| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Kay Dubois Trail and Whittington Woodlot |
| Date | 1 Dec, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Diana McKerracher |
| Contact Info | 250 285 3204 diana@gicable.com |
| Description | Join us for an easy morning hike starting on the Kay Dubois Trail and looping back through the Whittington Woodlot. The lower trail is flat, with a short climb at the end near Sutil Road. The road through the woodlot is flat but has some muddy sections. If the weather is good, we will stop for a tea break at the ocean viewpoint. |
| Meeting Place | South end of Fox Road at Whittington Woodlot gate |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | None |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs | |
| Notes: | Since this is such a short hike, there will not be a lunch break. We will stop for tea & snack at the ocean viewpoint midway along the route. Walking time approximately 1.5 hours. |
Category Archives: easy
Hiking – South Stramberg Route – 24 Nov 2021
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | South Stramberg Route |
| Date | 24 Nov, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Norris Weimer |
| Contact Info | norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710 Please contact the coordinator by Monday night. |
| Description | Starting at Open Bay Main, we will follow a logging road leading to Main Lake Park. From there we will hike east along an old logging road which joins the north-south route to the Stramberg old growth grove. This disused road is in good condition except for wet places and there is little elevation change. There is a creek very near the end, which is an awkward crossing. About 5.5 km; 2 hours, plus lunch. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay store parking lot. We will drive out in a group. |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | None |
| Trip limits | None |
| Dogs? | |
| Notes: | Bring gear appropriate for the weather and lunch. |
Hike – Karst and Water – 3 Nov 2021
| Activity | Hike |
| Destination | Karst and Water |
| Date | 3 Nov 2021, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Debbie Quigg |
| Contact Info | 285-3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca. |
| Description | Visit some of Quadra’s Quatsino limestone formations, an area which contains karst sinkholes, intakes, resurgences, underground streams and a waterfall. We will visit two areas, with a very short drive on a logging road. We will not be walking in caves, but there will be some brush. |
| Meeting Place | Intersection of Surge Narrows/ Bold Point Rd and Granite Bay Rd |
| Departure Time | 13:00 |
| Difficulty |
Easy to moderate |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | no |
| Notes: |
Trip Report – Cultural Walk – 20 Oct 2021
In honour of Truth and Reconciliation the QI Outdoor Club undertook a unique outing this week. Ten members, and one prospective member, went on an urban walk with a Reconciliation theme. Starting at the “Silver Lining” sculpture (K. McKenzie) with its accompanying homage to the missing children of Canada’s Indian Residential “Schools” (IRS) we set out on our urban “hike”. Downhill to the ferry, across the Passage, and then a sweat-inducing uphill walk to the Laichwiltach Family Society complex on 4th Avenue, on a typical fall day. After being welcomed there by two resident Elders we were introduced to Carey Newman’s “Witness Blanket”, a national monument to recognize the atrocities of the IRS. We spent time studying the replica of this monument (the original is at the Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg; see https://humanrights.ca/story/picking-up-the-pieces-the-making-of-the-witness-blanket for more information) and then heard the very impactful stories of two survivors of residential school. To help each one of us process the emotions and learnings of our experience, our Elder Hosts did a cedar brushing ceremony before our departure.
The next part of our journey took us on a short downhill walk to the Campbell River Museum and the “Sacred Journey” exhibit. https://crmuseum.ca/2021/01/04/sacred-journeys-exhibition/. This stunning multimedia exhibit is in its last weeks before moving on to Victoria and beyond. Produced by Heiltsuk Hemas, Frank Brown, to celebrate the history and renaissance of Pacific North West Coast canoe culture and 30 years of tribal journeys, the exhibit was made possible by the creative talents of several Quadra Islanders.
From the museum we continued our urban walk along Thulin Drive and back into downtown Campbell River where we took our lunch stop at the Crooked Spoon Cafe on Shoppers Row. This was a first for many of the group and the food and service received a very strong endorsement from all. The planned continuation of the trip to Tyee Spit was modified at this point. Well satiated on a big lunch and plenty of discussion, we all decided to continue the day doing our own thing!
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Fall walk
- Totem at Laichwiltach Centre
- Witness Blanket replica
- Witness Blanket detail
- Witness Blanket detail
- Thunderbird
- Residential School mortality
- Blanket and bead designs
- Witness Blanket detail
- Brushing away the darkness
- Steam donkey at the Museum
- Sacred Journey exhibit
- Mask within a mask
- Canoe replica
- Images inside the canoe
Trip Report – Newcomers’ Hike – 16 Oct 2021
Six hikers enjoyed a Wet Coast ramble through the beautiful Community Trails on our first-ever “Newcomers” hike. Three Club members were thrilled to welcome three Newcomers, and one “would-be” who was stuck in Nanaimo. (Hope you are able to join us on an outing soon, Norma!) Though we had originally planned an excursion through the lovely bike/hike trails south of Walcan Road, in the face of our latest monsoon we opted for the Community Trails, less muddy and slippery and more conducive to a relaxed outing. The ramble was ably led by Les, now the Community Trails expert thanks to his self-directed rehab after his leg surgery. Welcome back,Les! We saw many fungi of various sorts, and a downed, rotten alder was a good visual reminder of the dangers of being in the woods in the windstorms. As always, the Community Trails reminded us why we are so lucky to call Quadra our home, as “oldtimers” and as “newcomers”. 2¾ hrs, 7 km
Valerie van Veen
Thanks to Valerie, Les and everyone who contributed photos.
