| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Deepwater Bay |
| Date | 17 February |
| Trip Coordinator | Mark and Kathryn |
| Contact Info | 250-285-2103; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip |
| Description | Hiking on old road grade, passing old railway trestle on way in. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay grocery store |
| Departure Time | 10:00 am |
| Difficulty |
Suitable for most |
| Costs | |
| Trip limits | 10 |
| Dogs? | If well behaved |
| Notes: | Be prepared for wet |
On Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, three intrepid hikers (Valerie, Norris, and Julie and one dog, Briar) braved the latest storm cycle to explore some of the logging roads in the Open Bay area. Starting point was the junction of Granite Bay Road and Village Bay Lakes Road. A short walk eastward on the old logging road across from the Granite Bay Road, led to (locally named) Beaver Lake, a popular skating destination, now overflowing its banks due to the recent heavy rains. We noted that this lake would make an ideal swim/picnic stop in summer. A flagged route on the east end of the lake beckoned, and we bushwhacked along the route through mature forest for about 45 minutes to reach an impassible creek and waterfalls. As we navigated the wet forests and huge mud puddles, we were rewarded with mild temperatures and the sun peeking through the rising mists. A wider, cut trail led north away from the creek, which led us to a logging road and a reforested clearcut. We followed this road northwards, paralleling the Gravel Pit hill on Village Bay Lakes Road to the west of us. We then turned onto Village Bay Lakes Road and slogged uphill to our cars, completing a two hour excursion. Julie’s shortbread treats for our morning’s efforts were much appreciated. There are many more logging roads in the area to explore which would make good winter (low level) hikes, and Norris noted another flagged route for future outings.
Valerie
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| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Logging roads near Village Bay Lakes Rd and Valdez Road |
| Date | |
| Trip Coordinator | Valerie van Veen |
| Contact Info | 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca Please confirm with trip coordinator by 8 pm Dec. |
| Description | This is a chance to explore some of the inactive logging roads off Village Bay Lakes and Valdez. If good weather plan for 4 hours, bring lunch; wet weather plan for a 2 hour walk. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay Store or at junction of Granite Bay Road and Village Bay Lakes Road |
| Departure Time | 10:00 am from Heriot Bay store 10:15 am from Granite Bay junction |
| Difficulty |
easy |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | yes, must be under control at all times |
| Notes: | Depending on what we find, we might explore several roads to get in a good walk. |
We expected rain and wind, but only had overcast and mist – a mild, gentle day. Four of us started at the Morte Lake parking lot and hiked up the main trail toward the lake. We turned off just before Little Morte Lake, crossed a small creek and joined the mountain bike trails. We followed Dead Fish over the saddle and descended to the WalCan Rd on Lost Rider. We crossed the WalCan Rd and took Yellow Mud trail along the creek and through the forest, continuing on to see Wood Duck Lake and the beaver dam. The water was quite high in the lake, there were a few ducks and it was absolutely calm. We returned along Yellow Mud, turned onto Jack Rabbit, crossed the creek and returned to the Morte Lake parking lot. It was a lovely walk for an overcast day. 8.1 km; about two hours.
Debbie
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The promised sunshine never happened, but we had a mild, foggy day for this hike with four people. We began on the Hope Spring Trail and then continued on to the mossy bluffs at the south end of Heriot Ridge. We traversed along and then climbed up to the High Bluff, which in better weather has a great view. We descended and took the Homewood trail through the forest travelling more-or-less east. We looped around to meet back up with the Gowlland Trail and continued on to the always impressive Old Growth Grove for lunch. We finished the loop following the Thompson Trail. There were lots of mushroom and fall leaves. 9.3 km; 3½ hours.
Debbie
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When Mt. Seymour was postponed for the second time because of rainy weather, Julie decided that we should get out anyway, so four of us and two dogs went to Rebecca Spit. The first ever Outdoor Club trip to Rebecca Spit! It was a very low tide and only lightly raining. We did the grand tour: from Heriot Bay Road through the campground to Paddy’s Lagoon, along the outside shore to the tip of the spit and back again. It was a leisurely walk, taking in all the sights: mushroom, newts, a garter snake, a careened sailboat, and beach architecture. Two hours.
Debbie
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On a lovely fall day, ten of us hiked the loop from the logging bridge over the Campbell River up to the series of falls below the John Hart dam and back. We started along the south bank of the river passed fishermen and later the construction on the new generating facilities, then along the Millennium Trail to the spectacular new viewing platform and suspension bridge over the canyon below Elk Falls. We continued on the Riverside Trail to see Deer and Moose Falls, where we ate lunch on the rocks on the sun. We returned by the well-named Old Growth Trail to the Millennium Trail and then the Canyon View Trail to the north side of the Campbell River. There were quite a few pink salmon making their upstream migration. It’s a very scenic river through a beautiful forest. 12.1 km; about 5 hours.
Debbie
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Six club members enjoyed a relaxed day at the Lakes. We launched from the Mine Lake boat ramp at 10:00 and paddled around the Main Lake islands, landing at the sandy beach at the east end of the lake about 11:45. After lunch, most of the group walked the trail to Yeatman Bay, picking mushroom along the way. We returned to the boat ramp at 2:30. On this calm, mainly sunny day, we had the lakes almost to ourselves. It was a very pleasant early fall outing (with a small bonus of chanterelles…).
Darcy Mitchell, coordinator
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| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Elk Falls and Campbell River |
| Date | 30 Sept 2015, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Emily Toman |
| Contact Info | emitoman@shaw.ca or 250-923-7122; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip |
| Description | We will take the 9:00 ferry to Campbell River. It’s possible to do a loop around the Campbell River and Elk Falls, including the new suspension bridge and the upper falls. This hike includes some great views and sections of old growth forest. It’s about 12 km round trip with some steep sections. The trail has a very good surface. |
| Meeting Place | Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River. Car pools should be arranged in advance. |
| Departure Time | Those taking cars need to be early enough to get on the 9:00 ferry. |
| Difficulty |
easy to moderate |
| Costs | ferry |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | Okay, but must be on a leash at all times. |
| Notes: | Bring lunch |
| Activity | Kayaking |
| Destination | Main Lake Provincial Park |
| Date | 9 Sept 2015, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Darcy Mitchell |
| Contact Info | darcm@telus.net or 285-2739. Please contact Darcy by Monday if you plan to go. |
| Description | A relaxed paddle/picnic/swim/hike at the Lakes |
| Meeting Place | Boat launch, Mine Lake |
| Departure Time | 10:00 am |
| Difficulty |
easy |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | no |
| Notes: | We’ll plan to be back at the boat launch by 3:00 p.m. Bring lunch and snacks. |
Quadra Island Outdoor Club 