Category Archives: Hiking

Hiking – Nugedzi Lakes – 22 Aug 2015

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 Rescheduled

Activity Hiking
Destination Nugedzi Lakes and overlooks
Date 22 Aug 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 285-3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will hike up the old logging road and into the forest.  This trip takes us through some old forest groves and on to the Nugedzi Lakes.  Hopefully, it will be warm enough for a swim.  We would like to visit both of the overlooks, which makes this a fairly long hike (about 12 km) with a moderate amount of elevation gain.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring a lunch and possibly a bathing suit.

 

Hiking – Channel Rock & Kw’as Park – 18 Aug 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Channel Rock and Kw’as Park Trails, Cortes Island
Date 18 August 2015, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 285-2393; Please would you let me know before Aug 4th. I need to inform Channel Rock of numbers.
Description I will organize car-pooling for this trip. We will leave on the first ferry to Cortes. The group will visit Channel Rock starting with a beautiful hike along the coast line to Channel Rock. Channel Rock is a 140 acre paradise, protected by a land covenant, powered by solar energy, & accessible by boat or by foot. Surrounded by stunning coastlines, lush forests, & magical ecosystems. Many interesting dwellings have been built over the years, built by the islander’s talented woodworkers, that fit into the natural landscape & offer examples of highest quality craftsmanship & natural building mediums. The gardens are not just bountiful but beautiful. This was the home of Gilean Douglas for over 40 years. Gilean was a journalist, historian, feminist & a nature writer. I have booked a tour for us. This will be our morning trip & in the afternoon we will hike the Kw’as Park Trail Network. This large network of trails varies in difficulty & time depending on the route taken. Trails lead along the side of Hague & Gunflint lakes, through deep old forests & over high manzanita covered bluffs. We will return on the 3:50 p.m ferry.
Meeting Place Cortes ferry line-up.
Departure Time 9:05 a.m. ferry
Difficulty
 easy – moderate
Costs Ferry cost plus Channel Rock tour $15
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring your lunch and water

Trip Report – Surge Narrows – 3 July 2015

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We had a group of 10 for this outing on a hot, sunny and very windy day. Of the ten, five had never been on a hike with the QIOC and the ages spanned more than 50 years. We started at Mine Lake, on the big rock, for a swim and lunch. The water was very warm, but there were white caps on the lake. We drove out to the end of the Surge Narrows road. As we visited the community dock, we were treated to a close encounter with an eagle carrying a fish. We hiked along the Surge Narrows trail to the viewpoint, arriving about a half hour before the max flood current of 10.6 knots, which was very impressive. Some of the group continued on the unmaintained route to the next bay and point, with views up toward Okisollo Channel and lots of wind and waves. There was a ground nesting wasp sting and a hurt foot on the return trip, but the victims took it in stride.

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Hiking – Surge Narrows – 3 July 2015

Hiking – Ralph River – 25-27 August 2015

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Activity Hiking and camping
Destination Ralph River, Strathcona Park
Date 25-27 August 2015, Tuesday-Thursday
Trip Coordinator Sheelagh Elmitt
Contact Info 285-2296 or sheelaghelmitt@yahoo.ca.  If you want to go on this trip you need to contact Sheelagh and commit ASAP.
Description We will spend two nights at the Ralph River Campground. We will hike to Bedwell Lake on Wednesday.  The other two half days we will do shorter hikes.  Bedwell is a moderate hike to a beautiful alpine lake.  Six kms long with 600 metres elevation. About 3 hrs one way.
Meeting Place Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River
Departure Time 9:00 am ferry
Difficulty
 moderate to easy
Costs camping fees, ferry and shared gas
Trip limits camping gear and fitness
Dogs? no
Notes: As of July 2nd there are very few campsites left at Ralph River, so it’s important to commit soon if you want to go on this trip.

Trip Report – Mt. Becher – 17 June 2015

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After an early start on Wednesday June 17th, five members of the Quadra Island Outdoor Club safely summitted Mt Becher.  Members on outing included two members of the executive committee, Debbie Quigg, Chair and Norris Weimer, Webmaster as well as members at large; Kathy Sales, Kathryn Manry 1st leader, and Mark Zimmerman 2nd leader.

Our adventure started at the mildly post apocalyptic base of the defunct Forbidden Plateau Ski Resort and shortly after gaining that initial summit we enjoyed more pleasant wandering in the subalpine forest. Early vistas included the Gulf of Georgia and an assortment of small islands, towns, villages and hamlets. Halfway to the summit we overlooked Boston Lake, a great spot for a lunch break. Carrying on we summited a bit after mid-day and had our only look at large mammals, a herd of about a dozen folk of various sex and size, all associated with an outdoor group from Parksville.

