Category Archives: Hiking

Hiking – Shellaligan Pass Loop – 12 Oct 2022

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Activity Hiking
Destination Shellaligan Pass loop
Date 12 Oct, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info lhquadra@gmail.com or 285-2029
Description We will do the shorter loop but go down to the oyster lease. We may see some whales from the rocks at the entrance to Village Bay as some have been in the area. Trip will take 2-3 hours depending on lunch.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate, with rocky and steep sections
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Yes, but under control
Notes: Dress for weather and bring a lunch.

Trip Report – Forbidden Plateau – 21 Sept 2022

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Four enthusiastic hikers enjoyed an absolutely perfect Fall Equinox Day as we hiked in Paradise Meadows/Forbidden Plateau. Our ultimate destination was Kwai Lake, via the circle route through Paradise Meadows and past Lake Helen Mackenzie. Taking the 8 am ferry, we were on the trail by 9:20 am.

We enjoyed a pleasant break at Lake Helen Mackenzie with stunningly beautiful reflections of the surrounding hills.  Debbie had wisely suggested we go counter-clockwise, as we always seem to go clockwise when hiking in this area. Even though this meant going uphill on the dreaded “Helen Mackenzie headwall”, it was still better than stumbling down the steep, rooty, eroded trail at the end of a long hike.

We were not the only ones enjoying the early autumn sunshine, as the number of cars in the parking lot attested. We encountered several backpackers on their way out, two school groups camping in the backcountry group camps, and many day-hikers like ourselves.  At Kwai Lake we found a quiet grassy area on the southwest shore for lunch, away from a large school group taking their break on the rocky outcropping on the opposite shore.  After lunch, we completed the circle, passing Croteau, Lady, Kooso and Battleship Lakes. Some sections of this circle route are boardwalk, protecting wetlands and tree roots, the rest varies from pleasant forest paths to very eroded, rooty trails.  About 6½ hours, approximately 17 km.

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Valerie and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Strathcona Park – 21 Sept 2022

Hiking – Fir Crest Loop – 28 Sept 2022

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Activity Hiking
Destination Fir Crest Loop
Date 28 Sept 2022,  Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg and Julie Douglas
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator by Monday night
Description By special request, we will be doing a bar-bell loop of the Golf Course and Haskin Farm trails.  This is a good outing if you want an easy hike which is mostly level and on a good trail.
Meeting Place The small parking area inside and to the south of the Fir Crest Acres gates, off Heriot Bay Road.  If you do not know where this is, please confirm with the coordinator.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Dogs must not run through the group.
Notes: We will do this hike rain or shine.  Bring a snack/light lunch and gear for the weather.

Hiking – Strathcona Park – 21 Sept 2021

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Activity Hiking
Destination Strathcona Park
Date 21 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie Van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca
Description Celebrate the fall equinox on the beautiful Forbidden Plateau, Strathcona Park. Starting from Raven Lodge we will aim for Kwai Lake following well-established trails. A full day – about 20 km return. Maybe a group dinner in CR? Weather dependent.
Meeting Place QCove ferry terminal to arrange carpools as desired
Departure Time 8:00 am ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate to challenging due to length
Costs Ferry
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Must be on leash in the Park
Notes: This trip is weather dependent. Must contact coordinator by Monday evening, Sept. 19.

Hiking – Shellaligan Pass Loop – 7 Sept 2022

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Change of destination to Rebecca Spit due to wind.

Activity Hiking
Destination Shellaligan Pass long loop
Date 7 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie Van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca
Description A classic Quadra Island hike, we will take the long loop, weather permitting. We will stop early in the hike to look for whales from the rocky bluffs. We’ve been luck on every recent hike/kayak in Shellaligan.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot or logging road turnoff on Valdes Road
Departure Time 10 am: meet at Heriot Bay store parking lot to carpool (see notes); 10:20 meet at turn off to logging road on Valdes Road
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Must not run through group; must be under control; dogs and owners will go ahead of group.
Notes: About 3 hours. Dress for the weather, bring lunch, snacks.  MUST contact coordinator by Monday evening, Sept. 5.

