Category Archives: moderate

Hiking – Noel’s Pizza Peak – 13 May 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Noel’s Pizza Peak
Date 13 May 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description Noel’s Pizza is the informal name for the west ridge of Beech’s Mountain.  It is a great viewpoint overlooking Morte Lake.  It is a flagged route, not an official trail.  There are several different approaches that we can use and a loop is possible.  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: Bring lunch.  If you use poles, bring them.

 

Trip Report – Carrington Bay, Cortes – 15 April 2015

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Imagine a forest in trust to the children of Cortes Island.

On Wednesday, April 15th, 13 walkers plus one black dog experienced a part of this forest. We took the 9:05 a.m. ferry to Cortes and were met by Andy and Andrew who hosted this walk on behalf of ‘Forest Trust’. Andy Ellingsen began by giving us an overview of the walk in the woods. These forest lands, at the heartland of Cortes Island, are ecologically significant and contain wetland, herbaceous plants, woodland and old growth. We followed the old logging road and onto well marked paths.  Andy took us to the site of an old settlement, the old fruit trees in full bloom. We continued onto Carrington Lagoon, a narrow channel through which the tides flows. We sat and had our lunch in this beautiful area with a number of lovely campsites. From here we continued onto ‘Grandmothers Grove’, a beautiful old growth stand of trees, along side James Creek watershed that supports cutthroat trout & spawning salmon. Andy fed us all so much information on identifying trees and what to look for in trees. His father was a logger in Van Donop region and gave Andy a wealth of knowledge.

We then continued onto the parking area filled with the memory of a small part of northern Cortes Island.

We thank our hosts Andy, Andrew & Christine Robinson for organizing this hike.

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Hike Carrington Bay – 15 April 2015

Trip Report – Kayaking Open Bay – 8 April 2015

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On Wednesday, April 8, six paddlers gathered at Len Road and were rewarded with a gorgeous day. The wind was light to nonexistent and water near flat. Sunscreen was definitely a good idea. We headed toward Heriot Island to look at flowers on the small dry islands on the way. After rounding the small islets we headed to Seal Rock, where of course there were seals, and then on to the sandy beach at Open Bay.

After lunch some members wanted to paddle more so the group divided. Two went back to Len Road for a total of about two hours paddling as planned. The other four went on to the Bretons, rounded the south island, and then paddled back. By then the tide was quite low and the inter-tidal viewing was excellent. One could not have hoped for a more ideal spring day for a paddle.

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Kayaking – Open Bay 8 April 2015

Trip Report – Stramberg Old Growth – 1 April 2015

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The weather cooperated this time and gave us a nice day for a lovely walk in the woods.  The first leg of this trip heads west along Vic’s Marsh, after that it turns north and heads into  Main Lake Provincial Park.  The trees are plastered with lichens and moss making it an enchanted forest.  There are very impressive trees scattered along the whole walk, including a gigantic white pine, and there are some huge stumps from before this area became a park.  The destination, the old growth grove, has some big trees!  We didn’t think of it, but we should have taken a tape measure so we could say how big they are. We would also like to know how tall they are and how old they are.

The trail and trail flagging is in good condition, other than all the fallen trees that you have to climb under or over or go around, and except for the little loop that goes through the grove.   13.4 km round trip, 5½ hours.  12 hikers.

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Stramberg Old Growth – 1 April 2015

Kayaking – Open Bay 8 April 2015

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Open Bay
Date April 8, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029
Description This will be our chance to get things out of storage and ready for the summer.  Plans are to have an easy paddle out to Open Bay, have lunch and paddle back. Approximate paddle time 45-60 minutes each way. Course may be altered by wind or even extended if the group desires.
Meeting Place Len Road water access.  From Hyacinth Road turn right onto Len Road and then a quick left down to beach access.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Please be sure to have ALL safety gear required by the Coast Guard.

Hiking Mt Sweat 21 April 2015

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 This trip will take place on April 22!

Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Sweat
Date 21 April 2015, Tuesday or 22 April if visibility is poor on Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Rolf and Heather Kellerhals
Contact Info 285-3570. Please call to confirm and for driving directions.
Description The trip involves some steep sections and some scrambling over rock, but no actual rock climbing, with some good views over the island and mountains.  Three to four hours depending on the route.
Meeting Place the Kellerhals’ farm
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch.

 

Hiking Maud Island 29 April 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 29 April 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 285-3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description Hike to Maud Island through varied forest over level and undulating trails.  We hope to have views from Mt. Lolo and from the Narrows.  We will also see the state of construction of the tidal turbines at the Canoe Pass causeway.  The current through the Narrows will not be very impressive on this day.  About four hours or more.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring lunch.

 

Trip Report – Hiking Ucluelet 2-4 Feb 2015

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After arriving at the vacation rental in Ucluelet around noon, we had lots of time on Monday to walk to Florencia and Half Moon Bay at the south end of Pacific Rim National Park. The hike took us through beautiful old forest, along boardwalk, and down stairs to the long sandy beach at Florencia and then up and down again to the more intimate beach at Half Moon Bay. (9.7 km)

On Tuesday, we hiked the Lighthouse loop on the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet in the morning (3.0 km) and after lunch we hiked from Big Beach to the Cedar Grove and back. (8.5 km) This is a beautiful, rocky coast, which contrasts well with beaches in the Tofino area. The lighthouse, islets, surge channels and wonderful trees are incredibly scenic.

On the last day, we spent about an hour exploring Tofino and then walked the length of Chesterman’s Beach before heading home. In all three days we never had more than a brief bit of drizzle, and sometimes we had sunny breaks.

We also had fun in the evening at the house we rented on the Ucluelet Inlet. We had a wonderful seafood feast on Monday with mulled wine, Oysters Rockefeller, BBQed salmon, roast vegetables, salad and chocolate cake. On Tuesday, we had lasagna with homemade noodles, with all the trimmings. The house had an exceptional woodstove and book collection. The nearly full moon lighted the inlet each night.

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Hiking Ucluelet – 2-4 February 2015

Trip Report – B&B Trail Exploration 21 Jan 2015

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With Janis’ help we explored the B&B trail and routes on the nearby ridge. We started on the Thompson Trail and turned off at the first viewpoint. We scrambled to the top and enjoyed good views of Hyacinthe Bay and islands to the northeast. The day was overcast, but on a clear day the views would be excellent. We continued down this mossy, open ridge following a flagged route to the north. The trail off the ridge into the forest descends steeply into an area of huge old big leaf maples. The left-hand flagged route joins up with the B&B trail, which winds up the creek and re-joins the Thompson trail. We then explored another flagged route, which goes south on the ridge, more or less paralleling the Heriot Ridge Route and later descends to the Hope Spring Trail. This also follows lovely open, mossy ridges with occasional views to the east. 6.4 km, 3¼ hours.

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B&B Trail – 21 January 2015

Blindman’s Bluff & Eagle Ridge – 4 March 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Blindman’s Bluff & Eagle Ridge
Date 4 March 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029; please contact the coordinator at least two days in advance.
Description These are two short hikes linked by proximity.  The route takes us through open forest over mossy bluffs leading to great views.  About 2½ hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch.  Hiking poles may be useful but not essential.