Category Archives: dogs OK

Trip Report – Eagle Ridge – 28 June 2017

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We had four different trips scheduled for June 28th at different times. It was like musical chairs; the weather just wouldn’t cooperate. In the end, five of us hiked to Eagle Ridge from the end of Leishman Rd.  The logging road we walked makes a good approach through mostly mature open forest. There is one spectacular old growth fir near the road. We joined the official Eagle Ridge trail at the wetlands and hiked up to the open ridge with great views of Discovery Passage and the Vancouver Island mountains on a beautiful sunny day.  On the return trip, we appreciated the eagle, dragonflies, song sparrow and mama duck with 11 ducklings in the pond. And the wildflowers were amazing: lupine, foxglove, sedum, ocean spray, twin flower, arnica, yarrow, daisy, pussytoes, and more.  4.9 km; 2¾ hours.

Debbie

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Hiking – Newton Lake – 26 July 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Newton Lake with possible extension to Waiatt Bay
Date 26 July 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell
Contact Info darcy.mitchell@shaw.ca  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description Hiking from the Newton Lake trailhead (Granite Bay) to Newton Lake for lunch and swimming; if everyone is up for it, we can then hike down to the portage trail and hike to Waiatt Bay and back. Bring lunch and snacks.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store (coordinator will meet the group at the Newton Lake trailhead)
Departure Time 10 a.m. at HB store parking lot
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? On leash
Notes:

Trip Report – Beech’s Mountain Loop – 21 June 2017

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With the arrival of a strong high pressure ridge and the first day of summer, the time was right to hike the Beech’s Mountain loop. Eight hikers and two dogs climbed Beech’s Mountain via the South Chinese Trail. Beech’s trail follows a series of rock bluffs between fir and hemlock forested sections, with arguably the best views of any trail on the Island, scanning the far distance to the south, west and east at various viewpoints.   The dry weather was welcome, since there are several steep sections on rock. After numerous photo stops and a rest at the top, the group continued on a route only, descending the north side and dropping down to an old logging road. After about fifteen minutes on the road, we followed a convoluted route over another series of bluffs which brought us to the North Chinese Mountain trail. From here, it was a straightforward walk down the steep trail to the parking lot.  The second half of this loop is not recommended unless hiking with someone who knows the route down the far side of Beech’s Mountain. The Davidson’s penstemons at the top were sadly all but finished blooming, but there was columbine, yarrow, saxiphrage, brodiaea, yellow monkey flower and veronica along the way. Total time was four and a half hours; 6.9 km.

Janis

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Hiking – Beech’s Mtn Loop – 14 June 2017

Camping, Hiking, Kayaking – Savary Island – 7-9 Aug 2017

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Activity Camping, hiking, kayaking
Destination Savary Island
Date 7-9 August 2017, Monday to Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Cyndy Chidley
Contact Info 250-285-3575; Please make arrangements with the coordinator well in advance of the trip.
Description
Savary is a jewel of an island surrounded by white sand beaches.  We will hike or kayak on Tuesday.  Cyndy’s place is off grid with two outdoor composting toilets, a wood fired sauna, and indoor propane cooking facilities.  There is a solar panel for lights and charging cell phones. Water is hand pumped.  Remember that August is the busiest time of year and Monday is a holiday.
Getting there: Your own boat (kayak, motor or sailboat).  There is no moorage on a dock; you can anchor. Other options are a water taxi from Campbell River, or a water taxi combined with truck taxi from Lund.  These can be shared.  There is also a 15 minute reasonably priced float plane ride on Coralair from Campbell River that will land you close to the cabin, weather permitting, if you reserve ahead.
Meeting Place Cyndy’s place, Savary Island
Departure Time Arrive Savary on Monday, Aug 7 and depart on Wednesday, Aug 9 on you own schedule
Difficulty
 Easy to Medium…Hiking or kayaking would take most of one day
Costs Cost of transportation to Savary Island
Trip limits 10 people
Dogs? Yes if hiking; No if kayaking.  Dogs love Savary Island, but you must pack water for them.
Notes: Please bring your own gear for camping, cooking and boating, as well as your own food.  Kayaks are not available to rent on Savary, so you need to bring your own if you want to kayak.  We ask that you take your garbage off the island when you leave with the exception of burnables and compost.

