Category Archives: easy

Kayaking/hiking – Hyacinthe Bay & Point – 20 June 2018

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Activity Kayaking and hiking
Destination Hyacinthe Bay and Point
Date 20 June 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710
Description We will have a short paddle in the Heriot Bay-Hyacinthe Bay area and then visit the proposed ecological reserve on Hyacinthe Bay.  We plan to hike into the Kellerhalls property and Crown Land adjoining the proposed ecological reserve.  The hike is on old logging roads, marked but rough trails.  The route is undulating, sometimes very steep, sometimes a bit exposed, with good views west and south.  If the group wishes we can extend the kayak portion by touring Heriot Bay.
Meeting Place Len Road
Departure Time Arrive at 9:30 to be on the water at 10:00
Difficulty
 easy kayaking/challenging hiking
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: We are expecting hot weather and big tides.  All kayak outings are dependent on weather. Bring your kayak with appropriate flotation, paddle and recommended spray skirt, plus required safety equipment: life jacket, heaving line, bailer or pump, and whistle. Bring hiking shoes and hiking poles are recommended for the hike to Hyacinthe Point.  Bring lunch and lots of water.

Trip Report – Gowlland Harbour – 2 May 2018

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A light wind started the day, however it soon diminished. Fifteen kayakers met at Gowlland Harbour Resort, we were all on the water before 10:30 a.m. Kayaked southeast, around the point of Stag Island. All the islands were painted in yellows, reds, blues & splashes of white flowers, extremely beautiful. We stopped at Vigilant Island, aka Tree Island and explored the area. The flowers were amazing, we even found chocolate lilies growing, also discovered a mass of large bones, probably a sea lion. To stand on this island and look at the flowers with the backdrop of snow covered mountains, unbelievable. We live here! Kayaked around the shore of the island viewing sea urchins, starfish, displaying a mass of colour in the ocean. The seals watched us and probably celebrated when we left. We then kayaked over to May Island, the tide was low and found adequate spaces for all to land. Enjoyed our lunches and chatter. Off again to view the ship wreck and kayaked over to the shore of Quadra. Traveling down the shoreline was such a treat, cascades of water, wildflowers in an abundance. The tugboats were still working, taking out log booms. Arriving back at Gowlland Harbour Resort, we were filled with memories of a pretty perfect day.
Thank you to all kayakers for your help, the sharing of stories, delicious cookies, laughter and to be together. And thanks to Gowlland Harbour Resort for giving us permission to launch from their private property.  Wishing you all beautiful memories of this day.
Margot

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Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 2 May 2018

Kayaking – Main Lake Prov Park – 30 May 2018

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This trip has been changed to a day-trip on Wednesday.

Activity Kayaking Multi-day kayaking/camping
Destination Main Lake Provincial Park
Date 30 May 2018, Wednesday 29-31 May 2018, Tuesday-Thursday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 2029 or leshand@gicable.com
Description The destination will be determined by the group when we depart the boat ramp.  Camping on Main Lake, probably on the north shore, with day paddling/hiking.  Possible day trips are: kayaking to Little Main Lake up Shadow Brook Creek, kayaking to the east end of the lake and hiking to Yeatman Bay, and/or kayaking to the north shore and hiking up to Clear Lake.
Meeting Place Boat launch, Mine Lake
Departure Time 10:00 10:30 a.m.  Plan to be at the launch site by 9:30.
Difficulty
 Probably easy, unless it’s windy
Costs As of 2017 there is a $5/person/night fee for camping between May 15 and Sept 15.
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Participants need to have all required safety equipment.  Here is the link to the Park information.  Everyone is responsible for their own kayaking gear, camping equipment and meals, but cooking groups would be a good idea.  I will send a list of people who have signed up a week before the event to facilitate planning, so please let me know if you are interested no later than May 15.  We’ll plan to come back after lunch on the 3rd day, so will have 2 half days and one full day to explore the park.

 

Hiking – North Gowlland Trail Loop – 10 Oct 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination North Gowlland Trail Loop
Date 10 Oct 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info 3614; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description A series of bike trails including Cash Only, Little Black Dress, Silk Stocking, Bite the Bullet and Sam’s Shorty, to start and end on North Gowlland Harbour Road.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Moderate (some steep sections)
Costs None
Trip limits
Dogs? Okay
Notes: Bring snacks/lunch; hiking poles; time approx. 3 hours.

 

Hiking – Homewood Trails Loop – 22 August 2018

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Change of start time!

