Category Archives: moderate

Trip Report – Maud Island and Petroglyphs – 18 May 2023

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Five paddlers put in at Whalebone Cove and set off by 0900 on glassy seas, with bright sunshine, and warming temperatures. A beautiful summer day in the spring! And finally, after many attempts to undertake this trip, we were doing it.

Working with and against the ebbing current we made our way northward, close to shore and observing the life below. An hour’s paddling brought us to the fish farm near Maud Island and then we decided that our early lunch stop would be at the entrance to the saltwater lagoon which was at this point not navigable.

We then headed for “Kawston”, the ancient village site and its petroglyphs at the mouth of Morte Creek just east of Maud Island. Locating the flat-topped large rock with the quartz line was easy and on it was a fairly obvious petroglyph as indicated in Inglis’s little guide book. Over the next 45 minutes or so we searched for further examples and came up empty handed. However the many canoe pull outs were quite evident as we walked across the top of the beach.

As we paddled back, southward, with an increasingly strong flood current, we stayed close to shore and were passed by a solitary cetacean (porpoise?), spotted an otter, and a sea lion. We rode the fast current for several minutes, got pushed around by boils and whirlpools, and then cruised back into Whalebone Cove. 6½ hours and 17 km covered.

A fabulous outing!!

Vic

Thanks to Vic and Tak for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Maud Island and Petroglyphs – 18 May 2023

Trip Report – Gowlland Harbour – 10 May 2023

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Ten kayakers met at Gowlland Harbour resort for our spring wildflower paddle. It was a beautiful sunny summer day with only light wind. Gowlland Harbour Resort was very gracious and allowed us to launch from their beautiful Resort. Les had hurt his shoulder earlier in the week, so was not able to join the group on the water. He showed up to help everyone get launched, but Debbie shepherded the group on the water.

After launching we paddled over to Vigilant Island, where about half the group went ashore to explore the wildflowers. There were Sea Blush, Monkeyflowers, Death Camas, tiny Blue Eyed Marys, and Chocolate Lilies, so it was a great show. From there we crossed the channel to Steep Island and chatted with the couple on the three-masted sailboat before crossing the Gowlland Harbour entrance. We skirted the outside of May Island and got a glimpse of the submerged wreck, which was less than a metre under the water. We headed east across North Gowlland Harbour checking out the old stone house and glimpsing large anemones around the islets. The cliffs along the Quadra shore were a perfect rock garden in places, with sedum and Monkeyflowers on dripping walls. We dipped into the bay and chatted with Jill and Vibeke before paddling east around the islets in Gowlland Harbour where the Harbour Seals were basking on the rocks in the sun. Passing by two large sailboats at anchor, we continued on by Fawn, Stag and Doe Islands with the Sea Blush coming out and the Canadian Geese nesting.  As we landed at Les’ place, there were Geese with goslings making their way along the shore.

Les fixed appetizers for the group. We had Nan bread with cheese, ham and turkey, as well as rice crackers with cream cheese and crab, a mixed vegetable platter and cookies.  After that the group paddle back to Gowlland Resort. Les met them there to load up.  (11.2 km; 5 hours with all breaks)

Les and Debbie

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Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 10 May 2023

Hiking – Santana Mine – 29 May 2023

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Change of start time to 9:00.

Activity Hiking
Destination Santana Mine
Date 29 May 2023, Monday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710. Please contact the coordinator by Saturday night.
Description We will hike to the historic Santana Mine from the Bold Point area.  The access routes are not maintained and range from old logging roads to trails up to the mine.  This outing combines a walk through a good forest and a mine with a horizontal shaft. The history of the mine is quite interesting.  Here is a link to the claim information:  https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/summary.aspx?minfilno=092K%20%20013
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store
Departure Time 9:00 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: Bring a flashlight.  Bring gear for the weather and lunch.

Multi-day Kayaking, Camping – Main Lake Prov Park- 6-8 June 2023

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Activity Multi-day kayaking, camping and hiking
Destination Main Lake Provincial Park
Date 6-8 June 2023, Tuesday to Thursday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; text 250-287-0459
Description We will set up camp at Main Lake and spend three days exploring by hiking and paddling. Destinations can vary with the group’s interests.
Meeting Place Mine Lake boat launch
Departure Time On the water at 1030 hr.
Difficulty Easy to moderate if windy
Cost https://bcparks.ca/main-lake-park/
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No.
Notes: This multi-day trip is relatively easy on a local lake, but requires good paddling and camping gear. Bring footwear suitable for hiking (easy).

Ask coordinator about joining for just 1 or 2 days if you have a schedule conflict.

Trip Report – Carrington Bay & Grandmothers’ Grove – 1 May 2023

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Eight of us were very happy to return to this hike on Cortes after a long break.  The weather was perfect for hiking and the trails were in very good condition although there were the usual large puddles on the logging road.  We enjoyed the excellent forest along the old road down to Carrington Bay, stopping briefly at the old Borden homestead.  We were impressed by the new aluminum bridge across the outlet from the lagoon. In a few years this crossing went from a slippery log, to the wooden bridge to this metal bridge.  There was some good variety of intertidal creatures to view at the lagoon exit before we made our way over to the granite rock on the lagoon for lunch.  It was wonderfully warm and quiet as we enjoyed lunch and the water birds.  We continued around the lagoon on a trail through the mossy Children’s Forest to the Grandmothers’ Grove.  The old trees and James Creek were very beautiful and serene.  We followed the trail until it joined the logging road ascending the hill back to the vehicles.  We hurried a bit at the end and were able to return on the earlier ferry.  9.2 km; 3½ hours.

