Category Archives: Hiking

Hiking – Miracle Beach & Salmon Point – 28 March 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Miracle Beach and Salmon Point
Date 28 March 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029.  Please contact coordinator 2 days ahead as schedule may change.
Description We will drive to Miracle Beach and walk along the ocean to Black Creek. This is a short 3.5 km walk up the creek and thru the campground. We will then drive to Salmon Point and have lunch.
Afterward we will do the 7 km walk along the ocean to Oyster River and back. This goes by a Ducks Unlimited area so is good for bird watching.
Meeting Place Quathiaski ferry terminal
Departure Time Early enough for 10:00 ferry car-pooling
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs The shared ferry, fuel cost and your lunch. Their menu is online.
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must be on a leash due to the birds.
Notes: This is along the ocean so not a good walk for heavy wind and/or rain.

Trip Report – Haskins Farm Loop – 31 Jan 2018

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The seven of us went on this short, easy hike on one of the better official trails.  We started out on the trail through forest and meadow, and descended the steep switchbacks to the water.  After admiring the rather wintry view, we followed the short trail to the north along the shore, past some fine old growth trees, then returned back up the hill.  We turned north again and followed the logging road.  We took the short side trip to the Todd Scharf memorial trail and then followed the logging road west, back to the cars, beating the start of the rain. This is a short, classic hike with lots of variety in the forest and views.  4.5 km; 1⅔ hours.

Debbie

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Hiking – Haskin’s Farm Loop – 31 Jan 2018

Hiking – Crikey and Open Bay Creeks – 28 Feb 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Crikey and Open Bay Creeks
Date 28 Feb 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description We plan to walk a figure-of-eight loop starting on the trail along the Open Bay Creek, then circling back on a logging road.  After a short walk down Open Bay Main we will hike up the Rio mountain bike trail and down Crikey Creek.  The first part is flat, the second part has a hill.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Fairly easy, unless there is winter deadfall
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring a lunch and gear for the weather.

Hiking – Eagle Ridge & Blindman’s Bluff – 14 March 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Eagle Ridge and Blindman’s Bluff
Date 14 Mar 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or leshand@gicable.com.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description Eagle Ridge trail has wetlands as well as rocky bluffs for views of Discovery Passage. We will then go to Blindman’s Bluff for more open views.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Yes, but no back and forth through group
Notes: Please contact coordinator before trip as may be changed due to bad weather.

Hiking – Heriot Ridge and North Loop – 21 Mar 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Heriot Ridge and North Loop
Date 21 March 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info phone 3614
Description We will hike up Hopespring trail to the top of the ridge, turn south along the upper ridge, past the communication tower, to a bluff overlook, then return north to Hopespring trail on a lower ridge level.  Here, we will continue north on the Heriot Ridge trail and finish on the Thompson trail.
Meeting Place  upper end of Hopespring Road
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Easy to moderate – must be comfortable on wet bluffs
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? okay if under control
Notes: Hiking poles will be useful.  Hiking time 2-3 hours.  Bring a snack/lunch and hot drink.

Trip Report – Mud Lake-Morte Lake Loop – 17 Jan 2018

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Because of a big winter storm, we substituted this short hike for the previously planned trip to Mt. Washington. Five stalwart and cheerful hikers, undeterred by the weather, came out in a gale. We started at the pull off just past Mud Lake on the Walcan Road. After crossing the creek, we hiked up the South Bluff trail over the bluff to Morte Lake. The trail is quite steep, the bluff is open and covered with moss and lichen. We followed the old logging road down to Morte Lake. No one wanted to turn back so soon, so we continued on to the viewpoint, which was relatively sheltered from the southeast wind. We took the Tripod Connector trail back to the trail along Mud Lake. Again, no one was ready to head for the car, so we took the trail west to the Mud Lake trailhead at the Walcan Road. Finally we turned back to the car. The trail was quite wet in places and no one went home dry.  6.1 km; 2 hours.

Debbie

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Hiking – Mud Lake to Morte Lake Loop – 17 Jan 2018

Hiking – Morte Lake to Mud Lake loop – 17 Jan 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mud Lake to Morte Lake loop
Date 17 Jan 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip.
Description This is a substitute trip.  It will be a short hike over a bluff from Mud Lake to Morte Lake.  We will make it a loop by returning via Tripod.  This is a short hike with lots of variety.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy, but there’s a hill
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: The weather will be appalling so dress for it.  We won’t stop for lunch.

Trip Report – Surge Narrows logging roads – 10 Jan 2018

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Ten of us took advantage of the brief break in the rainy weather to explore another part of the island.  We started from near Mine Lake. After a short steep section, the old logging road is pretty flat and open, going through a section of the woodlot in which the re-planted trees are growing nicely.  The forest is quite diverse and some of it is mature with open understory.  We took a short side trip to a trailhead on the Bold Point Road, then had lunch in a nice clearing.  After lunch we bushwhacked a bit and climbed a little bluff with good views all around and continued south to rejoin the Surge Narrows Road, which we walked back to the starting point.   8.3 km; 3½ hours.

– Norris

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Hiking – Surge Narrows logging roads – 10 Jan 2018

Hiking – Maud Island- 7 Feb 2018

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 This hike has been postponed to Thursday, February 8th.

Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 8 7 Feb 2018, Thursday Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip.
Description Hike to Maud Island through varied forest and terrain.  We will do a loop passing over the shoulder of  Mt. Lolo, crossing the causeway to Maud Island, enjoying views of Seymour Narrows, and returning by the salt water lagoon. The currents in the Narrows will not be impressive at this time.   Allow 5 hours, including driving, for this walk of approximately 10km.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring a snack, poles if you use them and gear for the weather.  We don’t usually do this trip in very poor weather.

Hiking – Haskin’s Farm Loop – 31 Jan 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Haskin’s Farm Loop
Date 31 January, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 285-3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description This is a short hike with lots of variety: some flat terrain, some steep, lovely forest, including some old growth, and views over the Strait of Georgia to the islands and mainland mountains (if we’re lucky enough to see them)
Meeting Place Haskin’s Farm trailhead at the corner of Heriot Bay and Smith Rd
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Short and easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay
Notes: Probably no lunch is necessary. Bring gear for the weather.