Category Archives: moderate

Natural History – Caving near Sayward – 25 June 2019

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Activity Natural History – Caving
Destination Sayward area caves
Date 25 June 2019, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Cyndy Chidley
Contact Info Cyndy Chidley: 250-285-3575.  Please let the coordinator know as soon as possible if you are interested.
Description Moderate caving on north Vancouver Island with Bill West-Sells as our guide.  We will meet Bill at Sayward and drive to the cave area from there.  Challenges may include bridging, climbing, stretching, wriggling, not to mention small, dark, wet places.  We will be going to caves we have not visited before.  We will walk for about half an hour through brush to reach the cave.  Make sure you read the notes below on what to bring.  We will need some 4-wheel-drive vehicles some clearance as the end of the road is quite steep.
Meeting Place Q Cove ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 ferry to Campbell River; if you are driving come early to avoid the overload
Difficulty Moderate
Costs Ferry and shared gas
Trip limits 12 people or enough 4-wheel-drive vehicles
Dogs? No
Notes:
Wear rubber boots, neoprene socks or booties, or wool socks with runners that you don’t mind getting wet.  The water will be cold.  Bring coveralls, a helmet that you are able to fit with head light, and a head light, if you have one.  Bill has some extras that he will bring.  Flexible gloves, if you have them. A change of shoes and socks with a small towel.  Bring a backpack, as we will walk for a half hour to the cave entrance.   Also lunch and water.  If you have a walkie-talkie or family radio, please bring it with charged batteries.

Hiking – Main Lake from Surge Narrows Rd – 13 June 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Main Lake from Surge Narrows Rd
Date 13 June 2019, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator in advance.
Description This is a flagged route from the Surge Narrows road, following old logging roads and paths through mature forest to the east end of Main Lake.  The route is not far (about 7.0 km round trip), but quite slow due to rough conditions.  Expect wet sections and some climbing over deadfall.  If the group wants more of a walk, we can continue on to Yeatman Bay, which would be about 10 km round trip.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty Moderate due to the rough trail conditions.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch.

Hiking – Mine Lake Bluff – 5 June 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mine Lake Bluff
Date 5 June 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or leshand@gicable.com   Be sure to sign up so I can call you if weather changes
Description We will leave from the Mine Lake parking area and go to Camp Homewood site. From there will take the steep route up to the top and return down the back side.
BE SURE AND READ NOTES BELOW
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Moderate; not long but challenging in places
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? no
Notes: If there has been or is forecast for more than drizzle this trip will be postponed as the rocks can get slippery. Good footwear is needed, no flip flops or loafers. Also if you are afraid of heights or have vertigo, this hike is not for you. There are exposed areas with loose rock on a steep slope. If you have any questions please call before you come.

 

Trip Report – Cortes Island – 6-9 May 2019

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A wonderful four days of sunshine for our Cortes Trip.

Day 1: Nine women came along, leaving Quadra on the 9:05 am ferry, arriving in Whaletown at approximately 9:45 am. We drove on to Linnaea Farm and took our food into the kitchen fridge to stay cold. We then drove to Manson’s Landing and hiked on the trails that the students had created through the forest to Manson’s Lagoon. Stopping to view the beautiful carved totem pole on the beach, then walked on to the lagoon. The timing was perfect because we reached the lagoon at low tide and walked out to the islands. The islands were covered with wild flowers, colours of blues, yellows, pinks and even chocolate lilies. We sat and ate our lunches, watching the geese with their babies. A number of blue starfish in the tidal pools along with sand dollars, a lovely treat, the lagoon was covered in shells. Return hike along the lagoon trail and onto Hague Lake, even two of the ladies swam. Then on to Manson’s to say ‘hello’ to Tom the turkey plus a treat from the Co-op, arriving at the farm by 4 pm, gear brought in and took the time to get settled. Dinner team # 1 prepared a delicious dinner, served at 6 pm. A group then took a walk around the farm, seeing the cows and the planting of produce etc. Nine pm we held meditation and everyone was present. Games were played by a few members, plus group discussions. A lovely end to a glorious day.

