Category Archives: easy

Trip Report – Tsa Kwa Luten Hike and Social – 30 Aug 2023

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After the weather drama of the previous days, eleven Club members enjoyed a beautiful early fall day for our TKL Farewell Hike and Social on Wednesday, Aug 30. Starting out from the Cape Mudge Lighthouse parking lot, our route took us through the TKL campground. Several RVers were enjoying the cool, clear morning over propane campfires, the smell of bacon and coffee was very enticing. We followed the pretty and interesting trail to our turn around point at the Cape Mudge Village gate, enjoying lush blackberries on the way. Our hike then took us up past the Lodge, and counter-clockwise around the well-maintained TKL trail. The ravine stairway is a backwoods work of art!  From the bluffs we could see the impressive extent of the tidal flats below. In just under two hours we arrived at the Lodge in time for a coffee before ordering lunch. Joined by a spouse, twelve of us enjoyed a delicious lunch and social time together.  (7.3km, 1½ hours for the walk)

Valerie

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Hiking – Tsa Kwa Luten area – 30 Aug 2023

Hiking – Tsa-Kwa-Luten area – 30 Aug 2023

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Activity Hiking and Social
Destination Tsa Kwa Luten and surrounds
Date 30 Aug, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329, text 778 242 5774, vvv@qisland.ca
Description “End of an era” social … we will walk north along shore to Cape Mudge village, return to walk the TKL trails through the woods on the bluff, returning to TKL for brunch/ lunch.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store to carpool; or Lighthouse parking Lot
Departure Time 9:10 Heriot Bay store, 9:30 Lighthouse parking lot
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs Lunch at TKL
Trip limits None
Dogs? Owner’s decision for this event.
Notes: One more time to enjoy TKL trails ..and lunch at the Lodge😄 must confirm participation by Tuesday eve so I can make a reservation if needed.

Trip Report – Francisco Point at Low Tide – 17 July 2023

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We had a small but enthusiastic group on the low tide walk at Francisco Point with Deb Cowper’s amazing observations and information. The low tide in the middle of the day was a bit more than half a metre. We walked over the cobbled shore to the tidal lagoon. Deb talked about the seaweeds we were seeing (lettuce, cauliflower, Sargasso, and bladderwrack), the trajectory of the sea star wasting disease and the creatures affected by it, the life cycle of barnacles, the way that marine organisms can draw calcification from seawater to build their shells and outer structures. Deb talked about the moulting process for red rock crabs and what often appears to be a dead crab Is just the outer shell, left behind after moulting.  Five is the magic number for the radial symmetry of echinoderms: sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sand dollars.

We gently turned over rocks to look at the critters hiding beneath while exposed from the low tide. We saw porcelain crabs, Northern kelp crab, chitons, ochre sea stars, a blood star, sea cucumber, periwinkle, barnacles, worms, tubes, snails and a few small fish. Often the things attached to rocks were very small, really a nursery. We saw sea urchins the size of a pin head. We always gently rolled the rock back returning the creatures to their protected nooks.

We want to thank Deb Cowper for coming over to Quadra to share her knowledge.

Debbie

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Hiking – Francisco Point at Low Tide – 17 July 2023

Trip Report – Heriot Bay – 7 July 2023

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Eight paddlers launched at the Esplanade Park beach and headed off at 1900 for a meander along and around the islands between Heriot Bay and Hyacinthe Bay into the bright evening sun. It was a perfect summer evening, with favourable tides, a convivial group, and very light breeze.   We paddled between Heriot and Quadra Islands, and up into Hyacinthe Bay, turning around Turtle Island and heading back toward our launch site.

Unfortunately all was not perfect and a number of circumstances resulted in two of the eight paddlers becoming separated from the group.  This was a good heads-up to review the paddling guidelines and tighten up our Club practices.

With all eight paddlers back on the beach we quickly loaded up our gear, debriefed somewhat, and regrouped at the Heriot Bay Inn for cold beverages and very congenial conversation.  (About 5 km)

Debbie and Vic

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Happy Hour Paddle – Heriot Bay – 7 July 2023

Happy Hour Paddle – Heriot Bay – 7 July 2023

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Activity Happy Hour Paddle
Destination Heriot Bay
Date 7 July, Friday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; text 250-287-0459
Description We will paddle from 1900 to 2030 or so, then have beverage and snacks at the Pub. The tide will be mid and rising. The weather – more of the same.  Any seaworthy craft with required safety equipment is welcome.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Harbour Authority parking lot; park at the Esplanade
Departure Time Arrive at 18:45; on the water at 19:00
Difficulty Easy
Costs Change for Harbour Authority parking; whatever at the Pub.
Trip limits None
Dogs? No
Notes:

Naturalist Outing – Francisco Point at Low Tide – 17 July 2023

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Activity Intertidal exploration
Destination Francisco Point at low tide
Date 17 July 2023, Monday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg with Deb Cowper
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Saturday night
Description Deb Cowper, an environmental educator, has graciously offered to accompany us on a low tide walk to identify those creatures we couldn’t figure out in May and perhaps some others.  This will be a walk on cobbled rock, so wear footwear that can get wet and has good traction. No flip-flops, please.  Be prepared for heat and have already had your lunch.  We will explore until about 13:30.
Meeting Place Francisco Point
Departure Time 11:45 to 12:00.  Deb will be coming on the 11:15 ferry
Difficulty There will be little distance covered, but attention needs to be paid to footing.
Costs None
Trip limits 12
Dogs? No
Notes
 Directions to Francisco Point: take Cape Mudge Rd south until it becomes Sutil Rd.  When the road curves to the north, take the right-hand turn onto Petroglyph Rd.  Parking is somewhat limited and car-pooling would be good.

