| 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. |
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
(click on photos to view larger)
| 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 |
| 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. |
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
(click on photos to view larger)
| 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. |
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | North Gowlland Harbour bike trail loop |
| Date | 5 July 2017, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Janis McLean |
| Contact Info | 285-3614; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip. |
| Description | Carpool to North Gowlland Habour Road trailhead. We will traverse a large loop of mountain bike trails, passing by the old copper mining area on Silk Stocking trail, and returning to the vehicles via trails and old logging roads. 3 hours. Bring lunch or snack. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay store parking lot |
| Departure Time | 9:00 |
| Difficulty |
easy to moderate |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | yes |
| Notes: |
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Beech’s Mountain Loop |
| Date | 21 |
| Trip Coordinator | Janis McLean |
| Contact Info | 285-3614; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip. |
| Description | Carpool to Chinese Mountain parking lot. HIke up South Chinese Mountain trail and carry on to Beech’s Mountain summit. From there, we will drop down the far side of Beech’s and follow a route which will bring us to the North Chinese Mountain trail and back to the vehicles. Time – 3 hours. Bring a lunch or snack. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay store parking lot |
| Departure Time | 9:00 |
| Difficulty |
moderate |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | yes |
| Notes: |
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Hopespring/Homewood Loop |
| Date | 24 May 2017, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Janis McLean |
| Contact Info | 285-3614; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip. |
| Description | Begins on Hopespring trail, then south on Heriot Ridge, stopping at the new communications tower and carrying on south to High Bluff. From there we follow east High Bluff trail to Homewood Bluff, then drop off the southwest side of the bluff to follow Gowlland trail back to the west High Bluff trail. Then north across a ridge route to Hopespring trail and back to the vehicles. About 2 1/2 to 3 hours. |
| Meeting Place | Hopespring Trailhead on Hopespring Rd. |
| Departure Time | 9:00 |
| Difficulty |
easy to moderate |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | yes |
| Notes: | Bring lunch and appropriate gear. |
Six hikers and two dogs, Joe and Luna, enjoyed a three and a half hour hike on a loop which was new to most of the group. The weather was cloudy and mild with no rain. Starting at the Thompson trailhead, we hiked to the first viewpoint and proceeded on a route north down the ridge, dropped off the ridge at the big moss-covered maple tree and continued on a route through the forest to the old B&B trail. We turned up the B&B trail, hiking along the pretty bedrock stream as far as the logging road crossing. The group walked down this road towards North Gowlland Harbour Road. We saw one rough-skinned newt on the road, and more in the water-filled quarry. Not far past the quarry we turned south on a fairly new bike trail leading towards Rousseau Ridge. After climbing the ridge, we took a break to enjoy the view and have lunch. Our return route followed the Gowlland Harbour trail, then the Thompson trail back to the vehicles.
Janis
(click on photos to view larger)
Thanks to Stephen for the photos.
Four of us had a leisurely walk along the Kay Dubois Loop. We followed the path along the coast, climbed the hill and hiked Fox Main and descended by the steep, unofficial trail back to the big Sitka Spruce. The loop was new to many on the trip. About 1 1/2 hours.
Julie
Quadra Island Outdoor Club 