Category Archives: Hiking

Naturalist – Karst Formations – 24 February 2016

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Activity Naturalist outing
Destination Quadra’s karst formations
Date 24 February 2016
Trip Coordinator Richard Leicester
Contact Info 285-2663; please contact the coordinator by Sunday if you are interested in going
Description Visit some of Quadra’s Quatsino limestone formations, an area which contains karst sinkholes, intakes, resurgences and underground streams.   We will visit two or three areas, which involves a bit of driving on logging roads and bush walking.  We will not be walking in caves.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot for car pooling. High clearance vehicles will be preferable.
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch and gear appropriate for the weather.  Also, bring a flashlight to see into these geological formations.

Hiking – Bike Trails – 17 Feb 2016

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 POSTPONED TO 16 MARCH

Activity Hiking
Destination Bike trails, north of North Gowlland Harbour Rd.
Date  16 March 17 February 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Mark and Kathryn
Contact Info 250-285-2103; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description Carpool from store, 3 to 4 hours estimated total time, snack breaks may be taken.  Be prepared for wet!
Meeting Place Heriot Bay grocery store
Departure Time 10:00 am
Difficulty
 Suitable for most
Costs Coffee and gas
Trip limits 10
Dogs?  If well behaved
Notes:

 

Hiking – Deepwater Bay – 20 Jan 2016

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 POSTPONED TO 17 FEBRUARY

Activity Hiking
Destination Deepwater Bay
Date 17 February 20 January 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Mark and Kathryn
Contact Info 250-285-2103; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description Hiking on old road grade, passing old railway trestle on way in.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay grocery store
Departure Time 10:00 am
Difficulty
 Suitable for most
Costs
Trip limits 10
Dogs? If well behaved
Notes: Be prepared for wet

 

Hiking – Blindman’s Bluff – 30 Dec 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Cape Mudge Blindman’s Bluff
Date 30 December 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info phone 3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca.  Please contact the coordinator in advance.
Description We’re expecting cold, sunny weather for this scenic walk.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch or snack.

Trip Report – Ramble Open Bay logging roads – 8 Dec 2015

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On Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, three intrepid hikers (Valerie, Norris, and Julie and one dog, Briar) braved the latest storm cycle to explore some of the logging roads in the Open Bay area. Starting point was the junction of Granite Bay Road and Village Bay Lakes Road. A short walk eastward on the old logging road across from the Granite Bay Road, led to (locally named) Beaver Lake, a popular skating destination, now overflowing its banks due to the recent heavy rains. We noted that this lake would make an ideal swim/picnic stop in summer. A flagged route on the east end of the lake beckoned, and we bushwhacked along the route through mature forest for about 45 minutes to reach an impassible creek and waterfalls. As we navigated the wet forests and huge mud puddles, we were rewarded with mild temperatures and the sun peeking through the rising mists. A wider, cut trail led north away from the creek, which led us to a logging road and a reforested clearcut. We followed this road northwards, paralleling the Gravel Pit hill on Village Bay Lakes Road to the west of us. We then turned onto Village Bay Lakes Road and slogged uphill to our cars, completing a two hour excursion. Julie’s shortbread treats for our morning’s efforts were much appreciated. There are many more logging roads in the area to explore which would make good winter (low level) hikes, and Norris noted another flagged route for future outings.

Valerie

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Hiking – Open Bay logging roads – 9 Dec 2015

Mine Lake Bluff – 18 November 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mine Lake Bluff
Date 18 November 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info phone 3978.  Please contact the coordinator in advance.
Description Park near the Mine Lake boat access and walk to Camp Homewood.  From there the route ascends the bluff to the north of Mine Lake with great views — and the weather forecast is very good.  The trail going up the bluff can feel a bit exposed.  This is a hike, not a climb, but do have good footwear and be careful.  The trail down is a regular trail and it loops back underneath the bluffs to the start of the steep bit.  You could go up the down trail, but don’t try to go down the up trail.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 09:30
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? yes
Notes: Bring lunch.

Hiking – Shellaligan Pass – 2 Dec 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Shellaligan trails
Date 2 December 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description scenic path by the rocky shore, return through forest trail
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00 am
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? yes, if they stay by you
Notes: bring lunch

 

Hiking – Open Bay Ramble – 9 Dec 2015

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 Rescheduled to Tuesday, December 8th

Activity Hiking
Destination Logging roads near Village Bay Lakes Rd and Valdez Road
Date 9 8 December 2015, Wednesday Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329  vvv@qisland.ca
Please confirm with trip coordinator by 8 pm Dec. 8 7.
Description This is a chance to explore some of the inactive logging roads off Village Bay Lakes and Valdez. If good weather plan for 4 hours, bring lunch; wet weather plan for a 2 hour walk.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store or at junction of Granite Bay Road and Village Bay Lakes Road
Departure Time 10:00 am from Heriot Bay store
10:15 am from Granite Bay junction
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? yes, must be under control at all times
Notes: Depending on what we find, we might explore several roads to get in a good walk.

 

Trip Report – WalCan Rd Loop – 28 Oct 2015

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We expected rain and wind, but only had overcast and mist – a mild, gentle day. Four of us started at the Morte Lake parking lot and hiked up the main trail toward the lake. We turned off just before Little Morte Lake, crossed a small creek and joined the mountain bike trails. We followed Dead Fish over the saddle and descended to the WalCan Rd on Lost Rider. We crossed the WalCan Rd and took Yellow Mud trail along the creek and through the forest, continuing on to see Wood Duck Lake and the beaver dam. The water was quite high in the lake, there were a few ducks and it was absolutely calm. We returned along Yellow Mud, turned onto Jack Rabbit, crossed the creek and returned to the Morte Lake parking lot. It was a lovely walk for an overcast day. 8.1 km; about two hours.

Debbie

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Trip Report – Heriot Ridge Loop – 22 Oct 2015

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The promised sunshine never happened, but we had a mild, foggy day for this hike with four people. We began on the Hope Spring Trail and then continued on to the mossy bluffs at the south end of Heriot Ridge. We traversed along and then climbed up to the High Bluff, which in better weather has a great view. We descended and took the Homewood trail through the forest travelling more-or-less east. We looped around to meet back up with the Gowlland Trail and continued on to the always impressive Old Growth Grove for lunch. We finished the loop following the Thompson Trail.  There were lots of mushroom and fall leaves.  9.3 km; 3½ hours.

Debbie

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Hiking – Heriot Ridge Loop – 21 Oct 2015