Category Archives: moderate

Kayaking – QCove to Smiths Rd- 15 Sept 2022

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Activity Paddling
Destination QCove to Smiths Road Shore Access
Date 15 Sept, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459 text; or phone 250-285-2111.
Description End of Summer – around the Cape; This paddle will involve a shuttle which will require an earlier start in order to be ready for a 0930 put in. We will put in at the Q Cove boat launch and leave the Cove just before the current changes (slack) to ebb and enter the back eddy as we head south to the lighthouse. We will round Cape Mudge and head north along QI’s east coast as far as the Shore Access off Smiths Road.
Meeting Place QCove boat launch
Departure Time Meet at put in at 0800; Shuttle vehicles to take out; On the water by 0930
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate depending on the weather. Currents will be a factor.
Costs None
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No
Notes: The shuttle will be the first challenge of the day. Try to arrange your own shuttle if a spouse or friend is willing to help. Otherwise we will do something like this: All meet at QCove and unload kayaks. All cars will go to Smiths Road (I will stay with the kayaks and gear); As few cars as necessary will drive back to QCove with all paddlers. We should probably meet at 0800, unload, shuttle and plan to put in at 0900.
Be sure to read our paddling guidelines and make sure you are properly outfitted.

Trip Report – Kanish Bay Paddle – 17 Aug 2022

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Six paddlers got an early start – 9:15 – from the Granite Bay boat launch on a beautiful summer day, with the forecasted northwesterly looking very manageable. Taking a counter clockwise route this time we headed to Orchard Bay for a quick pit stop and a stretch. We headed along the north side of Kanish Bay for a couple of kilometers and then decided it was time to head across to the Chained Islands in case the wind got any stronger. We encountered some chop coming nearly broadside and then some interesting waves as we got close to the second last island. Circling this island we arrived at the campsite in a sheltered bay and had a leisurely lunch in the shade. As the day was getting much warmer a couple of us attempted a swim in the very chilly water.

Getting back on the water we cruised in the shelter of the islands along the south side of Kanish Bay. Several salmon were spotted jumping and a flock of mergansers were working hard to keep ahead of us. With the day getting much hotter it was a good time to head to the take out and go in search of cold beverages.  12.0 km; 4 hours.

Vic Gladish

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Kayaking – Granite Bay and Beyond – 17 Aug 2022

Hiking – Alternate Chinese Mtn Loop – 24 Aug 2022

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Change of start time due to hot weather.

Activity Hiking
Destination Alternate South Chinese Mtn Loop
Date 24 Aug, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710  Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description Using climbing access trails, hiking trails, open forest and bluffs, we will hike a loop on South Chinese Mountain with maximize fantastic viewpoints, but does not go to the traditional lookout.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot.
Departure Time 9:00  10:00, or earlier if it is hot
Difficulty
 Moderate, quite short but steep in sections.
Costs None
Trip limits None
Dogs? No.
Notes: Bring la snack.  Poles are recommended if you use them.

Trip Report – Manzanita Bluff – 27 July 2022

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Six of us set out for Manzanita Bluff on one of the hottest days of the year, so far – about 34° C.  The view at the top is worth it, and the hike up is in the shade of an open forest with some fine Douglas fir trees.  We hiked up the 250 metres in 1½ hours and had lunch enjoying the great view from the bluff.  We descended quickly and took the side trip to Darkwater Lake for a well deserved swim in this excellent lake.  5.3 km; 4¼ hours

Norris
 

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Hiking – Manzanita Bluff – 27 July 2022

Kayaking – Granite Bay and beyond- 17 Aug 2022

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Activity Paddling
Destination Granite Bay/ Kanish Bay/ Small Inlet
Date 17 Aug, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459 text; or phone 250-285-2111.
Description Paddle into Kanish Bay and/or into Small Inlet for the hike across to Waiaitt Bay if weather and tides permit. 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: Low tide (1.6 m) middle of day making our lunch stop trickier and perhaps eliminating the hike.
Be sure to read our paddling guidelines and make sure you are properly outfitted.