Day 2: Soon the kitchen was busy with individuals preparing their lunches and breakfasts. Eight am – meditation, the focus ‘I am my Silence’. This was a day for hiking Kw’as Park in silence, giving each person the opportunity to truly appreciate nature. The trails lead from Linnaea Farm along the sides of Hague and Gunflint lakes, through deep old forest with numerous old growth trees. We climbed up to the higher rocks overlooking Hague lake for lunch, warm sunshine with us, we all managed to find a little shade. In the afternoon we climbed over the high manzanita covered bluffs, a most beautiful avenue of tiny blue flowers helped our descent. Climbing down a newly erected steel ladder to the forest floor. Kw’as Park is a jewel, so much to see, to hear, to feel, we celebrated each step in silence. Arriving back at the farm in good time for dinner preparation by Team # 2. Another delicious dinner, giving us a chance to discuss our day of silence. Meditation at 9 pm again appreciated by all. All ready for a good nights sleep.

Day 3: Again, the busy kitchen with preparation for lunches and breakfasts. Today, the trip was to Blue Jay Farm, this is a 350 acre farm overlooking Carrington Bay and Squirrel Cove on the edge of Blue Jay Lake. A productive busy farm, chickens, cows, goats, ducks, lumber yard and also a huge amount of fresh produce grown, a magnificent farm. We toured the farm and then Tiger the cat came with us for a hike through the forest and around the lake, he took great care of us. We had lunch at the lake and a number of brave ladies swam in the cold waters. Another hike to a high ridge overlooking the farm and Carrington Bay and beyond. Such a wonderful day. We stopped for a short time at Squirrel Cove and then on to Linnaea Farm. Dinner Team 3 prepared the dinner, yet another delicious dinner. After dinner, a group went for a short walk and some played games. Nine pm meditation to end yet another beautiful day.

Day 4: Individuals awoke early to get a start for leaving the farm. We packed our lunches, ate breakfast and then cleaned. Nine-thirty am we set off to hike Easter Bluff, a pretty hot weather hike. Arriving at the top to take in the magnificent views overlooking the south and west end of Cortes and the mountains beyond, looking down on Cortes Bay, also a good view of Quadra. A trek down to Linnaea Farm to get into our vehicles, we then drove to Hanks Beach. This is a short forest walk to a secluded wide sandy beach with intriguing rock formations which we explored. Hanks Beach overlooks Twin Islands. We stopped awhile and ate our lunches before walking back to our vehicles. We then headed for the 3:50 pm ferry, reflecting on our wonderful trip to Cortes Island. The whales gave some a terrific display in the waters off Cortes.

A huge thank you to everyone, our fantastic trail guide, our meditation guide, the dinner teams etc. etc. A wonderful group. Yes, we were Silent on Day 2 for our walk in Kw’as Park. ‘ I am My Silence’.

Margot Wood.

Thanks to Jan, Janis, Kathryn and Cyndy for the photos

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Multi-day Hiking – Cortes Island – 6-9 May 2019

Multi-day kayaking – Octopus Islands – 8-11 July 2019

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This trips was originally scheduled for Sutil Channel from July 8 to 11

Activity Multi-day Paddle
Destination Octopus Islands Cortes Island and vicinity
Date 8-11 July 2019, Monday to Thursday.  We may return sooner if the weather is uncooperative.
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell
Contact Info mitchelldarcy51@gmail.com
Description Multi-day paddle with camping in the Octopus Islands or Waiatt Bay.  Please read all the Notes below.
Meeting Place launch from Surge Narrows
Departure Time please contact the coordinator for all details
Difficulty
 Moderate (depending on wind conditions)
Cost
Trip limits Eight with no more than 4 tents as camping space is limited
Dogs? No
Notes: All participants must review and conform to QIOC paddling guidelines. Only ‘sea kayaks’ (with waterproof bulkheads) equipped with spray skirts and all required safety equipment are eligible for this trip. Participants must be self-sufficient in camping equipment, fresh water and food. Please note that all participants must be able to perform a wet exit and assisted rescue, at minimum. If you do not have fairly recent rescue training and practice (e.g. Paddle Canada basic courses or equivalent), you must take the club training workshop scheduled for June 26 (see the trip schedule for details). If you have not paddled with the coordinator previously, please contact her no later than June 20. Final registration is July 1st. The trip will be cancelled if forecast winds are higher than 15 knots, or steady rain is expected. Participants will be informed by 7 p.m. on July 6 if the trip will be cancelled.

