Trip Report – Deadfish – Tripod Loop – 28 Aug 2024

Posted on August 31, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

This hike had been rescheduled from Aug 26 to Aug 28th due to a heavy rain that decided to set upon the hikers on Monday. Nevertheless, the wait for two days was worth it as the skies were clear and the sun bright. The hike included seven members and one guest from Saskatchewan.

The hike started at Morte Lake parking lot, which we quickly veered off of onto Deadfish hiking/biking trail. We followed the trail all the way to the end where there was nice “peek a boo” view of Morte Lake. The group then started on Seven Sins trail that wound us back and forth to Ridge trail eventually ending up at Tripod. The most recent storm had knocked down our trail marker Tripod so three hikers set to resurrect it if only as a temporary measure until it can be secured in place.

From Tripod the group continued down and followed Mud Lake until we turned back up on Ridge to Lost Rider. Instead of heading back to Deadfish trail, the group travelled up Morning Beer to have a great lunch overlooking the valley and enjoying the August sunshine. Due to the rain, the group did not complete the hike on Morning Beer but cut across back to Deadfish and completed the loop back to the Morte Lake parking lot.

Duration was approximately 2hrs 45min and 8.3km

Louise and Nicole

Click on photos to enlarge

: Top of Deadfish

: Lobster mushroom

: Views from Morning Beer

Hiking – Deadfish – Tripod Loop – 26 Aug 2024

Hike – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 4 Sept 2024

Posted on August 30, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Hiking with swim
Destination	Nugedzi Lakes and Views
Date	4 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator	Vic Gladish
Contact Info	vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-9459 text
Description	Hike up a steep, eroded, old logging road and meander through open forest to the lovely Nugedzi Lakes. We will also take two or three side trips to viewpoints looking northeast, southeast and west. Nugedzi Lake is a great place for lunch and a swim. About 11 km and 5½ hours.
Meeting Place	Quadra Community Centre. NOTE – NOT Heriot Bay Store.
Departure Time	10:00
Difficulty	Moderate due to steep, rutted approach.
Costs	Nil
Trip limits	10
Dogs?	No
Notes:	Bring lunch and swim wear if you want to swim. This is a view hike and will not be done in poor weather. Carpooling – if I can arrange carpools by phone or message, we can skip the meet up and go straight to trailhead.

Hiking – Beech’s Mountain – 11 Sept 2024

Posted on August 29, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Beech’s Mountain
Date	11 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator	Allan Liimatta
Contact Info	250 416 9338 (text) or allanliimatta @ gmail.com
Description	Hike to top of Beech’s Mountain with excellent views of coast and Vancouver Island mountains, weather depending. Also views of Campbell River and Drew Harbour. The trail is uphill with elevation gain of 1200 ft. Lots of rock on trail with some sections to scramble up. In and out about 2.5 to 3 hours with lunch break at summit.
Meeting Place	Chinese Mountain trailhead
Departure Time	10:00
Difficulty	Moderate to difficult
Costs	None
Trip limits	10
Dogs?	No
Notes:

Trip Report – Kanish Bay – 22 Aug 2024

Posted on August 28, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

The planned three day outing, once again, became a day trip thanks to the weather. Waiting out the rainy weather, at home, paid off with an exceptional Kanish Bay day. We (seven paddlers) put in late in the morning on the low tide and headed out through Granite Bay for Orchard Bay where we took our lunch break.

After lunch, on calm seas, we continued westward on the north shore of Kanish Bay. We lingered at the pictograph cliffs and then, just before Granite Pt., made the decision to turn south and head across the mouth of the bay. A slight northwest breeze rippled the water as we headed for the Chained Islands. After two hours of paddling we took a much needed 10 minute break.

With tide and breeze in our favour, we headed east and worked our way back to the Granite Bay boat launch. As the tide was close to its high point, the takeout was made much easier, topping off a very good day of paddling.

Very little wildlife was spotted on this outing – a few small fish jumping, a murrelet, a few gulls.

(8.3 NM 4 hrs paddling)

Vic

(Click on photos to enlarge)

: Launching at Granite Bay

: Very low tide

: Shell beach islet

: Kanish Bay

: Arriving at Orchard Bay

: The lunch break

: On the shallow clam garden

: Bald Eagle

: Pictograph cliffs

: Faint pictograph

: Break at the Chained Islands

Kayaking – Granite Bay and Beyond – 22 Aug 2024

Kayaking – Granite Bay and beyond- 22 Aug 2024

Posted on August 19, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Kayaking
Destination	Granite Bay/ Kanish Bay/ Small Inlet
Date	22 Aug, Thursday
Trip Coordinator	Vic Gladish
Contact Info	vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459
Description	Paddle into Kanish Bay and/or into Small Inlet. About 4 to 5 hours depending on what we decide to do. Bring a lunch.
Meeting Place	Granite Bay boat launch
Departure Time	Meet at 8:45; on the water by 9:15
Difficulty	Easy to moderate depending on the weather.
Costs	Launch fee – $5.00
Trip limits	8
Dogs?	No
Notes:	The tide will be very low in the middle of the day. Be sure to read our paddling guidelines and make sure you are properly outfitted.

Hiking – Deadfish-Tripod Loop – 26 Aug 2024

Posted on August 5, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

This hike has been re-scheduled to August 28, Wednesday!