Trip Report – Eagle Ridge and Blindman’s Bluff – 6 July 2022

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Our small group parked off of Copperhead logging road, now that the culvert has been replaced.  We descended to the wetlands before meandering up through the forest and bluffs to Eagle Ridge.  The day was overcast and humid, after a few days of heavy rain.  Just before we reached the high point of the ridge a Night Hawk flew across the trail onto the bluff and then into a tree.  We assumed that this was to divert us away from a ground nest and moved on to the high viewpoint.  After a brief stop on the ridge we returned the same way and noticed that there was a single egg alarmingly close to the trail.  Our second destination was Blindman’s Bluff on the hill to the south of Eagle Ridge.  Both of these are excellent walks with lots of variety and views.  We stopped for lunch at the main viewpoint overlooking Gowlland Harbour and Discovery Passage before heading back.  5.7 km; 3½ hours

Debbie
 
Thanks to Carrie and Norris for the photos.
 

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Hiking – Eagle Ridge and blindman’s Bluff – 6 July 2022

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 3 Aug 2022

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Postponed

Activity Hiking
Destination Main Lake and Yeatman Bay from Surge Narrows Rd
Date 3 Aug, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday evening.
Description This recently improved trail is a pleasure to walk through some excellent mature forest, meandering along a creek down to Main Lake.  From there we can follow the old portage/logging road route to Yeatman Bay.  There are multiple opportunities for swimming if the weather cooperates.  About 10 km round trip.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch and a bathing suit if you want to swim.

Hiking – Manzanita Bluff – 27 July 2022

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Activity Hiking
Destination Manzanita Bluff and Darkwater Lake
Date 27 July, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710  Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description Manzanita Bluff is an amazing viewpoint toward the north end of Discovery Passage.  It’s quite a long drive on logging roads and about 250m uphill without a trail, but the view is worth it.  The best route is through relatively open forest with some mature Douglas fir.  We will make the side trip to Darkwater Lake after the hike and swimming is an option.  About 5.6 km; 4¾ hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot.  We will drive out in a group.  All- or four-wheel drive vehicles with some clearance are recommended for the drive.
Departure Time 9:00
Difficulty
 Moderate, quite short but no trail.
Costs None
Trip limits None
Dogs? No.
Notes: Bring lunch, poles if you use them, bathing suit if you want to swim  This is a trip better done in good weather and would be postponed if the forecast is poor.

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 20 July 2022

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Postponed

Activity Hiking
Destination Around Morte Lake
Date 20 July, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or lhquadra@gmail.com  Please contact coordinator by Monday evening.
Description We will go around Morte Lake with the possibility of a swim if nice
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00; may change to 9 if hot
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? O.K. but must go back and forth thru group
Notes: Bring a lunch

Trip Report – Discovery Passage Bluffs – 22 June 2022

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Four of us parked at the official end of Leishmans Rd and continued along it as a forestry road.  After only a very short distance, we turned off onto a flagged path.  The first point of interest is a pair of huge rocks, or one gigantic rock split into two with a narrow walkway between them.  Continuing along the flagged path cleared through salal, we ended up at a splendid viewpoint of Discovery Passage facing south.  And it was a warm, sunny day.  From here we went north, sometimes following deer trails and sometimes walking on the rocky shore (tide dependent).  This whole section has good viewpoints and interesting cairns.  Finally as the grassy meadows that we had been walking through started to turn into forest, we had lunch and then headed up hill.  We climbed the grassy slopes and skirted the occasional rock band.  Once on top of the ridge, we could follow it back down to the south, keeping to open understory.  The east side of this ridge is quite a big cliff, bit it gradually diminishes and it’s easy to rejoin the original logging road.  We stopped to admire the big Douglas fir.   3.1 km; 3 hours

Norris
 

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Hiking – Discovery Passage Bluffs – 22 June 2022