Trip Report – Noel’s Pizza Peak – 2 May 2019

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Five hikers started from the Nugedzi parking area. It was a partly cloudy day that was perfect for the climb up the old, rough, washed out road. Just past the route up to Beech’s Mountain. we turned off the road. It was a good thing that we had a GPS track from 2014 as the trail was overgrown and had quite a bit of blow down. It was fun to go a little ways and then try to find some old ribbon. Without too many set backs we made it out to the bluffs and were rewarded with some spectacular views of Discovery Passage and Quadra while having lunch. We then retraced our way back to the vehicles. 8km; 4 hours

Les

Thanks to Les and Vic for the photos

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Hiking – Noel’s Pizza Peak- 2 May 2019

Trip Report – Gowlland Harbour – 24 April 2019

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Seven of us launched our kayaks from April Point Marina.  The weather was great – sunny and clear, except that the wind forecast was more than we wanted – strong northwest.  The short first leg of the trip was into the wind, but still a bit protected, so we got a taste of what the actual wind was.  Northwest, but not strong, without big waves.  So we elected to continue north along the west side of Gowlland Island, which has a nice view of the snow-covered Vancouver Island mountains.

There was one short stretch just before Steep Island where the wind-against-tide was causing some short, steep waves.  After we passed Vigilant Island the wind was behind us, pushing us into Gowlland Harbour.  We wound around several small islets, then had lunch on the south end of Stag Island, with sunshine and wildflowers.  After lunch it was a short paddle back to April Point, with a good view of the sea urchins and sea stars at a low tide.  10.1 km; 3¾ hours.

With Les’ kind invitation, most of the group continued on to his deck for libations.

Norris

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Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 24 April 2019

Kayaking – Village Bay – 29 May 2019

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Village Bay
Date 29 May 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; (cell 250-287-0459).  The coordinator should be contacted no later than 24 hours prior to departure.
Description We will meet at and launch from Len Rd Beach access and paddle to Village Bay, and return. Approximately 16 km. You MUST use a fully equipped sea kayak with all required safety equipment as per Club guidelines. (https://qioutdoorclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/paddling-guidelines-aug2018.pdf) Bring water and lunch.
Meeting Place Len Road Beach Access
Departure Time Meet at put-in 0830; Depart by 0900
Difficulty
 Moderate depending on winds
Costs Nil
Trip limits 7 + coordinator
Dogs? No
Notes: If you want to carpool (saves space at put-in) email me. If you can take 1 more person, kayak, and gear please let me know. I can take 1 additional paddler.
It will be mid ebb tide when we put in but should be an easier take out in mid afternoon.

Hiking – Noel’s Pizza Peak – 2 May 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Noel’s Pizza Peak
Date 2 May 2019, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or leshand@gicable.com   Be sure to sign up so I can call you if weather changes
Description Noel’s Pizza peak is the informal name for the west ridge of Beech’s Mt. It is a flagged route, not an official trail therefore there may be some blow down and scrambling.  About 4 hours
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: If you use poles bring them. You need good footwear for this hike.

 

Trip Report – Ripple Rock Trail – 17 April 2019

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Four of us were lucky to have a dry day between monsoon-like rains.  Everywhere we went there were signs of spring.  We started out from the trailhead on the wide trail down to a creek edged with big Sitka spruce and pink fawn lilies.  The trail narrows as it approaches Menzies Bay and then undulates through lovely, open-understory forest and bluffs with views of the Bay and Vancouver Island.  In between the array of spring flowers, we admired some great old-growth Douglas fir trees.  The wooden bridges and stairs were often in need of maintenance, and the trail is quite busy by our standards.  We climbed the big stairs to the overlook of Seymour Narrows and stopped there for lunch. It wasn’t a really big current, but we watched the flood increase before heading back the way we had come.  We were accompanied much of the way by a cheerful, high-energy dog, who we finally convinced to follow another group back to its owner.  9 km; 4 hours.

Debbie

Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos

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Hiking – Ripple Rock Trail – 17 April 2019