Category Archives: Hiking

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 6 July 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Morte Lake Loop
Date 6 July 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 285-3978.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description We will hike the classic loop on maintained trails.  This is a lovely walk through open forest around the lake on bluffs, old logging roads and trails.  If the weather is good, there will be time for swimming.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools
Departure Time 09:00
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? yes
Notes: Bring lunch and water.

Hiking – Mine Lake Bluff – 15 June 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mine Lake Bluff
Date 15 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info phone 3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca.  Please contact the coordinator in advance.
Description We will leave from the parking area on the road near the Mine Lake access and walk to Camp Homewood.  From there the route ascends the bluff to the north of Mine Lake with great views (weather permitting).  A loop will be made by a trail which descends to the north and circles back to the trail just before Camp Homewood.  The route up the bluff can feel a bit exposed.  If the weather is nice, there will be time for swimming.  If the weather is awful, we will hike somewhere else.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate, tricky in places
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch.

Trip Report – Surge Narrows Trail – 1 June 2016

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Six of us enjoyed our hike along the Surge Narrows trail. We stopped at the first viewpoint to watch the tidal rapids (8.8 knot flood tide at 11:00), then walked the route trail and shoreline through Raven Bay. We had good views of starfish and urchins. After lunch on the rocky point the tide was still low enough to go to a small island for views up Okisollo Channel.

Julie

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Hike – Surge Narrows Trail – 1 June 2016

Trip Report – Stramberg Old Growth – 25 May 2016

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Four hikers and one dog enjoyed a lovely spring hike, beginning at the south end of Vic’s marsh where we were fortified by ripe salmonberries. We stopped for a look at the old barn built by Vic Balatti. The building is still sturdy but several square-timbered floor and ceiling joists have been removed. The trail winds along the marsh through open Douglas fir forest with occasional old growth fir. Past the end of the marsh the trail passes through stands of moss-covered alder, hemlock and back into mature fir.   Several old growth cedar are lying on the ground where they were cut sometime in the past and left for some reason. One large solitary Western white pine was noted along the trail. We stopped for lunch in a grove of old growth fir, then proceeded on a short distance to the main stand of old fir trees. One giant clearly stood out in the crowd, a massive, stovepipe-straight beauty that was worth the hike all by itself.

The north half of the trail is less used but well-marked with flagging tape. Sections of the trail at this end could be improved by a chainsaw and clippers where downed trees make going slow. On the way back, we stopped off for a snack at the bluff overlooking the lake at the north end of the marsh. By mid-afternoon, the day was warming up so a cool Northwest breeze was welcome.   Hiking time was a bit more than 5 hours moving at a good pace, and including lunch and a snack break (13.2 km).   Highlights were the old fir trees, of course, but also the wide variety of plant communities we hiked through.

Janis

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Hike – Stramberg Old Growth – 25 May 2016

Trip Report – Sooke – 16-18 May 2016

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We began our trip to Sooke by visiting the Sooke Potholes. Eight of us drove up to the Regional Park and spent a few hours walking to the viewpoints and beaches, admiring the channels and sculpted rocks. 5.3 km.

We camped at the Sooke River Campground, which was well located for us and very quiet. We had wonderful appies and socializing each night. There were quite a lot of birds, including quail, rabbits and at least one bear in the area.

On Tuesday, seven of us hiked the Coast Trial in the East Sooke Regional Park. After the car shuffle, we started at Aylard Farm and hiked west to Pike Road Trail. The views along the rugged coast and across the Juan de Fuca to the Olympic Peninsula were spectacular. We really enjoyed the arbutus trees, which were continuous along the exposed bluffs and the excellent wildflowers in spite of the dry conditions. The route, undulating over the many rocky points and bluffs, was quite challenging. Just under 7 hours; 14.7 km.

