Category Archives: Hiking

Trip Report – Beech’s Mountain – 11 Sept 2024

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Six hikers started out from the parking area at Chinese Mountain trailhead at approximately 10 am. Morning showers had been forecast the night before, but the trail was dry with no rain. There are some areas of trail which could be awkward if there has been any amount of rain as the trail follows a dry creek bed for a short distance and would require a bit of bushwhacking to get around. Also most of the trail is on bare rock so in damp conditions it could be slippery in sections. The weather was overcast in the morning with more blue sky peeking through as day went on. There are several viewpoints on the way up with good views of Drew Harbour, East and West Quadra Island and views beyond. One viewpoint just before the top of the mountain gives an amazing 180 degree view of the East side of Quadra Island and if we had less cloud cover the peaks of the Coast Mountains. It was close to 12 noon when we reached the peak so we stopped for a lunch break and a rest after the steep ascent. We retraced our trail and had an easy downhill trek back to the parking area.  (6.9 kilometers up and down, 4 hours, 350 meters elevation gain)

Allan

Thanks to Jim and Norris for the photos.

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Beech’s Mtn  – 11 Sept 2024

Trip Report – Mt. Seymour – 9 Sept 2024

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On short notice three of us decided to hike to Mt. Seymour on a lovely fall day.  It wasn’t completely clear, but it was mostly sunny and still a good temperature for hiking up a big hill.  The trail is in good condition and we reached the summit in about an hour and a half.  We enjoyed all the viewpoints: overlooking Nugedzi Lakes, the views west over Discovery Passage, the view to the north from the somewhat hidden viewpoint, and finally the classic view to the east and southeast.  There was a very large hiking group from Courtenay, who were just leaving as we arrived, so the timing was perfect.  We had a leisurely lunch and returned the way we came. (8.0km; 380m elevation gain; 3¾ hours.)

Debbie

Thanks to Carrie for the photos.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 27 Sept 2024

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Change of date due to weather!

Activity Hiking
Destination Main Lake and Yeatman Bay from Surge Narrows Rd
Date 27 Sept, Friday – new date!
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710; Please contact the coordinator by Wednesday night.
Description This moderate hike starts from Surge Narrows Road through a beautiful old forest, passing by a lake and along a creek, to the east end of Main Lake. We will continue on the portage track to Yeatman Bay.  Those that want a shorter hike can wait at Main Lake.
Meeting Place Community Centre Parking lot or by arrangement
Departure Time Meet at 9:30
Difficulty Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 12
Dogs? Must not run through group.
Notes: Come prepared for the weather

Hiking – Forbidden Plateau Loop – 18 Sept 2024

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Activity Hiking
Destination Forbidden Plateau Loop, Strathcona Park
Date 18 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Louise Squire
Contact Info lsquire@sasktel.net
Description Due to longer hike, we will be meeting at the Q-Cove parking lot to ensure we are on the 8:30am ferry to travel Mt Washington. We will be starting at Raven Lodge. While there are actually three potential loops, we will be taking the larger loop through Paradise Meadows, past Battleship Lake and carrying on past Croteau Lake and eventually making our way around Kwai Lake and back to Raven Lodge. September should be a beautiful time to enjoy the lower temperatures and fall colours. There will be 2 or 3 km to the west of Helen Mackenzie Lake that will be harder, so the decision of which way we decide to complete the loop will be finalized once we have arrived. Bring lots of water and a lunch and snack as the trip will be about 6-7 hours, plus driving time and 18km.
Meeting Place Q Cover Ferry Terminal
Departure Time 8:30 am ferry departure time
Difficulty
 Moderate for long day and elevation
Costs Ferry costs and shared fuel
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Car pooling to be organized in advance to limit vehicles and costs. Please let me know if you will be driving or if you would like to carpool with someone else.  This trip is weather dependent.

Trip Report – Deadfish – Tripod Loop – 28 Aug 2024

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This hike had been rescheduled from Aug 26 to Aug 28th due to a heavy rain that decided to set upon the hikers on Monday. Nevertheless, the wait for two days was worth it as the skies were clear and the sun bright. The hike included seven members and one guest from Saskatchewan.

The hike started at Morte Lake parking lot, which we quickly veered off of onto Deadfish hiking/biking trail. We followed the trail all the way to the end where there was nice “peek a boo” view of Morte Lake. The group then started on Seven Sins trail that wound us back and forth to Ridge trail eventually ending up at Tripod. The most recent storm had knocked down our trail marker Tripod so three hikers set to resurrect it if only as a temporary measure until it can be secured in place.