Activity Hiking
Destination Homewood Trails Loop
Date 22 August 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info 3614; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description Hopespring trail, south on Homewood trail to Homewood Bluff. Loop trail to High Bluff and north along Heriot Ridge to Hopespring trail.
Meeting Place Hopespring trailhead
Departure Time 8:30 9:30
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate (on bluff climbs)
Costs None
Trip limits
Dogs? Okay
Notes: Bring snacks/lunch; hiking poles for the up and down; time approx. 2.5 to 3 hours.

 

Hiking – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 4 July 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Rousseau Ridge Loop
Date 4 July 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info 3614; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description Hopespring and Gowlland trails to Rousseau Ridge, then continuing on Gowlland trail, crossing N. Gowlland Harbour road and returning via Gowlland and Thompson trails.
Meeting Place Hopespring trailhead
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate (on the Rousseau bluff)
Costs None
Trip limits
Dogs? Okay
Notes: Bring snacks/lunch; hiking poles for the up and down; time approx. 3 hours.

 

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 2 May 2018

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Gowlland Harbour
Date 2 May 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 250-285-2393
Description We will meet, help each other to launch from Gowlland Harbour Resort.
We will kayak the islands to see the beautiful wild flowers. Kayak to May Island for our lunch.  Visiting the islands in Gowlland Harbour.  Returning to the launch area at approximately 2 p.m.
Meeting Place Gowlland Harbour Resort boat launch, 823 Gowlland Harbour Rd.
Departure Time 10:30 (unload and prepare at 10:00)
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: This trip is dependent on weather.  Bring your ocean kayak, paddle plus safety equipment. Bring your own lunch and water. I will meet you at the launch site at 10:00.  We help each other with kayak launch.
Gowlland Harbour Resort has kindly granted us permission to use their boat launch for this trip. This is not a public access.

Trip Report – Deepwater Bay – 12 Apr 2018

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Because the weather forecast was poor, we saved the planned view trip for another day when we would have a view, and chose another destination below cloud level.  We also postponed it a day to avoid the worst weather.  As luck would have it, we had a beautiful sunny day for a hike down to Deepwater Bay and back.

The first part of the hike was an unexpected detour through the forest around work to renew the old road for future logging operations.  Trees alongside of the roadway had been neatly felled onto the logging road and not yet cleaned up.  Beyond that, the walking was good except for a bit of erosion and a landslide on the north bank of the creek, which swept trees across to the south bank and the trail.  The whitewater stream was impressive with recent rains and there were several waterfalls.  We had lunch at the Bay in warm sunshine and returned uphill to the vehicle. 4.4 km; 2½ hours.  

As the hike was fairly short, we made a side trip to some of the nearby karst sinkholes.  There was a report that the creek had re-routed.  However, there was some water in the insurgent and resurgent creek, though not as much might be expected with recent rain.

– Norris

(click on photos to view larger)

 

Trip Report – Miracle Beach & Salmon Pt – 28 March 2018

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Seven of us took the 10:00 ferry and drove to Miracle Beach. There is a provincial park here as well as a large picnic area and many small trails. There are huge sand flats when the tide is out. Although not many birds while we were there, this can be a great place for bird viewing. We walked along the beach to Black Creek. Then followed it up to the campground and back to the vehicles. 2.5 km and about 45 minutes.

We then drove up to the Salmon Point Restaurant and Pub for a delicious lunch. After we walked the ocean side trail to Oyster River Nature Park. We made a loop through it and back to Salmon Point. There were quite a few birds on this trail and a pair of bald eagles perched on the light tower at Salmon Point. 6.5 km and about 1 hour and 35 minutes.

Les

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Miracle Beach & Salmon Pt – 28 March 2018

Trip Report – Hikes from Open Bay Main – 28 Feb 2018

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The weather forecast was not good. Bad actually: heavy rain and high winds.  But seven hikers ventured out anyway.  First we walked a trail along Open Bay Creek, a nice salmon stream, and walked back on a logging road.  There had been quite a lot of logging east of the road since our last trip here. 3.2 km; 1 hour.

There was snow on the trail and it was slippery, so for the second act we hiked to Stramberg Lake instead of the planned Crikey Creek mountain bike trails. The mountain bike trails were steep and the route to Stramberg was flat, but the snow was a bit deep in places.  We stopped for lunch out of the wind and then took the old logging road into Main Lakes Park.  We followed the side trail down to Stramberg Lake for the wintery view and then returned. 4.5 km; 1½ hours.

There were some wet feet from the snow. On the plus side, we were quite sheltered in these forests from the wind, and it didn’t start raining hard until we got back.  There were lots of huge wolf prints in the snow.

– Norris

(click on photos to view larger)

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos

Hiking – Hikes from Open Bay Main- 28 Feb 2018