Trip Report – Alternate Chinese Mountain Loop – 24 Aug 2022

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It was forecast to be another scorching hot day, so we moved the start time an hour earlier.  Instead of taking the usual hiking trail up South Chinese Mountain, the four of us took a climbers’ path, which goes steeply up to the base of the rock wall.  From there the path is less steep and goes up a swale between the south peak and a minor southeast bluff.  We took a side trail which goes up that bluff for excellent viewpoints, a rest and a snack.  We continued on the path back down to meet the main trail at the “mud hole”.  Coming back down the regular trail we took the new “scenic route” trail which avoids a badly eroded section of the original trail.  Then we took another scenic route, which avoids another part of the main trail which is more stream bed than trail.  The second scenic section is not marked or flagged, but it is a very nice alternative route.  It rejoins the main south bluff trail near a viewpoint.   3.4 km; 2½ hours; 220 m elevation gain.

Norris
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Alternate Chinese Mtn Loop – 24 Aug 2022

Reconnaissance Report – Victoria Peak Ridge – 20 Aug 2022

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We did this hike on impulse after the destination we had wanted was unavailable due to a locked gate on a logging road.  From Quadra it’s quite long as a day trip.  The drive from Campbell River was nearly 6 hours round trip.  And it was a very hot day.  Normally this is a route for climbers on their way to Victoria Peak, but we were after a hike to the sub-alpine with good views.  Forty-eight kilometres out from Sayward, we turned onto W79, which is signed as the road to Victoria Peak. This road is in decent condition and winds its way up fairly steeply.  There were 16 cross ditches, none of which were impossible, but it was very slow going.  After a while we decided to walk, but we could have driven another 2½ kilometres.  From the trailhead to the ridge it’s short, but quite steep.  A typical climbing access route, the path to the ridge rises 213 m over 713 m, for about a 30% incline.

Wandering along the sub-alpine ridge is very pleasant.  It continues up for a bit more than a kilometre until the ridge is quite level and more distant views are revealed.  There was significant heat haze, making it tricky to see Quadra from the ridge and there was forest fire smoke to the west from lightening strikes the night before in the Nimpkish Valley.

After lunch and a bit of exploring on the ridge, we headed back down, going quite slowly in the heat.  ( 8.6 km; 658 m elevation gain)  Once back on the logging road toward Sayward, we stopped at the White River Provincial Park to walk through the old growth grove to the White River.

Debbie

(click on photos to enlarge)

Trip Report – Mt. Drabble – 12 Aug 2022

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Five of us hiked to the top of  Mt. Drabble (1,363 m).  We caught an early ferry and drove to the turn off near Ramparts Hill chain-up area on the way to Mt. Washington.  That gives access to the Murex Main logging road (no signs) which was in good condition.  We met a wide-track excavator working on the road and ditches, who kindly moved to the side to let us by.  We parked where the road starts to get really steep and eroded.  Theoretically you could drive 1.9 km further (and 210 m elevation gain) to the trailhead, but we walked.  The trail is well established, with flagging, reflectors and cairns.  It ascends the rocky, sub-alpine ridge and passes a number of ponds.  Lovely to look at, but not appealing for swimming.

The views of the Strathcona Park mountains were great.  There are also views back over Georgia Strait/Salish Sea; we could make out Quadra in the haze.  We reached the summit by 11:00 and stopped for lunch.  Brent set up his radio and antenna and made a contact.  It’s a very enjoyable hike over this long, undulating ridge.  The hardest part was walking down the steep logging road with loose gravel.  Altogether it was 11.7 km, 5½ hours, 450 m elevation gain (from bottom to top), but more overall with the undulations.

Norris

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Mt. Drabble – 12 Aug 2022

Trip Report – Happy Hour to Morte Lake – 7 Aug 2022

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A few of us made the very short walk up the old logging access to Morte Lake in the late afternoon for the Club’s first ever “happy hour hike.” This area is now protected as part of the Quadra Conservancy Land.  The weather was warm, sunny and breezy.  Recognizing that the social aspect of this event was more important than the exercise, we brought our folding chairs, and whatever drink and appie we wanted.  Sitting on the shore, we relaxed, caught up on recent events, and some swam in the lake.  It being a warm Sunday afternoon, a few others stopped by to swim or to return via paddle board.  Everyone was very cheerful and friendly.  We didn’t stay long, but had a good time.

Debbie

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Happy Hour Hike – Morte Lake– 7 Aug 2022