Hiking – Mt. Seymour – 19 July 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Seymour on north end of Quadra
Date 19 July, 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Mark Zimmerman / Kathryn Manry
Contact Info 285-22103.  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip.
Description Hike up to the summit of Mt Seymour. We will do this as a loop (to include Nugedzi Lakes) if car pooling permits. This is a moderately demanding hike with an elevation gain of about 425 metres and about 12 km for the loop route. The trail is steep in places but there is no scrambling.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot
Departure Time 9:00 am
Difficulty
 Moderately difficult
Costs none other than possibly offering to share gas expense for car pooling
Trip limits 12
Dogs? Very well behaved or on leash (bring a leash)
Notes: Bring lunch and lots of water.

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 12 July 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Morte Lake Loop
Date 12 July, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 285-3978; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will hike the official Morte Lake loop, with opportunities for a picnic lunch and swimming.  4 to 5 hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Moderate.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? okay
Notes: Bring lunch and something to swim in, if you want to.

 

Trip Report – Shellalligan Trail – 14 June 2017

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The scheduled Beech’s Mountain loop was postponed due to a weather forecast of showers. Instead the group of eight hikers and two dogs hiked the Shellalligan trail. As it turned out, the weather was fine – cloudy and a bit breezy in exposed places, but no rain. We walked along the open rock shelves adjacent to Hoskyn Channel, with good views eastward to Read Island and Dunsterville Island. Further along, we had long views south to Marina Island, Mitlenatch Island and beyond. As the trail turned west and inland a bit we entered Village Bay. Sitka spruce made an appearance along the trail, and numerous very large and gorgeous maple trees greeted the group.   We dropped down to a rocky beach on Village Bay for lunch. The second half of the loop took us through varied forest of different species and age classes, very lush and green at this time of year. Trip time was three hours; 4.7 km. We convened at the home of Valerie and Allard Van Veen in Open Bay for tea and cake, with great views of Open Bay and good conversation. Thank you Valerie!

Janis

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Hiking – Darkwater Lake & Kanish Bay – 28 June 2017

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 Rescheduled from June 28

Activity Hiking
Destination Darkwater Lake and Kanish Bay
Date 1 Aug 2017, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description A short hike to Darkwater Lake on a flagged trail, about 1 km round-trip. There might be swimming potential. Darkwater Lake is a bit south of Kanish Bay. We will also do a short walk to Kanish Bay on an old logging road, about 2 km roundtrip. There is also the possibility of walking an old logging road on Bodega Point if the group is interested.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30 10:00
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? okay
Notes: This trip will be dependent on logging activity in the area. There is quite a bit of driving on active and old logging roads to reach the two areas.

 

Trip Report – Hopespring – Homewood Loop – 24 May 2017

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Ten hikers and three dogs enjoyed a three and a half hour hike on a loop of trails and routes in the Heriot Ridge area. The weather was sunny and cool with a brisk northwest wind blowing. Starting at the Hopespring trailhead, we walked up to the height of land, then headed south along Heriot Ridge. Our first stop was the location of the new North Island communication tower. From there we dropped off the south end of the ridge and proceeded south through the woods to High Bluff where we had great views south and west.   We hiked west on the High Bluff trail, then south on Gowlland Harbour trail to Homewood Bluff where we stopped for lunch and enjoyed more views west to the Vancouver Island Mountains.   Dropping off the east side of Homewood Bluff, we picked up the High Bluff trail back to High Bluff, then north across Heriot Ridge to Hopespring trail and back to the vehicles. The wildflowers on the open bluffs of Heriot Ridge were a bonus.  5.9 km.

Janis

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Hiking – Hopespring – Homewood Loop – 24 May 2017

Hiking – Ripple Rock Trail – 10 May 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Ripple Rock Trail
Date 10 May 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Diana
Contact Info 285-3204 or diana@gicable.com.  Contact coordinator about car pooling by May 9.
Description 8 km round trip hike on Ripple Rock Trail, 16 km north of Campbell River. If you have hiked the Maud Island trail on Quadra, this hike shows the Ripple Rock site from the other side of the strait. Bring lunch. Approximate time 4 hours.
Meeting Place Q Cove ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 am ferry.  If you are driving, come early for this busy ferry.
Difficulty
 Moderate, with some steep sections
Costs Ferry fare
Trip limits None
Dogs? Must be on leash or under control
Notes: Contact coordinator by May 9 to make carpooling arrangements ahead of time so we are not taking too many cars over.