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Deadfish-Tripod Loop
Date	28 August, Wednesday 26 August, Monday
Trip Coordinator	Nicole and Louise
Contact Info	Nicole: email quadranick@gmail.com or Louise: text 306-539-3813
Description	The hike will start at Morte Lake parking lot, making a big loop on biking/hiking trails south of Morte Lake. We will ascend Morning Beer and Nirvana trails, then west along south Morte Lake. Turning back on Tripod, Ridge trail and Lost Rider, we return by Deadfish to the parking lot. Duration should be about 2 hours (3 hours max).
Meeting Place	Meet at the Morte Lake trail head
Departure Time	10:00
Difficulty	Moderate
Costs	none
Trip limits	10
Dogs?	No
Notes

Trip Report – Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay – 24 July 2024

Posted on July 27, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

A large group of 11 hikers (including 1 guest and 1 new member) undertook our “annual” midsummer trek to Newton Lake, Small Inlet, and Waiatt Bay. It was a cooler day after some rainy days, but a swim was still happily anticipated by some. After regrouping and adjusting the pace at the Small Inlet Park Boundary, we had a soggy go through the thick patches of salal, thanks to recent rain, and then arrived at Newton Lake for a short rest.

Our long line of hikers became longer as we descended the switchbacks down the steep slope to Small Inlet. We walked out onto the mudflat and shortly realized that we were in one of the inlet’s many clam gardens. The tide seemed exceptionally low and revealed the long arc of piled boulders that enclosed the clam bed.

A few minutes later we crossed the mudflat to the Waiatt Bay trail head, stopped to marvel at the freshwater spring a few strides later and then made the short hop to Waiatt Bay. By this point we had only met up with a few pairs of hikers coming from the anchorage. At the bay on Quadra’s east coast, dozens of “yachts” were visible. Perhaps the very big tide flat was discouraging them from coming ashore?

After a leisurely lunch the group was again on the move and ready to tackle the uphill leg back to Newton Lake. We ascended slowly, and with it being a cooler, overcast day, everyone arrived at the top in good shape. Arriving at the lake with a light rain shower starting made a dip in Newton Lake’s inviting waters even less appealing. So, after a brief rest, we tackled the final leg of this classic hike. (12.8 km; 5 hours 48 min)

Vic

Thanks to Carl and Norris for the photos

(Click to enlarge)

: Pinesap

: Salal leaves

: Tiny tree frog

: Reflections in Newton Lake

: Arriving at Newton Lake

: At the swim rock

: Sketchy crossing at the outlet

: Dog-vomit slime mold

: Hiking down the hill

: Small Inlet

: Clam garden wall

: Mottled star

: Fungal guttation

: Ghost pipes

: Waiatt Bay

: Lunch Break

: Hiking back up the hill

: Waterfall grotto

Hiking – Newton Lake-Small Inlet-Waiatt Bay – 24 July 2024

Trip Report – Gowlland Harbour – 10 July 2024

Posted on July 14, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

Ten people gathered on a beautiful, calm, sunny day for a paddle and social. The Stuart’s place is a bit difficult to launch from as there is a steep driveway with a switch back and only one vehicle can come down at a time. Then you have to pack the kayak around the pond. This was made easier by the fact that I live here, two members paddled over from their place, and another member brought his kayak in by boat to the dock. All in all it worked out well and we managed to leave a little ahead of schedule. We paddled south around the south end of Gowlland Harbour to start. After passing the old sunken barge, we stopped where the two abandoned boats have sunk to talk about how bad the government is managing abandoned boats on our coastline. We then paddled on flat water up the east side of Gowlland Island and stopped to stretch our legs on the north end. As we proceeded toward Gowlland Resort there was a colony of seals on some of the small islets. At Seascape Resort, now called Jade Resort, we stopped to look and discuss the falling apart of the old barge hotel. This is a total disaster of waste and garbage being emptied into our beautiful harbour because of the inability of government and courts to deal with a problem.
We then had an easy paddle back to our entry point. Here we had a great social on the deck, complete with chips and salsa, smoked oysters and meats with cheese and crackers, veggie platter, and Smokies and buns from the barbecue. Plus drinks and desserts. (7 km; 2 hour paddle)

Les

(click on photos to enlarge)

: Canada Geese

: Old barge wreck

: Recent sunken small boat

: Hollow metal wreck

: Toward Vigilant Island

: Harbour seals

: Sunken float-lodge

: Around Stag Island

: On Les’ deck

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 10 July 2024

Hiking – Thompson Trail-Hopespring Loop – 7 Aug 2024

Posted on July 8, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Thompson Trail-Hopespring Loop
Date	7 Aug 2024, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator	Les Hand
Contact Info	lhquadra@gmail.com or 285-2029
Description	We will start at the end of Thompson Road and do the circle counter clockwise. Bring a snack or small lunch and we will stop at the top of Heriot Ridge before we come down to Hopespring Road.
Meeting Place	End of Thompson Road
Departure Time	9:00
Difficulty	Easy
Costs	None
Trip limits	10
Dogs?	Okay, but under control
Notes:	We are starting earlier than normal to beat some of the heat. Bring hiking poles if you’d like to use them.

Multi-day Kayaking and Camping – Granite Bay and Beyond- 20-22 Aug 2024