Debbie

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Hiking – Carrington Bay & Grandmothers’ Grove – 1 May 2023

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 10 May 2023

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Gowlland Harbour
Date: 10 May 2023, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 250-285-2029 or lhquadra@gmail.com
Description We will paddle around all of Gowlland Harbour, checking out the many small islands and the wonderful spring flowers. This will possibly take about four hours. Course will depend on weather. Be sure and sign up one day early so that I may contact you if things change. May stop at my house for appys and beverages.
Meeting Place 823 Gowlland Harbour Road
Departure Time 9:30 (unload and prepare at 9:00)
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring your kayak and all necessary safety equipment as per transport Canada safety rules. Bring a lunch and spray skirt as it might be needed. Only two vehicles can unload at the beach at one time, so please be on time. Gowlland Harbour resort has kindly granted us permission to use their boat launch for this trip. This is not a public access. Many thanks to Gowland Harbour Resort.

Trip Report – Elk Falls Loop – 24 Apr 2023

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Five of us hiked the loop from the logging bridge on the Campbell River up to Moose Falls and back. This is an excellent hike with many points of interest along the way, but it is particularly special in the spring with the wildflowers in bloom. We parked on the north side and followed the path upstream.  The timing was perfect and there were pink and white fawn lilies, trillium, and wild bleeding heart all along the way.

We admired the Canyon View and continued up to the Millennium Trail.  We took an unmarked side path to a lovely mossy bluff with an excellent view of Elk Falls and stopped for elevenses.   We continued by some big old growth Douglas fir trees to the Elk Falls viewing platform and suspension bridge.  There was not much water in the falls, but it is always beautiful

We took the gradually ascending Old Growth trail followed by the very steep descent to the rocky viewpoint for Moose Falls and the Dolphin Pool, where we stopped for lunch.  We returned along the river, passing more old growth trees and Deer Falls.  We crossed at Station View, with its totem poles and interpretive information about the generating station, and continued on the south bank, with more wildflowers, back to the vehicles. The weather was perfect for this hike and it was a great way to end the “winter” schedule.  (11.8 km; 4½ hours)

Debbie

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Hiking – Elk Falls Loop – 24 Apr 2023

Kayaking – Maud Island and Morte Creek petroglyphs – 18 May 2023

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This trip was previously scheduled for May 24th.

Activity Kayaking
Destination Maud Island and Morte Creek petroglyphs
Date 18 May 2023, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info 250-285-2111; or 250-287-0459 text
Description According to Joy Inglis’s “Petroglyphs of Quadra Island” there are several petroglyphs located along Quadra’s west shore at the outflow of Morte Lake creek just east of Maud Island.
We will put in at the Leishmans Rd shore access by 0930 am and paddle north to Maud Island, likely bucking some current as we will want to stay close to shore to avoid any hazardous turbulence. Lunch at Maud Island and then backtrack to the mouth of Morte Creek to the old village site of Kawstin to find and view the petroglyphs. Then return to Whalebone Cove and the takeout.
Meeting Place Shore access at Leishmans Rd
Departure Time 0900 on the water; meet at 0830
Difficulty
 Moderate to difficult depending on weather and currents.
Costs None
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No
Notes: The tides/currents will be a factor. In order to view the petroglyphs I am planning our arrival for low tide with less attention to what the current will be doing. Poor weather and/or wind will mean this trip will be cancelled.
All participants must be equipped for ocean paddling in cooler weather – required equipment as per club guidelines (https://qioutdoorclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/paddling-guidelines-aug2018.pdf) and appropriate clothing.
I will email to each participant the petroglyph information relevant to the location.
Bring lunch, hot drinks, extra warm layers and something to sit on.

Trip Report – Trout Creek Falls Trail – 12 April 2023

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Five of us took advantage of the perfect weather (recently very rare) to hike the Trout Creek Falls loop, which for some historical reason is on Mohun Creek.  The trail was dry and in good condition, with evident clean-up after winter and some new ropes since we visited last.  It goes uphill, as you might expect for waterfalls. Multiple waterfalls.  There are three main ones and a cascade.  The first is near the trail head and is impressive.  The second is bigger and higher and even more impressive.  The third is beyond impressive, though the height of the drop is less than the second falls.  This last falls drops into a narrow gorge and the trail is just on the opposite gorge edge, as close as you would want to be.  But watch your step!  We had lunch on the open, mossy bluff just above the falls.  There was lots of water in the falls after all the recent rain, and it was a sunny, blue day, with sunshine on all the falls.  Perfect.

After lunch we visited the calm pool in the creek just above the falls, then hiked on upstream to where the trail joins the Mary Lake (forestry) Road, which we followed back down, with a short stop at Mary Lake.  Mary Lake is a beautiful lake, but somewhat spoiled by slobs who leave garbage, shotgun shells and bits of fluorescent orange shotgun targets everywhere on the otherwise lovely mossy bluff.  (7km, 3 hours)

Norris
 
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Hiking – Trout Creek Falls Loop – 12 April 2023

Hiking – Elk Falls Loop – 24 April 2023

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Activity Hiking
Destination Elk Falls Loop
Date 24 April, Monday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 285-3710 or dmquigg@gmail.com.  Please contact the coordinator by Saturday night.
Description The plan is to hike the full loop beginning at the logging bridge across the Campbell River.  We will hike along the north shore of the River (hopefully there will be trillium and fawn lilies in bloom), across the Canyon View Bridge, up to the Elk Falls viewing area, Moose and Deer Falls, before heading back down on the south side of the River.  About 12 km and 5 hours.
Meeting Place Q Cove Ferry terminal.  Drivers need to be early for this busy sailing.
Departure Time 9:00 ferry
Difficulty
 A few steep places, but mostly reasonable walking on good trails.
Costs Shared ferry costs
Trip limits 12
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch and gear for weather.