Category Archives: Hiking

Trip Report – Mine Lake Bluff 27 Jan 2015

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We parked at the trailhead on the Surge Narrows Road and followed the trail to Camp Homewood’s summer campsite. The trail follows the shore of Mine Lake closely and has some lovely views. We knew it would be wet, but in a few places even gumboots weren’t enough and after one person got water over the top, the rest of us bushwhacked through the forest in the wet spots.

There is a sign to the northwest of the camp pointing to the trail up the Bluff. The trail ascends very steeply through the forest and then involves scrambling up rocks and moss to reach to top of the Bluff. This is definitely better done in dry weather since it is somewhat exposed and can be slippery. We were fortunate to have clear skies over Quadra and the views from the top were great. We had a warm and leisurely lunch before exploring the views to the east and west. The group then descended by a flagged trail to the north, which travels under the very impressive cliffs on the west side of the Bluff before re-joining the trail to the camp. We returned to the vehicles, but it was tempting to relax in the sun by Mine Lake for the afternoon. 5.5 km; 3½ hours.

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Mine Lake Bluff – 27 January 2015

Trip Report – B&B Trail Exploration 21 Jan 2015

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With Janis’ help we explored the B&B trail and routes on the nearby ridge. We started on the Thompson Trail and turned off at the first viewpoint. We scrambled to the top and enjoyed good views of Hyacinthe Bay and islands to the northeast. The day was overcast, but on a clear day the views would be excellent. We continued down this mossy, open ridge following a flagged route to the north. The trail off the ridge into the forest descends steeply into an area of huge old big leaf maples. The left-hand flagged route joins up with the B&B trail, which winds up the creek and re-joins the Thompson trail. We then explored another flagged route, which goes south on the ridge, more or less paralleling the Heriot Ridge Route and later descends to the Hope Spring Trail. This also follows lovely open, mossy ridges with occasional views to the east. 6.4 km, 3¼ hours.

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B&B Trail – 21 January 2015

Hike Carrington Bay – 15 April 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Carrington Bay, Cortes Island
Date 15 April 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 250.285.2393.  You MUST contact Margot by Monday, April 13th, 10 a.m. in order to arrange transportation.
Description This hike will be hosted by the Children’s Forest Board of Directors. We will be met at the Cortes Ferry Parking and driven to the start of the hike.
Our guide is a long time resident of Cortes Island, knows the area well and he is filled with the history and knowledge of this beautiful park.

Carrington Bay Regional Park is one of the most widely used mature forest destinations on the island. The main trail out to the lagoon is an old dirt road bed and the many other trails through the forest are suitable for both hiking and mountain biking. The lagoon entrance is a narrow channel through which the tide flows, mixing salt and fresh water for abundant aquatic life. The forests are also home to a significant amount of wildlife, including several species at risk. The mature forest on the way out to the lagoon also hosts a whole network of hiking and biking trails, with several “you are here” maps along the way that will also help you to locate two historic homesteads. Much of the forest that you will hike through to get to the lagoon is private managed forestland. The Forest Trust for the Children of Cortes Island Society has been formed to purchase these forestlands and hold them in trust for the children of Cortes Island in perpetuity. For more information visit http://www.corteschildrensforesttrust.org. Park at the trail head on Coulter Bay Rd. Access is off Carrington Bay Road in Whaletown or down Jimmy Smith Road, through the Cortes Pit. Estimated walking time for several trails: allow at least 2-3 hrs.
Meeting Place Cortes ferry line-up
Departure Time 9:05 a.m. ferry.  We plan to return on the 1:50 p.m ferry or the 3:50 p.m. at the latest.
Difficulty Easy & beautiful
Costs Ferry fare
Trip limits none
Dogs? Yes. Be aware wolves in the area.
Notes: Bring lunch.  This trip is weather dependent.

Karst Formations – 21 March 2015

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Activity Naturalist outing
Destination Quadra’s Karst formations
Date 21 March 2015, Saturday
Trip Coordinator Richard Leicester
Contact Info 285-2663; please contact the coordinator by Thursday 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 TBA
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.

Blindman’s Bluff & Eagle Ridge – 4 March 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Blindman’s Bluff & Eagle Ridge
Date 4 March 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029; please contact the coordinator at least two days in advance.
Description These are two short hikes linked by proximity.  The route takes us through open forest over mossy bluffs leading to great views.  About 2½ hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch.  Hiking poles may be useful but not essential.

Stramberg Old Growth – 1 April 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Stramberg Old Growth grove
Date 1 April 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca
Description This trail begins near Village Bay Lake and follows open meadows leading into and through the forest.  The reward at the end of the hike is a grove of old growth firs.  This is not an official trail and route-finding can be an issue.  Although there was work on this trail last summer, there has also been quite a lot of blow-down this winter, so progress may be slow. About 13 km; 5 hours or more.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 9:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch.  This walk is very wet in places.

Hiking Maud Island 11 Mar 2015

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 POSTPONED

Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 11 March 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 Hike to Maud Island through varied forest over level and undulating trails.  We hope to have views from Mt. Lolo and from the Narrows.  We will also see the state of construction of the tidal turbines at the Canoe Pass causeway.  About four hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch.

Hiking on Demand – February 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Hiking on demand
Date February
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 285-3978
Description The last three weeks of February are open to your suggestions for hiking destinations.  If you want to go hiking, give Julie a call and suggest a time and a place.
Meeting Place TBA
Departure Time TBA
Difficulty TBA
Costs
Trip limits
Dogs?
Notes:

Mine Lake Bluff – 27 January 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mine Lake Bluff
Date 27 January 2015, Tuesday
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.  This is a hike, not a climb.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch and gum boots.  We will need the rubber boots for the section between the road and Camp Homewood.  From there, we can wear hiking shoes/boots.

B&B Trail – 21 January 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination B&B Trail
Date 21 January 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator NA
Contact Info please respond to qioutdoorclub@gmail.com
Description We will follow the recently improved but unofficial B&B Trail, making a loop with a flagged route back to the Thompson Road.  If the group wants, we will also explore a route along the ridge. Between 1½ and 2½ hours.
Meeting Place Thompson Road trailhead
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring water, a snack and a hiking pole.