Category Archives: easy

Hiking – Manson’s Landing Loop, Cortes – 22 May 2024

Posted on by
1

Activity Hiking
Destination Manson’s Landing Loop Cortes
Date 22 May, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Cyndy Chidley
Contact Info 250-285-3575 or kasoltan@gmail.com
Description After crossing on the ferry, we will drive to Manson’s Landing Lagoon and take advantage of the low mid-day tide to explore the lagoon and islands. We will then take a trail along the lagoon and through the forest to Hague Lake. We will follow the beach and roads to the Coop, where we will likely stop for lunch. After exploring the Manson’s Landing Community Hall and museum, we will take the trail back to the lagoon through the forest. There will likely be enough time to visit Smelt Bay and walk on the beach there.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay ferry terminal to Cortes.
Departure Time 9:05 ferry; come very early, shortly after 8:00, to avoid the overload.
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs Ferry costs; bring your ferry card.  Shared fuel.
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Okay
Notes: Bring shoes or sandals that can get wet for the lagoon exploration. Bring lunch and snacks, although food is available at the coop. We expect to return on the 3:50 ferry.

Trip Report – South End, QCove Trails and Social – 10 April 2024

Posted on by
Reply

There was a lot of interest (13 but 2 no shows) in our planned morning of easier walks on the south island – perhaps because of the group lunch in a cozy local restaurant rather than on a rainy, chilly, rocky outcrop. Good thing we were a flexible group as our first hike was to be through the Tsa’kwa’luten trails at the southern tip of Quadra and we found the trail closed. The Lodge is now a treatment centre and has recently closed the trails to public access. After a few minutes of planning an alternate hike, we set off on the short walk through the campground and along the trail to Cape Mudge Village and back to the Lighthouse. The trail is in good shape and offered up a pretty good showing of spring wildflowers – fawn lilies, flowering currant, salmonberries, skunk cabbage, nettles, mosses. (3.6 km; 1 hour)

The group then took to their cars/bikes and reassembled at the QCove Plaza. We then headed into the trails south of the library and connected to the Nole To Noble right of way. This maze of well-maintained trails is always a delightful outing complete with the carved faces scavenger hunt. At least a couple of our group were newly introduced to this little known “system” of trails. (1.8 km; 35 minutes)

We arrived at the Kameleon restaurant just ahead of the rush (which was mostly us!) and enjoyed a good lunch with good companions.

Vic

Click on photos to enlarge
 

Hiking – South End, Tsa’Kwa’Luten Trails – 10 April 2024

Trip Report – Drew Creek and Paddy’s Lagoon – 11 Mar 2024

Posted on by
Reply

On a windy, overcast day seven hikers met at the back parking lot of Rebecca Spit.  It was +5° outside, but felt like -5° in the heavy wind.  It was blowing 25 knots and gusting to 40 so the ocean was very rough toward Cortes Island. This made for some very interesting viewing as we made our way down to the Sasquatch and Paddy’s Lagoon. The trail was surprisingly dry considering all the snow that we had the week before. We retraced our steps back up the beach and then went through the campground to Drew Creek Trail.

This is a short loop, but an excellent chance to see what the salmon enhancement committee has done. There have been multiple signs put in to explain the salmon spawning in the stream.
We then went back through the campground to have a short break for snacks, cookies, and tea. We moved the vehicles to the Drew Harbour side, where there was much less wind at the picnic tables. After this, part of the group made their way around the end of the Spit to add to the walking distance. We got back to the large field just as it started to rain so a perfect ending.  7.3 km; about 2 hours walking

Les

Thanks to Les and Norris for the photos.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Drew Creek and Rebecca Spit – 11 Mar 2024

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 6 Mar 2024

Posted on by
1
This date was originally scheduled for a moderate hike, but the recent snow on Quadra made that a sketchy plan, so we opted to take advantage of the recent weather and snowshoe at Mt. Washington.  The mountain and Forbidden Plateau still don’t have the snow pack they normally would at this time, but the conditions were absolutely perfect for us.  The snow was light and powdery, still hanging on the trees.  The sunshine made it feel warmer than it was.

With eight participants and modest ambitions, we started out on Tree Beard’s Trail, enjoying the slight rise to a viewpoint on a bluff.  We continued on the Crooked Creek Trail, stopping for lunch in the open, overlooking the snow-covered Paradise Meadows.  When that trail turned back, we decided to extend the outing by using the Old Cabin Loop as a connector back to the Tree Beard’s Trail.  From there we retraced our route back to Raven Lodge.  Half of the group stayed a bit longer to socialize at the Lodge.

This was a beautiful day with perfect conditions.  (4.4 km, 2¼ hours)

Debbie

(click on photos to view larger)

Snow – Mt. Washington – 6 Mar 2024