Great views of the Comox glacier and surrounding peaks were enjoyed from the summit, before our return.

A partial list of flowers observed include the following:

  • Alpine Lupine
  • Subalpine Daisy
  • Yarrow
  • Leatherleaf Saxifrage
  • Partridgefoot
  • Spotted Saxifrage
  • Alaskan Saxifrage
  • Columbia Lewisia
  • Lance-leaved Stonecrop
  • Spreading Stonecrop
  • Twinflower
  • Paintbrush
  • Tiger Lily
  • Spreading Phlox
  • White Flowered Rhododendron
  • Heather
  • Columbine
  • Birds Beak Lousewort
  • Coast Penstemon
  • Rosy Pussytoes
  • Bunchberry
  • Valerian
  • Small Leaved Montia
  • Slender Bog Orchid

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Hiking – Mt. Becher – 17 June 2015

Hiking – Surge Narrows – 3 July 2015

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 Change of departure time

Activity Hiking
Destination Surge Narrows
Date 3 July 2015, Friday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 285-3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will drive to the end of the Surge Narrows Rd and hike along the undulating and relatively short trail for a view of the rapids.  The trip is timed to see the maximum flood current of 10.6 knots at 15:10.  The rocky shore and views are great.  We plan to continue on the unmaintained route a bit further north along the shore.  If time and weather permit, we’ll stop at the Lake on the way back for a swim.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 13:30; 11:30 – some of us are going to leave early for a picnic lunch and swim at Mine Lake on the way to the hike.
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring a snack and possibly a bathing suit.

 

Trip Report – South Heriot Ridge – 10 June 2015

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We left a bit earlier than planned in order to beat the unusual heat. The day was sunny and breezy. The seven of us started out on the Hope Spring trail, turning left at the T-junction on top and then onto open bluffs at the south end of Heriot Ridge. After wandering the bluffs and enjoying the views toward Vancouver Island, we continued east until we joined the Camp Homewood trail to the High Bluff. We stayed awhile and then descended the bluff and took the trail leading east, later veering right to visit the Homewood Bluff, where none of us had ever been. This made a great lunch stop. We once again descended and took the right-hand turn toward Gowlland Trail, which then made a loop back to the Hope Spring Trail. 6.4 km, 3 ½ hours.

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Hiking – South Heriot Ridge – 10 June 2015

Trip Report – Ripple Rock – 26 May 2015

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On Tuesday, May 26, seven of us carpooled to and hiked the Ripple Rock Trail north of Campbell River. We tried out the new (to us) bridge over Menzies Creek and admired the huge Sitka spruces on the banks. We passed many old fir trees as we hiked through the lovely open forest, while grazing on salmon berries. We stopped at each viewpoint and had lunch on the bluff overlooking Seymour Narrows with great views of Discovery Passage and Maud Island. There are still wild flowers, but the moss is extremely dry. On the way back, there were oyster mushrooms for picking and a few of us splashed or bathed in Menzies Creek.

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Hiking – Ripple Rock- 26 May 2015

Hiking – South Heriot Ridge – 10 June 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination South Heriot Ridge
Date 10 June 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 285-3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will start on Hope Spring Trail and follow routes on open bluffs and unofficial trails to an overlook with a great view of Georgia Strait.  There are a number of different loops possible to return to the trailhead.  Three to four hours.
Meeting Place Trailhead at the end of Hope Spring Road.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch.  If you use poles, bring them.

 

Hiking – Mt. Becher – 17 June 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Becher
Date 17 June 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Kathryn Manry and Mark Zimmerman
Contact Info 285-2103; please contact the coordinator on or before Monday, June 15 to sign up
Description Mt Becher is on the SE corner of Forbidden Plateau. The trail goes from the burnt-out Plateau Ski Lodge up to the sub-alpine summit (1390 m). There is a view down to Boston Lake and a lovely waterfall en route. Views over Forbidden Plateau, Comox Lake, Georgia Strait and the norther Gulf Islands from the top.
Meeting Place Q Cove Ferry parking area
Departure Time 7:15 for the 8:00 ferry – we will sort out car pooling then
Difficulty
 moderate to strenuous;  about 10 km return, 580 m elevation gain
Costs shared gas and ferry fee
Trip limits minimum of 4, maximum 12
Dogs? on leash, please
Notes: Bring lunch.