On Wednesday, several people headed home, while four of us had an easy walk at Whiffen Spit and Sooke Harbour House. We then went separate ways, with some biking on the Galloping Goose trail to Matheson Lake; hiking up to Babbington Hill in East Sooke Regional Park; and visiting the Sooke Museum. It was too windy for kayaking. There were lots more destinations we couldn’t begin to visit in two and a half days.

Debbie

Here is a list of flowers:
harvest brodiaea
death camas
yarrow
smooth alumroot (heuchera)
white rhododendron
evergreen huckleberry
tiger lily
nootka rose
red paintbrush
sea blush
field chickweed
red columbine
nodding onion
fool’s onion (brodiaea)
fireweed
starflower
orange honeysuckle
farewell-to-spring
wild strawberry
broad-leaved stonecrop
false lily-of-the-valley
small-leaved montia
Siberian miner’s lettuce (candy flower)
white-flowered hawkweed
narrow-leaved hawkweed
arbutus
salal
manzanita

 

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Hiking – Sooke – 16-18 May 2016

Trip Report – Around Mt. Seymour – 13 May 2016

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Five of us hiked from the Nugedzi trail head, up the old logging road north of Beech’s Mountain, along the old logging road that runs on the west side of the Nugedzi plateau, up a trail to a viewpoint of Nugedzi Lake, then down along a flagged route and trail to connect up with another old logging road which continues below the west and north sides of Mount Seymour and then descends, ending in a recently logged area just south of the gravel pit. The old logging roads can be very nice for walking, covered by a carpet of moss when they are level. The steep ones can be rough walking though.

The west side of the Nugedzi plateau features a number of small lakes or ponds. The north side of Seymour features some nice views to the north.

The trip was 14.4 km and took 5.5 hours, not including the car shuffle.

Norris

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Hike – Mt. Seymour logging roads – 13 May 2016

Hiking – Open Bay – Big Beach Creek forests – 22 June 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Open Bay – Big Beach Creek forests
Date 22 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie
Contact Info 285-2329 or vvv@qisland.ca.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description North Island people can meet at intersection of Hyacinthe Bay Rd and Granite Bay Rd. We will make the loop that was identified in a few explorations this winter/spring, using trails, routes, and logging roads. Be prepared for some bushwhacking. About 3-4 hours of hiking. Bring snack/lunch. Alternative may be arranged if raining.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Parking Lot at 10 am; Granite Bay Rd. intersection at 10:15
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must be under control at all times
Notes:

Hiking – Ripple Rock – 20 June 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Ripple Rock
Date 20 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie
Contact Info 285-2329 or vvv@qisland.ca.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description 8 km round trip. A moderate to challenging hike on the improved Ripple Rock Trail to see the famous Ripple Rock site from the other side (if you have already done Maud Island). Bring lunch. Return on 3:30 or 4:30 ferry expected.
Meeting Place Meet at ferry to carpool if arrangements not already made.
Departure Time 09:00 ferry to Campbell River
Difficulty
 Moderate, some steep sections
Costs Ferry costs
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must be on leash
Notes: Good trail/hiking shoes recommended. Cancelled if raining.

Hiking – Surge Narrows – 1 June 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Surge Narrows
Date 1 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 285-3978.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description We will hike the trail to the Surge Narrows viewpoint.  There will be nearly a 9 knot flood current at 11:00.  We will continue on the unmaintained route for additional views of the rapids.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools
Departure Time 09:00
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? yes
Notes:

Hiking – Stramberg Old Growth – 25 May 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Stramberg Old Growth
Date 25 May 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info 285-3614.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description This trail begins near Village Bay Lake and follows open meadows leading into and through the forest on old, unmaintained logging roads.  The reward at the end of the hike is a grove of old growth firs.  This is not an official trail.  Expect blow-down and brush. About 13 km; 5 hours or more.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools
Departure Time 09:00
Difficulty
 moderate, due to unmaintained trail and quite long
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? yes
Notes: Bring lunch and water.