From Tripod the group continued down and followed Mud Lake until we turned back up on Ridge to Lost Rider. Instead of heading back to Deadfish trail, the group travelled up Morning Beer to have a great lunch overlooking the valley and enjoying the August sunshine. Due to the rain, the group did not complete the hike on Morning Beer but cut across back to Deadfish and completed the loop back to the Morte Lake parking lot.

Duration was approximately 2hrs 45min and 8.3km

Louise and Nicole

Click on photos to enlarge
 

Hiking – Deadfish – Tripod Loop – 26 Aug 2024

Hike – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 4 Sept 2024

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Activity Hiking with swim
Destination Nugedzi Lakes and Views
Date 4 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-9459 text
Description Hike up a steep, eroded, old logging road and meander through open forest to the lovely Nugedzi Lakes. We will also take two or three side trips to viewpoints looking northeast, southeast and west. Nugedzi Lake is a great place for lunch and a swim. About 11 km and 5½ hours.
Meeting Place Quadra Community Centre. NOTE – NOT Heriot Bay Store.  
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate due to steep, rutted approach.
Costs Nil
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch and swim wear if you want to swim. This is a view hike and will not be done in poor weather.
Carpooling – if I can arrange carpools by phone or message, we can skip the meet up and go straight to trailhead.

Hiking – Beech’s Mountain – 11 Sept 2024

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Activity Hiking
Destination Beech’s Mountain
Date 11 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Allan Liimatta
Contact Info 250 416 9338 (text) or allanliimatta @ gmail.com
Description Hike to top of Beech’s Mountain with excellent views of coast and Vancouver Island mountains, weather depending. Also views of Campbell River and Drew Harbour. The trail is uphill with elevation gain of 1200 ft. Lots of rock on trail with some sections to scramble up. In and out about 2.5 to 3 hours with lunch break at summit.
Meeting Place Chinese Mountain trailhead
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate to difficult
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes:

Trip Report – Thomspon-Hopespring Trail Loop – 7 Aug 2024

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Eleven hikers, including five guests, started on a morning hike from the end of Thompson Road. It was a beautiful sunny day although warm and a bit smoky already. We continued on past the Gowlland Harbour Trail and turned onto the small trail down into the creek valley with the group of old growth trees. This is a stunning area with some very beautiful majestic, old growth-trees. We then went back to the Hopespring trail and onward to the Three Sisters which are some of the largest old-growth Douglas firs on Quadra. A little way down the trail we turned off again to view another group of nineteen old growth trees. Back on the trail we climbed up to the Heriot Ridge Trail and proceeded to the bench to have lunch and enjoy the view. Afterwards we hiked down to the end of Hopespring and walked the road back to our vehicles. (6.1km, 3 hours).

Les
 
Thanks to Les, Chris and Norris for the photos
 
(click on photos to enlarge)
 

Hiking – Thompson-Hopespring Trail Loop – 7 Aug 2024

Hiking – Deadfish-Tripod Loop – 26 Aug 2024

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This hike has been re-scheduled to August 28, Wednesday!

Activity Hiking
Destination Deadfish-Tripod Loop
Date 28 August, Wednesday  26 August, Monday
Trip Coordinator Nicole and Louise
Contact Info Nicole: email quadranick@gmail.com or Louise: text 306-539-3813
Description The hike will start at Morte Lake parking lot,  making a big loop on biking/hiking trails south of Morte Lake.  We will ascend Morning Beer and Nirvana trails, then west along south Morte Lake.  Turning back on Tripod, Ridge trail and Lost Rider, we return by Deadfish to the parking lot.  Duration should be about 2 hours (3 hours max).
Meeting Place Meet at the Morte Lake trail head
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes

Trip Report – Eagle Crag Loop – 31 July 2024

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Five of us hiked the trail to Eagle Crag, then the steep path to the top of the bluff.  Here we rested, had a bite to eat, and enjoyed the fantastic view.  There were clouds over the Vancouver Island mountains, but other than that the visibility was very good, especially considering how much fire smoke there is elsewhere.  We enjoyed the perfect temperature, the sunshine, and the gentle breeze for quite a while.  We were visited by a hummingbird and a grouse.

After that, we continued up an old path, originally for climbing access to a higher bluff, surprising a garter snake.  At the top of this path, we again sat and enjoyed the beautiful day.  Then we took the trail down from Beech’s Mountain, back to the vehicles.  (4.9 km; 3.5 hours)

Norris

(Click to enlarge)

Hiking – Eagle Crag Loop – 31 July 2024