Category Archives: moderate

Hiking – Maud Island – 15 Oct 2026

Posted on by
Reply

Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 15 Aug, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact info lhquadra@gmail.com or 250-202-4455
Description We will do the standard route and possibly go over Mount Lolo on the way out, depending on the group and the weather. The current is not very high, but it’s still 7.8 Knots at 12:27pm.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No, as there are a couple narrow spots.
Notes Note that this is a Thursday.
Please sign up two days before and we will carpool from the community center. Dress for the weather and bring poles if you would like to go over Lolo.

Hiking – Forbidden Plateau Loop – 7 Oct 2026

Posted on by
Reply

Activity Hiking
Destination Strathcona Park trails, from Paradise Meadows
Date 7 October 2026, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329; vvv@qisland.ca; (cell) 778 242 5774
Description We will do the classic route (14 km) counter-clockwise, south to Lake Helen Mackenzie, on to Kwai Lake, turning north to return via Lady, Kooso, and Battleship Lakes. While a long hike, some is on boardwalk and all is on established trails which can be rooty in some places. A shorter route (8 km) is an alternative, depending on the group and the weather.
Meeting Place Ferry parking lot on Quadra Island for car pooling
Departure Time 8:30 ferry
Difficulty Moderate, some rough sections
Costs Ferry and carpooling costs
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: It has been a few years since I have been up in Strathcona and I look forwards to seeing this beautiful sub-alpine environment again. This hike will be moderately paced, an early start will allow us to take time to enjoy being up in the mountains. Bring lunch and all gear needed for hiking in the mountains. Heads up… I will make a short stop at the Starbucks on the highway to get my coffee fix. This hike will only take place if weather is good; an alternative on Quadra will be offered if needed. MUST register with coordinator by Monday evening October 5.

 

Trip Report – Heron Pt. and Mt. Sweat – 13 Sept 2026

Posted on by
Reply

This hike had been postponed for better weather and we were rewarded with a beautiful, warm day for this short walk with great views. Four of us started from Kolker Main and walked up an old logging spur.  After pushing through a bit of brush we walked the short distance on open bluffs to Heron Point for our first viewpoint extending from Hyacinthe Bay to the Chinese Mountains.  We followed the path into Chauntaluf farm and continued on their roads and trails up to the Mt. Sweat access.  We climbed steeply up to the first bluff and followed the cairns over the undulating bluffs and up to the Mt. Sweat viewpoint for lunch.  On this day, Mt. Sweat seemed aptly named as the climb was quite warm. We cooled down taking in the 180° views of Quadra and the Salish Sea, with the mainland and Vancouver Island mountains.  We descended to the north, following flagging back to Kolker Main and from there to the vehicles.  Thanks to Heather Kellerhals for letting the Outdoor Club use the Chauntaluf farm trails to make this loop.  3.7 km, 3 hours, 180m ascent.

Debbie
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Heron Point and Mt. Sweat – 13 Sept 2026

Hiking – Heron Point and Mt. Sweat – 3 Sept 2026

Posted on by
1

Probably rescheduled to Sunday, September 13.  Contact the coordinator.

Activity Hiking
Destination Heron Pt and Mt. Sweat loop
Date 3 Sept, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710  Please contact the coordinator by Tuesday night.
Description We will park on Kolker Main. After briefly follow a logging road, a short connector and a mossy bluff we will arrive at Heron Point for great views of Hyacinthe Bay and the Chinese Mtn area.  From there we will take a cairned route through undulating forest trails and rocky bluffs to Mt. Sweat. We descend to Kolker Main through an open, forested slope and return to the vehicles on Kolker Main.  This is a view hike and will not be done in poor weather.  About 4 km; 2½ hours.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot.  We will drive out in a group.
Departure Time 10:00 or earlier if it’s hot
Difficulty
 Mostly moderate, except some undulating and steep places on Mt. Sweat.
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No, some of this will be on private property.
Notes: Some of this trip is on private property and we thank Heather Kellerhals for allowing our visit to Chauntaluf Farm.  Bring gear appropriate for the weather and trail conditions, as well as lunch.

Hiking – Open Bay & Crikey Creeks – 26 Aug 2026

Posted on by
1

Activity Hiking
Destination Open Bay and Crikey Creeks
Date 26 Aug 2026, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip departure.
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. There has been re-routing of the trails around Crikey Creek, since we last did this trip, due to road building and logging. About 6km and two hours walking time.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Open Bay Creek is easy. Crikey Creek is steep, but hopefully the bike trail is in good condition.
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Notes: Bring lunch or a snack and appropriate gear and clothing.

Hiking – Maud Island – 11 Aug 2026

Posted on by
Reply

This trip has been cancelled.

Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 11 Aug, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact info lhquadra@gmail.com or 250-285-2029
Description I am going to make this into a longer trip but with a car shuffle so as not to be too long. We will hike around Morte Lake on the north side and then take the old trail over to the Maude Island Trail. From there, we will take the lower route out to Maude Island and then on the way back if it does not get too warm go up over Mount Lolo. There will be a Max Flood of 14.1 at 2:03 PM that we will be trying to match and should be impressive. There will be a short break on the way out, but trying to get out there and have a long lunch watching the current. I think it will take about 3 1/2 – 4 hours to go out but will park the one vehicle where it should only be about two hours to come back. This is approximate, so be prepared for a longer hike of about 12 to 13 km.
Meeting Place Morte Lake parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No, as there are two places that are hard for dogs.
Notes Bring plenty of water, lunch and hiking poles if you use them. You must sign up by the evening of August 9 as I have to set up the car shuffle. I hope to have it done by the time everyone meets at Morte Lake parking lot.

Trip Report – Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay- 21 July 2026

Posted on by
Reply

Due to unanticipated events, changes were made to the plans for the hike to Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay.  The hike started about 9:45 and ended about 3:00. It was a beautiful hike for a hot, sunny day as it was shaded throughout. The rocks on the trail became increasingly wet as the hike proceeded, likely from condensation.

There were numerous groups of hikers on the trail from Waiatt Bay to Newton for a swim. We snacked at Waiatt at noon upon arrival. To suggest it was muggy would be an understatement. There was mist in the trees during multiple parts of the hike. It was surprisingly pleasant feeling for 30 degrees out, but there was much moisture in the air and on the hikers. Short breaks and a casual pace throughout made for a very nice hike in weather that could have humbled us if overly ambitious. (12.8 km, 4 hrs 41 minutes)

Jim

Hiking – Newton Lake-Small Inlet-Waiatt Bay – 22 July 2026

Hiking – Newton Lake – Small Inlet-Waiatt Bay – 6 Aug 2026

Posted on by
Reply

This trip will be postponed and something else will likely be scheduled!

Activity Hike and swim
Destination Newton Lake with Small Inlet and/or Waiatt Bay
Date 6 Aug 2026, Thursday, rescheduled
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111 or 250-287-0459 (text)
Description We will hike up to Newton Lake, down to Small Inlet, take the portage trail to Waiatt Bay and then back to the Newton Lake. Distance about 15 kilometres – will take approximately 4-5 hours (including lunch and short swim stops at Newton Lake.
If there is consensus to do so, we will break into two groups at the trail junction, one going on to Waiatt Bay, and the other returning to the lake. We will then rendezvous at Newton Lake.
Meeting Place Quadra Community Centre parking lot
Departure Time 9:00
Difficulty
 A rocky, rutty initial kilometer, and a steep section at Small Inlet, plus overall distance makes this a moderate – not easy – hike.
Costs Share fuel costs
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Limit 2 and on leash. Owners must have a signed “Dog-Owner Acknowledgement Statement” on file with the Club.
Notes: Bring plenty of water, lunch and snacks, and swimming stuff if you want to swim.
The trip is best on a good summer’s day so will be postponed if the forecast is for rain.

Trip Report – Morte Lake Classic Loop – 16 July 2026

Posted on by
Reply
Seven of us got an early start to get ahead of the heat that was forecast. We hiked into the Lake on the classic old logging road, meeting a few other people on the trail and at the east end sandy beaches. We continued up the switch-backed trail to the bluffs and paused to enjoy the view and indentify the mountains. We made our way back down to the lake and stopped at the picnic table for an early lunch and for those that wanted to swim. The water level was low and the water was relatively warm. We carried on along the fast trail on the west shore, stopping at the old logging access point with the canoe and stopping again at the white sand beach at the south end of the lake. There was no one on any of these beaches, which was surprising given the heat. We continued on the classic loop, rejoining the old logging road and then chosing to take Lower Deadfish for the return to the parking lot. By the end of our hike it was fairly overcast, warm and humid. This was a lovely, relaxed walk with great natural highlights and opportunities for socializing. (10.3 km, 4½ hours total, 290m elevation gain)

Debbie

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Morte Lake Classic Loop – 16July2026

Trip Report – Nugedzi Lakes – 9 July 2026

Posted on by
Reply

Well, the day didn’t go as planned as the weather was uncooperative. Five hikers met up, but we were trying to second-guess the rain that had already started. Two decided not to go, but the other three had hopes that the rain would only be temporary. As it turned out, it rained during the whole trip sometimes heavy, sometimes light. On the bright side, it was quite mild and even though we got very wet, we stayed warm due to the long uphill climb to Nugedzi Lake. The rain did add a whole different feel to the trip as your view was confined to a much shorter distance, and you were very aware of your close surroundings. The moss and vegetation seemed considerably greener. As we neared the lake the temperature dropped a bit, and the fog settled in. This changed the whole feeling of your surroundings again and was actually quite eerie but beautiful as you can see in the pictures that were taken.

At this point, we decided not to go out to the viewpoint as you wouldn’t have been able to see anything anyway. Instead, we headed back down the trail toward the Cedar Grove Canyon. There we took a connector trail back to the trail going up to Mt. Seymour, which is quite steep in some areas. This is a newer flagged trail that goes through some magnificent large trees and open mossy landscape. Back on the Seymour Trail, it was downhill all the way to the vehicles. (7 km, 320m ascent and 3 hours)

Les

Thanks to Les and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)


Hiking – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 9 July 2026