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Bracket Fungus
- Coral fungus
- Judy’s Memorial
- Community Centre trail
- Big Leaf Maple
- Danger tree down
- Homestead Maple
- Mushroom
- Track
Hiking – Newcomers’ Walk – 16 Oct 2021
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Trails South of Walcan Rd |
| Date | 16 Oct, Saturday |
| Trip Coordinator | Valerie van Veen |
| Contact Info | vvv@qisland.ca; 250 285 2329 |
| Description | This is an opportunity for newcomers to the Club, to Quadra, to hiking on Quadra, to enjoy a relaxed hike with Club members to learn more about our club and our activities. |
| Meeting Place | Morte Lake parking lot |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty |
Easy to moderate |
| Costs | None |
| Trip limits | None |
| Dogs? | No |
| Notes: | A relaxed hike on lovely forest trails, about 2 hours. Bring a snack, be dressed for weather. Hikers must keep distance when stopped. Must register with trip coordinator by Thursday Oct 14. |
Cultural Walk – Campbell River – 20 Oct 2021
| Activity | Urban / Cultural Walk |
| Destination | Laichwiltach Family Life Society, Campbell River Museum, and Tyee Spit |
| Date | 20 Oct. 2021, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Vic Gladish |
| Contact Info | vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; (cell 250-287-0459) |
| Description | In Honour of Truth and Reconciliation Day (September 30) this will be an urban walking experience from Q-Cove to the Laichwiltach Family Life Society to experience “The Witness Blanket” (http://www.lfls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Witness-Blanket-Poster-LFLS-09.20.21.pdf ) and then to the Museum at Campbell River to see the Sacred Journey exhibit (https://crmuseum.ca/2021/01/04/sacred-journeys-exhibition/) to be immersed in the resurging Indigenous canoe culture. From the museum we will proceed to an optional lunch stop at Crooked Spoon Cafe OR bag lunch at Robert Ostler Park. Those that prefer a shorter day can take the next ferry home. Others are welcome to continue the urban experience and head out to the Tyee Spit trail (via the Wei Wai Kum gift shop/gallery, netloft and cemetery) and back to the ferry terminal. Distance/time from Museum to Tyee Spit to Ferry is approximately 6.5 km/ 1.75 hours. |
| Meeting Place | Quathiaski Cove Plaza Parking |
| Departure Time | 8:30 for the 9:00 ferry on foot |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | Museum – $7 for senior; Laichwiltach Society – by donation?; |
| Trip limits | 12 |
| Dogs? | No |
| Notes: | 1. For more on the Witness Blanket and its creator, Carey Newman, visit https://humanrights.ca/story/picking-up-the-pieces-the-making-of-the-witness-blanket 2. QIOC is booked for 10:00 am with an Elder/Survivor to introduce us to the Witness Blanket. 3. To respect our hosts and because some of this activity is inside and discretionary, participants need to be fully vaccinated and use a mask when indoors. |
Hiking – Quinsam River Trails – 13 Oct 2021
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Quinsam River Trails |
| Date | 13 Oct, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Debbie Quigg |
| Contact Info | debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; 250-285-3710. Please contact the coordinator by Monday evening. |
| Description | We will hike along the west side of the Quinsam River, using hiking and mountain bike trails. This follows a variety of low and high bank along a picturesque river. There will be some muddy sections and possibly trail damage from dirt bikes. About 12.6km; 3½ hours. |
| Meeting Place | QCove ferry terminal |
| Departure Time | 9:00; drivers will need to be early to ensure that they can board |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | Ferry |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | No |
| Notes: |
Hiking – South End Loop – 14 July 2021
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | South End Loop |
| Date | 14 July, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Cyndy Chidley |
| Contact Info | Call / leave message with return phone number: 250 285-3575 Please reply by July 13th, 7 p.m. |
| Description | This will be a loop hike along Kay Dubois Trail, up connector path to Woodlot Trail then 2 1/2 km. south to lovely meadow by creek for snack. This is a forested walk. Return to vehicles via Kay Dubois. Approximately 5 km., 3 hours. |
| Meeting Place | Park at end of Wa Wa Kei Road at northern terminal of Kay Dubois Trail. |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Costs | None |
| Trip limits | 12 |
| Dogs? | Dogs are welcome |
| Notes: | Bring drinking water and small snack. |
Trip Report – Morte Lake Loop – 9 June 2021
The hike around Morte Lake is a familiar classic to many of us. There have been lots of changes in the past two years so this hike gave us an opportunity to experience some of those changes. Volunteers have been busy creating alternatives to trail sections that were wet or seriously eroded.
In spite of grizzly bear sightings and a rainy weather forecast, seven of us met at the Morte Lake parking lot and set off under sunny skies. We hiked counter clockwise, stopping for a snack on a bluff overlooking the lake. It started to rain lightly as we ate our lunch at the sandy beach on the south end. We returned to the parking via lower Deadfish Trail. It was a great to spend the day hiking and chatting with new people after so many months of isolation.
4 hours total (with snack & lunch stops) 9.5 km
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Little Morte Lake
- Morte Lake
- Twinflower
- Elevenses
- Columbine
- Trail Gnome
- South beach
Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 9 June 2021










































