After cancelling this trip in February due to icy conditions, the weather could not have been better. Fifteen hikers, including five guests, enjoyed the cool of the forest and then the warmth of the sun at the lookouts. Some chose to go up and take in the views from Mt. Lolo, giving themselves a wonderful, varied hiking loop, and others chose to do the lower route to the lookout over Seymour Narrows both ways.
Sandra
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- Mt. McBride
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- Elkhorn Mtn. & Kings Peak
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- Looking toward Cape Mudge
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- The causeway to Maud Island
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- Bumble bee
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- View north
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- Looking toward Duncan Bay
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- Looking north in Discovery Passage
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- Steller sea lion
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- The Saltwater Lagoon
Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 20 Mar 2019
This was our last scheduled trip to Mt. Washington for the season. On this first day of spring, the weather was very warm, up to 14°C on the hill. Five of us snowshoed under absolutely clear skies and the snow was better than expected considering the heat. Terry lead us up the Great Big View trail and on to Finger Glades, with wonderful views of the Vancouver Island mountains. We stopped for lunch near the high point of the trail before making our way back down to the vehicles. 184m elevation gain; 5.6 km; about 3½ hours.
Debbie
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- Mt. Albert Edward
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- Great Big View trail
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- Rees Ridge
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- Albert Edward & Jutland
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- Mt. Alexandra
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- Still lots of snow
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- Mt. Washington summit
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- Steller Jay
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- Gray Jay
Hiking – Stramberg Old Growth Grove – 2 April 2019
This hike has been re-scheduled to Tuesday
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Stramberg Old Growth Grove |
| Date | 2 April 2019, Tuesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Norris Weimer |
| Contact Info | norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 285-3710. Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip. |
| Description | This trail begins near Village Bay Lake and follows open meadows leading into and through the forest on old, unmaintained logging roads. The forest is varied with occasional old growth, creeks, and wetlands. This is not an official trail. Expect blow-down and brush. About 13 km; 5 hours or more. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools |
| Departure Time | 09:30 |
| Difficulty |
Moderate, due to unmaintained trail and quite long |
| Costs | None |
| Trip limits | None |
| Dogs? | Dogs must not run through the group |
| Notes: | Bring lunch and water. |
Snow – Mt Washington – 20 March 2019
| Activity | Snow |
| Destination | Mt. Washington |
| Date | 20 March 2019, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Debbie Quigg |
| Contact Info | debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator by Monday night. |
| Description | We are expecting warm, spring conditions. We will find a route that works for the group. |
| Meeting Place | Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River. Car pools need to be arranged in advance. |
| Departure Time | We can take the 9:00 or 10:00 ferry depending on what the group wants. Drivers should be in line early. |
| Difficulty |
Depends |
| Costs | Ferry and shared fuel. |
| Trip limits | Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington. |
| Dogs? | No |
| Notes: |
Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 25 Feb 2019
For our third trip to Mt. Washington area in less than two weeks, seven of us went x-country skiing at the nordic area. We had yet another day of beautiful weather and snow. We broke into three groups, with two people skiing the Lake Trail, three skiing out through Paradise Meadows to Far East, and two skiing through the Meadows to Jack Rabbit. Linda was getting her ski legs back after many years and she was amazing. Five of us had lunch on the balcony at Raven Lodge. After lunch, one of the five had a “Merry Monday” (mocha and Baileys), two skied out Jutland and back, and two skied out Jutland and up Legacy View before turning back. The longest day was 20.7 km; about 5 hours.
Debbie
Thanks to Norris and Stephen for the photos
(click on photos to view larger)
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- Comox Glacier
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- Mainland mountains
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- Mt. Albert Edward & Jutland
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- Jutland trail & H’Kusam Mt.