Trip Report – Deepwater and Plumper Bays – 19 June 2023

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Six of us hiked to Deepwater Bay on a warm, somewhat overcast day.  We started out as if going to Maud Island, but turned right at the T-junction instead of left.  From here to Plumper Bay follows an old logging road, not an official trail.  Nevertheless, it has been cleared of the deadfall, so it is an easy,  pleasant walk.  From the Plumper Bay junction we followed another old logging road for a short distance, also easy walking.  Then we plunged into the no-trail part of the day.  There are several flagged routes.  The one we followed was fine until it ended.  Then we pushed through the brush the short remaining distance to the beach.  It was a very low tide and we walked along the shore to a noticeable row of large rocks, where we stopped for relaxing lunch.  We then continued along the shore to a point where you can see into the next bay.  There are some fine cedar and Stika spruce at the edge of the forest. The walk was very interesting for the wide variety of rocks along the shore.  Things the glaciers dragged in from who-knows-where?   On the return, we tried another flagged route back.  This one was much better, although there was a short boggy section at the start.  We stopped at Plumper Bay on the way back to check it out.   (9.4 km; 4½ hours.)

Norris

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Hiking – Deepwater and Plumber Bays – 19 June 2023

Hiking – Plumper and Deepwater Bays – 19 June 2023

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Activity Hiking
Destination Plumper and Deepwater Bays
Date 19 June, Monday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator in advance.
Description A relatively flat and easy hike on old logging roads. The first part is the same as for going to Maud Island, then instead of turning left, we turn right. The trail is quite gradual down to the water. There has been some recent trail work.  Plumper Bay has a nice grassy, sunny meadow on the waterfront and Deepwater has a  gravel shore with a view north up Discovery Passage. Both have recently had a beach clean-up.  About 8 km roundtrip.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot; we will convoy in our cars from there.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Easy, but roughly maintained
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch.

Multi-day Kayaking, Camping – Main Lake Prov Park- 6-8 June 2023

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Activity Multi-day kayaking, camping and hiking
Destination Main Lake Provincial Park
Date 6-8 June 2023, Tuesday to Thursday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; text 250-287-0459
Description We will set up camp at Main Lake and spend three days exploring by hiking and paddling. Destinations can vary with the group’s interests.
Meeting Place Mine Lake boat launch
Departure Time On the water at 1030 hr.
Difficulty Easy to moderate if windy
Cost https://bcparks.ca/main-lake-park/
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No.
Notes: This multi-day trip is relatively easy on a local lake, but requires good paddling and camping gear. Bring footwear suitable for hiking (easy).

Ask coordinator about joining for just 1 or 2 days if you have a schedule conflict.

Trip Report – Hyacinthe Bay at Low Tide – 8 May 2023

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On a beautiful spring day, eight of us enjoyed exploring Hyacinthe Bay on a 0.5 metre tide which revealed some history and intertidal life.  After arriving at Chauntaluf Farm, we sat on the deck of the Schoolhouse and talked about the history and ecology of the Bay.  About 25 years ago, the Kellerhals family noticed stakes in the stream channel at low tide.  These turned out to be the remnants of Indigenous fish traps which are several hundred years old.  We also talked about the nearly complete loss of eel grass in Hyacinthe Bay in the last 50 years.  This may be the result of a wasting disease, but it has immense consequences for the creatures who used to live there.

We wandered down to the tidal flats and almost immediately found many of the old stakes.  Although we couldn’t always see the pattern of how the trap would have worked, we were impressed with the resilience of the wood.  We found lots of oyster and clam shells, and further out there were sand dollars, mostly dead, but a few still black.  There were also many moon snail egg cases.  At the very edge of the water there was eel grass, some crabs and sea stars.  There was plenty of diversity .  

As the tide began to flood, we climbed ashore and visited a property which had recently been donated to the Regional District.  The cabin is still in quite good condition.  From there we followed a short trail leading back to the Farm.  We took the lovely, wide, grassy Maple Bay Road back to the vehicles.  This was a very easy relaxed day, giving us the time to enjoy the beautiful day and fascinating things on the shore.  (2.7 km; 2 hours)

Thanks so much for the invitation from Heather Kellerhals and all the help from Robyn.

Debbie

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Hiking – Hyacinthe Bay at Low Tide – 8 May 2023