Category Archives: moderate

Trip Report – Maud Island – 24 June 2017

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Seven of us hiked to Maud Island to see Seymour Narrows at the most current of the whole year, a 15.9 knot flood.  It was also on perhaps the hottest day so far this year, but beautifully sunny.  Fortunately most of this walk is in a cool, shaded forest.

We could hear the tidal action from quite a distance away, while we were still on Mt. Lolo.  And at the viewpoint we could look down at the white/green water along the shore.  Not surprisingly, there were no boats passing through the Narrows, but a half dozen jet-skis came through at max current.  Four hours; 10.5 km.

Norris

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Hike – Maud Island – 24 June 2017

Trip Report – Beech’s Mountain Loop – 21 June 2017

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With the arrival of a strong high pressure ridge and the first day of summer, the time was right to hike the Beech’s Mountain loop. Eight hikers and two dogs climbed Beech’s Mountain via the South Chinese Trail. Beech’s trail follows a series of rock bluffs between fir and hemlock forested sections, with arguably the best views of any trail on the Island, scanning the far distance to the south, west and east at various viewpoints.   The dry weather was welcome, since there are several steep sections on rock. After numerous photo stops and a rest at the top, the group continued on a route only, descending the north side and dropping down to an old logging road. After about fifteen minutes on the road, we followed a convoluted route over another series of bluffs which brought us to the North Chinese Mountain trail. From here, it was a straightforward walk down the steep trail to the parking lot.  The second half of this loop is not recommended unless hiking with someone who knows the route down the far side of Beech’s Mountain. The Davidson’s penstemons at the top were sadly all but finished blooming, but there was columbine, yarrow, saxiphrage, brodiaea, yellow monkey flower and veronica along the way. Total time was four and a half hours; 6.9 km.

Janis

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Hiking – Beech’s Mtn Loop – 14 June 2017

Camping, Hiking, Kayaking – Savary Island – 7-9 Aug 2017

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Activity Camping, hiking, kayaking
Destination Savary Island
Date 7-9 August 2017, Monday to Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Cyndy Chidley
Contact Info 250-285-3575; Please make arrangements with the coordinator well in advance of the trip.
Description
Savary is a jewel of an island surrounded by white sand beaches.  We will hike or kayak on Tuesday.  Cyndy’s place is off grid with two outdoor composting toilets, a wood fired sauna, and indoor propane cooking facilities.  There is a solar panel for lights and charging cell phones. Water is hand pumped.  Remember that August is the busiest time of year and Monday is a holiday.
Getting there: Your own boat (kayak, motor or sailboat).  There is no moorage on a dock; you can anchor. Other options are a water taxi from Campbell River, or a water taxi combined with truck taxi from Lund.  These can be shared.  There is also a 15 minute reasonably priced float plane ride on Coralair from Campbell River that will land you close to the cabin, weather permitting, if you reserve ahead.
Meeting Place Cyndy’s place, Savary Island
Departure Time Arrive Savary on Monday, Aug 7 and depart on Wednesday, Aug 9 on you own schedule
Difficulty
 Easy to Medium…Hiking or kayaking would take most of one day
Costs Cost of transportation to Savary Island
Trip limits 10 people
Dogs? Yes if hiking; No if kayaking.  Dogs love Savary Island, but you must pack water for them.
Notes: Please bring your own gear for camping, cooking and boating, as well as your own food.  Kayaks are not available to rent on Savary, so you need to bring your own if you want to kayak.  We ask that you take your garbage off the island when you leave with the exception of burnables and compost.

Kayaking – Open Bay and Beyond – 28 June 2017

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This trip has been postponed

Activity Kayaking
Destination Open Bay and Beyond
Date 28 June 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Ann Sutton
Contact Info asutton@uniserve.com or 2117;  please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description This trip will be dependent on weather. The plan is to paddle out around the Breton Islands, continue north to Village Bay, circumnavigate the island at Bold Point and head back south through Mould’s Bay.  This is a trip for paddlers with some experience with wind and comfortable sitting in kayaks for a length of time.
Meeting Place Open Bay; please park on the road
Departure Time Arrive at 10:00 for a 10:30 departure
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch and water.  Bring all necessary gear to meet the Coast Guard requirements and to ensure safety.  Don’t forget your spray skirt!

