Category Archives: moderate

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 24 Jan 2018

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This trip had been postponed for a week, during which time more than a metre of snow fell on Mt. Washington.  Wednesday was the first day that the nordic area re-opened after they prepared a few snowshoe trails, plowed the road and parking lot.  Eleven of us arrived on the mountain to unexpectedly sunny weather. It was gorgeous.  Only a few trails were officially open, but it didn’t matter because people had broken trails everywhere.  We started on Tree Beard’s Trail and returned on Old Cabin Loop to Raven Lodge for lunch.  The snow covered trees and fresh snow were beautiful.  We spent a relaxing hour on the Raven Lodge balcony in the sun with a great view of Strathcona Park before heading out again, this time on Rossiter’s Rise.  The big climb down meant we had a big climb back up.  We again met up with Tree Beard’s Trail and returned to the cars, just as clouds for the next storm were rolling over the mountains.  5.9.km; 3 hours, plus lunch.

Debbie

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 17 Jan 2018

Hiking – Heriot Ridge and North Loop – 21 Mar 2018

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Activity Hiking
Destination Heriot Ridge and North Loop
Date 21 March 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info phone 3614
Description We will hike up Hopespring trail to the top of the ridge, turn south along the upper ridge, past the communication tower, to a bluff overlook, then return north to Hopespring trail on a lower ridge level.  Here, we will continue north on the Heriot Ridge trail and finish on the Thompson trail.
Meeting Place  upper end of Hopespring Road
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Easy to moderate – must be comfortable on wet bluffs
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? okay if under control
Notes: Hiking poles will be useful.  Hiking time 2-3 hours.  Bring a snack/lunch and hot drink.

Hiking – Maud Island- 7 Feb 2018

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 This hike has been postponed to Thursday, February 8th.

Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 8 7 Feb 2018, Thursday Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip.
Description Hike to Maud Island through varied forest and terrain.  We will do a loop passing over the shoulder of  Mt. Lolo, crossing the causeway to Maud Island, enjoying views of Seymour Narrows, and returning by the salt water lagoon. The currents in the Narrows will not be impressive at this time.   Allow 5 hours, including driving, for this walk of approximately 10km.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring a snack, poles if you use them and gear for the weather.  We don’t usually do this trip in very poor weather.

Snow – Mt Washington – 17 Jan 2018

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 This trip has been postponed to Jan 24th.

Activity Snow
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 24 17 Jan 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710;  please contact the coordinator by Sunday night
Description  We’re expecting lots of fresh snow prior to this trip.
Meeting Place Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River.  Car pools should be arranged in advance.
Departure Time 9:00 ferry to Campbell River.  Those taking cars need to be early enough to get on the 9:00 ferry.
Difficulty
 Depends
Costs Ferry, shared fuel and the trail pass (If we go to Raven Lodge).  The snowshoe day pass is $10 or $18 if you rent equipment.
Trip limits Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington.
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring equipment, warm clothing and lunch.

 

Hiking – Blindman’s Bluff – 24 Jan 2018

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 This trip has been postponed

Activity Hiking
Destination Blindman’s Bluff
Date 24 Jan 2018, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info phone 3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca. Please contact the coordinator in advance.
Description A classic loop through open bluffs with great views.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch or snack, and poles if you use them.  This trip will be weather and road dependent.  Stay in touch with the coordinator.

Trip Report – Mt. Washington Area – 13 Dec 2017

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Eight of us put on our snowshoes — we also had one dog who was happy without snowshoes — and walked around one of the loops of logging roads from the Ramparts chain-up area near Mt. Washington.  There was no fog and the visibility was good.  We could even make out Mt. Baker 272 km away with our naked eyes.  The area has many good viewpoints of the snow covered mountains on the mainland.  The conditions were spring like.  The snow was crunchy — noisy on snowshoes — and it was very warm.  We ate lunch with the Whiskey Jacks.  6.0 km, 3.5 hours.

– Norris

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Snow – Mt. Washington Area – 13 Dec 2017

Hiking – Thompson-B&B Trail Loop – 20 Dec 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Thompson-B&B Trail Loop
Date 20 December 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info phone 3614
Description We will hike a loop on and off the trail from Thompson trail to B&B trail, and back to Thompson trail, with viewpoints at Thompson trail’s first and second viewpoints.
Meeting Place Thompson Road at the Thompson trailhead
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Easy to moderate (on viewpoint bluffs)
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? okay if under control
Notes: Hiking pole(s) will be useful on the rock bluffs.  If the weather is decent, we will stop at the second viewpoint for tea and a snack.  Overall time should be 2 hours or so.

Trip Report – Deepwater Main and beyond loop – 6 Dec 2017

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Six of us set out early in the thick fog (horizontally), but quickly broke through it to a stunningly bright, clear, sunny day, since the fog was thin (vertically).  We started hiking from the summit of the Deepwater Main road, up old logging roads, sometime steep and stoney due to water eroding them, other times soft, mossy carpeted through the forest.  At the top of the shoulder to the north of Mt. Seymour, there was still some snow on the ground from last week’s storms, and the lake was partly frozen. We stopped for lunch and the magnificent views of the snow-covered mountains to the north and fog-covered water passages.  Thanks to Les for the great buffet lunch including smoked salmon, veggies, cold cuts, cheese and cookies. Then we continued on, down the logging road to the Granite Bay Road to complete the loop.  7.1 km; 3¼ hours.

– Norris

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Hiking – Deepwater Main & beyond loop – 6 Dec 2017

Trip Report – Deadfish-South Morte Lake Loop – 29 Nov 2017

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On a blustery day under threat of rain, seven hikers enjoyed a brisk three hour hike around this loop connecting several mountain bike trails.   Beginning at the Morte Lake parking lot, we followed Lower Deadfish, Lost Rider, Ridge and Connector trails to the southwest corner of Morte Lake. The group encountered a few sprinkles here, which eventually passed. We followed the Morte Lake south trail, turned right on Nirvana and then left on 7 Sins with its seven switchbacks. At the junction of this trail and Upper Deadfish, we stopped for a brief lunch and took in the views across to Beech’s Mountain, Morte Lake and Discovery Passage. From there, it was downhill on Upper and Lower Deadfish along Little Morte Creek to the parking lot. Fortunately, we didn’t get rained on. Having had dry weather the previous day, there were very few puddles to cross. We agreed that it was a good workout and the lovely greens of the forest were at their peak. 8.7 km

Janis

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Hiking – Deadfish-South Morte Lake Loop – 29 Nov 2017

Trip Report – Little Black Dress & Silk Stocking Loop – 22 Nov 2017

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Six of us met on a blustery grey morning to walk the mountain bike trails from North Gowlland Harbour Road. We parked at the Missing Links trail parking lot. We made a loop up Little Black Dress and returned via Back Door and Silk Stockings.   It was a beautiful meandering path through mixed forests and rocky outcrops. Along the way we passed the remnants of an old copper mine. We were quite protected in the forest and it was more  foggy and misty than rainy.  There is no signage on the trail and several T-junctions.  We were reminded of the importance of waiting for the group at each intersection, so that the group stays together. There was some timely conversation about basic safety equipment for day hikes. We hiked 6.8 km in 3 hours 20 minutes, including a stop for lunch.

Diana

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Hiking – Little Black Dress & Silk Stocking Loop – 22 Nov 2017