With more sun exposure, but also more breeze, headed up to the ridge toward Mt Seymour summit. It is not a substantial elevation gain from the lake, but after about 30 minutes of sinuous up-and-down along the ridge one is always thinking “alright – I am ready for the summit”. Once at the top, there was a bit of overcast to temper the sun as we enjoyed the view. The trip down to the Granite Bay Road was a gentle descent, on a pretty mossy trail with welcome shade. We were out by about 3 pm. 10.6 km; 5⅓ hours.
Kathryn
(click on photos to view larger)
- Mainland mountains
- Pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys)
- Older pinesap
- Nugedzi Lake
- Little Nugedzi Lake
- Tiger lily
- Gnome Plant (Hemitomes)
- Little Nugedzi Lake
- Plantain Orchid (Goodyera oblongifolia)
- View Southeast from Mt. Seymour






































