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- Mt. Alexandra
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- Mt. Albert Edward
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- The Lake Trail
Hiking – Hopespring-Thompson Trail loop – 27 Feb 2019
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Hopespring-Thompson Trail loop |
| Date | 27 Feb 2019, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Norris Weimer |
| Contact Info | norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710. |
| Description | Our local source says that this trail is not too slippery. We will give it a try, starting on Thompson Trail and working counter-clockwise. This is a classic loop on official trails, with lots of variety: creeks, old growth Douglas fir, some wetlands and a big ascent. The hike will be about two hours. |
| Meeting Place | Thompson trailhead |
| Departure Time | 10:00 |
| Difficulty |
Fairly short and undulating |
| Costs | none |
| Trip limits | none |
| Dogs? | Okay if they don’t run through the group. |
| Notes: | Bring a snack and poles if you use them. |
Snow – Mt Washington – 25 Feb 2019
| Activity | Snow |
| Destination | Mt. Washington |
| Date | 25 Feb 2019, Monday |
| Trip Coordinator | Debbie Quigg |
| Contact Info | debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710 |
| Description | Because of the slippery and variable conditions on Quadra, we will take advantage of the snow and sunshine to return to the Mt. Washington area. We will x-country ski and snowshoe from Raven Lodge. |
| Meeting Place | Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River. Car pools need to be arranged in advance. |
| Departure Time | 10:00 ferry. Drivers should be in line early, since the 9:00 ferry will be overloaded. |
| Difficulty |
The skiers plan on the Lake Trail, but other options are available. |
| Costs | Ferry and shared fuel. |
| Trip limits | Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington. |
| Dogs? | No |
| Notes: | Bring equipment, warm clothing and lunch. |
Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 20 Feb 2019
Six of us had another spectacular snowshoe outing to Rampart Hill. The snow and sunshine have persisted with the arctic high. There was a cool breeze, but it was warm in the sun. We had a few clues about the location of a hut from previous outings, and we thought we would go look for it. We climbed steeply up the open bluffs above the parking area and enjoyed the great views. We followed the broken trail, undulating and meandering through the knolls in the open. We stopped for lunch in a sunny, sheltered spot where we were joined by at least six Canada Jays. We noticed a number of people visiting the next knoll south of us and decided that must be where the hut was. So we found it perhaps by luck. After checking out the hut, we descended to a snow-covered logging road and made a loop back to the vehicles. 4.6 km; 2¼ hours.
Debbie
Thanks to Norris and Les for the photos
(click on photos to view larger)
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- Campbell River & Vanc. Island mountains
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- Comox Glacier
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- Castlecrag & Mt. Frink
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- Mainland mountains
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- Canada Jay
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- Lunch break
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- The hut
Snow – Mt Washington – 20 Feb 2019
This trip was substituted for the Morte Lake hike
| Activity | Snow |
| Destination | Mt. Washington |
| Date | 20 Feb 2019, Wednesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Debbie Quigg |
| Contact Info | debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator as soon as possible in order to arrange carpools |
| Description | Because of the slippery and variable conditions on Quadra, we will take advantage of the snow and sunshine to return to the Mt. Washington area. The plan is to snowshoe at Rampart Hill. |
| Meeting Place | Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River. Car pools need to be arranged in advance. |
| Departure Time | We will decide on Tuesday night whether we are taking the 9:00 or 10:00 ferry, depending on the expected road conditions Wednesday morning. |
| Difficulty |
Not too hard, not more than three hours |
| Costs | Ferry and shared fuel. |
| Trip limits | Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington. |
| Dogs? | No |
| Notes: | Bring snowshoes, warm clothing and lunch. |
Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 13 Feb 2019
Four of us and a dog snowshoed at Ramparts Hill in deep powder. For the coast, the quality of the snow was exceptional and the sun was glorious. There were quite a lot of others out enjoying the day and we had our choice of broken or unbroken routes. We wandered along the open bluffs facing east with views of Sutil Channel and the mainland mountains. We tried out some steep descents, ascents and had lunch at the top of a knoll before heading back to the car. 6.1 km; 3 hours.
Debbie
Thanks to Norris for the photos
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- Campbell River & Mt. Alexandra