Hiking – Mt. Seymour – 19 July 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Seymour on north end of Quadra
Date 19 July, 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Mark Zimmerman / Kathryn Manry
Contact Info 285-22103.  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip.
Description Hike up to the summit of Mt Seymour. We will do this as a loop (to include Nugedzi Lakes) if car pooling permits. This is a moderately demanding hike with an elevation gain of about 425 metres and about 12 km for the loop route. The trail is steep in places but there is no scrambling.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot
Departure Time 9:00 am
Difficulty
 Moderately difficult
Costs none other than possibly offering to share gas expense for car pooling
Trip limits 12
Dogs? Very well behaved or on leash (bring a leash)
Notes: Bring lunch and lots of water.

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 12 July 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Morte Lake Loop
Date 12 July, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 285-3978; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will hike the official Morte Lake loop, with opportunities for a picnic lunch and swimming.  4 to 5 hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Moderate.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? okay
Notes: Bring lunch and something to swim in, if you want to.

 

Hiking – Maud Island- 24 June 2017

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Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 24 June 2017, Saturday
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 to view Seymour Narrows at a 15.9 knot flood tide at 15:17.  This will be an unusually big current.  The hike is always interesting with the varied forest and terrain, Mt. Lolo, the causeway to Maud Island, the salt water lagoon and the history of the Ripple Rock explosion.  Allow 5 hours, including driving, for this walk of approximately 10km.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 12:30
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring a snack and poles if you use them.

Trip Report – Kayak Training – 6 June 2017

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QIOC has endeavoured to offer a kayak rescue training session every year as part of our ongoing quest to improve paddler safety and skills. This year, we offered two sessions – one for kayak rescue and a second for edging and maneuvering. Six members took the morning rescue session, where we learned how to rescue another kayaker in the event of an upset, and two more joined three of the morning group for an afternoon of edging skills and new strokes including sweeping, sculling draw, stern rudder, bow rudder and the low brace turn – and various combinations. Under the auspices of Coast Mountain Expeditions, Doug Taylor led the training sessions (for a second year) accompanied by Krista Wall.

All participants were very enthusiastic, praising the support and patience of both instructors (not everybody is absolutely thrilled to turn themselves upside down….). Doug and Krista were also very helpful in advising how to properly rig kayaks for assisted and self-rescue.

The water seemed a bit chillier than last year, but the weather was warm and sunny.

Thanks to Lannie (Coast Mountain), Doug and Krista for a great day, and to all participants – improving our safety skills helps us, and all our fellow paddlers!

Darcy Mitchell

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Kayaking Training – Main Lakes Provincial Park – 6 June 2017

Kayaking – Granite/Kanish Bays – 30 August 2017

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Granite and Kanish Bays
Date 30 August 2017, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell
Contact Info mitchelldarcy51@gmail.com
Description Depending on weather conditions, paddle from Granite Bay to Chained Islets, north to Kanish Bay entrance, across to Orchard Bay for lunch and back to Granite Bay. If it’s windy, we’ll likely paddle up to Small Inlet, hike across to Waiatt Bay and back with a stop at Orchard Bay.
Meeting Place Boat launch, Granite Bay
Departure Time 10:00 (come early to unload and prepare)
Difficulty
 easy/moderate
Costs parking and launch fee at Granite Bay Boat launch (about $5.00)
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: We’ll plan to be back at the boat launch by 4:30 p.m. Bring a lunch and snacks.
Bring all necessary gear to meet the Coast Guard requirements and to ensure safety.

Trip Report – Hopespring – Homewood Loop – 24 May 2017

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Ten hikers and three dogs enjoyed a three and a half hour hike on a loop of trails and routes in the Heriot Ridge area. The weather was sunny and cool with a brisk northwest wind blowing. Starting at the Hopespring trailhead, we walked up to the height of land, then headed south along Heriot Ridge. Our first stop was the location of the new North Island communication tower. From there we dropped off the south end of the ridge and proceeded south through the woods to High Bluff where we had great views south and west.   We hiked west on the High Bluff trail, then south on Gowlland Harbour trail to Homewood Bluff where we stopped for lunch and enjoyed more views west to the Vancouver Island Mountains.   Dropping off the east side of Homewood Bluff, we picked up the High Bluff trail back to High Bluff, then north across Heriot Ridge to Hopespring trail and back to the vehicles. The wildflowers on the open bluffs of Heriot Ridge were a bonus.  5.9 km.

Janis

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Hiking – Hopespring – Homewood Loop – 24 May 2017