Activity | Kayaking |
Destination | Maud Island and petroglyph at mouth of Morte Creek |
Date | 22 March 2023, Wednesday |
Trip Coordinator | Vic Gladish |
Contact Info | 250-285-2111; or 250-287-0459 text |
Description | According to Joy Inglis’s “Petroglyphs of Quadra Island” there are several petroglyphs located along Quadra’s west shore at the outflow of Morte Lake creek just east of Maud Island. We will put in at the Leishmans Rd shore access by 1000 am and paddle north towards Maud Island. It is about a 1 hr paddle to the old village site of Kawstin at the outflow of Morte Lake creek. Depending on the amount of time spent here we may or may not paddle another 30 minutes into Maud Island and perhaps hike to the Seymour Narrows view point. |
Meeting Place | Shore access at Leishmans Rd |
Departure Time | 1000 on the water; meet at 0930 |
Difficulty |
Moderate depending on weather and currents. |
Costs | None |
Trip limits | 8 |
Dogs? | No |
Notes: | The tides/currents will be a factor. In order to view the petroglyphs I am planning our arrival for low tide with less attention to what the current will be doing. Poor weather and/or wind will mean this trip will be cancelled. All participants must be equipped for ocean paddling in cooler weather – required equipment as per club guidelines (https://qioutdoorclub.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/paddling-guidelines-aug2018.pdf) and appropriate clothing. I will email to each participant the petroglyph information relevant to the location. Bring lunch, hot drinks, extra warm layers and something to sit on. |
Category Archives: Paddling
Kayaking – Bays and Bretons – 1 Feb 2023
This trip has been cancelled due to poor weather.
Activity | Paddling |
Destination | Bays and Bretons |
Date | 1 Feb 2023, Wednesday |
Trip Coordinator | Vic Gladish |
Contact Info | 250-285-2111; or 250-287-0459 text |
Description | This might be our only club paddle for the winter! Let’s call it Groundhog Day. After putting in at the Len Rd shore access we’ll paddle the bays working our way to Breton Island for hot drinks and snacks (in the sun!). The return trip could take us on a beeline to Herriot Island and back to the take out. |
Meeting Place | Len Rd |
Departure Time | 1000 hrs at put in and on the water by 1030. |
Difficulty |
Easy to medium depending on weather. |
Costs | None |
Trip limits | None |
Dogs? | No |
Notes: | This outing is for fully equipped and experienced paddlers due to the season. Bring a lunch and hot drinks. |
Trip Report – Village Bay Lake and Beyond – 5 Oct 2022
Our kayak group of nine met on a fall morning at Village Bay Lake bridge. By 10:20 we were launched, enjoying the easy paddling on calm, flat water. As we wandered up the lake we noticed many newly renovated cabins and a few new homes. Many were still occupied for this late in the fall.
The creek between Village Bay Lake and Mine Lake was quite shallow as the lake water level is down. The kayaks had no trouble, but a boat with a motor would have. We stopped at the Big Sandy beach at the entrance to Main Lake for an early lunch. The water was still flat on a bright sunny day so decided to paddle to the campsite at the north cove. A few people swam there while others stretched and relaxed.
From there we paddled back to the vehicles with just a short stop at Big Sandy. 13.7 km and 4½ hours
Les
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Leaving Village Bay Lake
- Entering the narrows
- Mine Lake
- Big Sandy Beach
- Lunch break
- Main Lake
- Swimming at north Cove
- Heading back
Kayaking – Village Bay Lake – 5 Oct 2022
Activity | Kayaking |
Destination | Village Bay Lake |
Date | 5 Oct 2022 |
Trip Coordinator | Les Hand |
Contact Info | 250-285-2029 or lhquadra@gmail.com |
Description | This is an easy, casual paddle to enjoy this great fall weather. Depending on the group we may venture into Mine and Main Lakes. |
Meeting Place | Village Bay Lake parking lot at the bridge |
Departure Time | 10:00, launch at 10:30 |
Difficulty |
Easy |
Costs | None |
Trip limits | 10 |
Dogs? | No |
Notes: | Bring a lunch. Must have all equipment as per Transport Canada regulations. If in doubt check paddling guidelines. |
Kayaking – Maud Island; Morte Lake Stream Outlet – 25 Oct 2022
Cancelled due to weather
Activity | Kayaking/ Indigenous history focus |
Destination | Maud Island; Morte Lake Stream Outlet |
Date | 25 Oct, Tuesday |
Trip Coordinator | Vic Gladish |
Contact Info | vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459 text; or phone 250-285-2111. |
Description | According to Joy Inglis’s “Petroglyphs of Quadra Island” there are several petroglyphs located along Quadra’s west shore at the outflow of Morte Lake Stream just east of Maud Island. We will put in at the Lieshmans Rd shore access by 1000 am and paddle north towards Maude Island. It is about a 1 hr paddle to the old village site of Kawstin at the outflow of Morte Lake Stream. Depending on the amount of time spent here we may or may not paddle another 30 minutes into Maud Island and perhaps hike to the Seymour Narrows view point. |
Meeting Place | 0930 at Lieshmans Road Shore Access (Whalebone Cove) |
Departure Time | On the water by 1000 hrs |
Difficulty |
Moderate depending on weather. Currents will be a factor. |
Costs | Vehicle fuel |
Trip limits | 8 |
Dogs? | No |
Notes: | The tides/currents will be a factor. In order to view the petroglyphs I am planning our arrival for low tide with less attention to what the current will be doing. Poor weather and/or wind will mean this trip will be cancelled. All participants must be equipped for ocean paddling in cooler weather – required equipment as per club guidelines (https://qioutdoorclub.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/paddling-guidelines-aug2018.pdf) and appropriate clothing. I will email to each participant the petroglyph information relevant to the location. Bring lunch, hot drinks, extra warm layers and something to sit on. |
Trip Report – QCove to Smiths Rd – 15 Sept 2022
With just a few days remaining of summer ’22, seven kayaks set out from Quathiaski Cove to complete a “Round the Cape” adventure. With the help of non-paddling spouses, we managed the shuttling of vehicles between Q-Cove and the Shore Access at the end of Smiths Road that made it possible to do this trip.
By 8:50 we were on the water just as the ferry was docking – one less thing to worry about. Weather, tides and currents were all in our favour as we rounded Whiskey Point and headed south to Cape Mudge. We passed by the Village and the campground and then rounded the Cape. The often turbulent waters were very calm, due to our timing, and we headed into the boulder strewn shallows of the south shoreline. By this time we were looking for a reasonable place to pull out for a “rest” and stretch. A cobbly beach was the best we could do.
We were treated to a good showing of sea birds throughout the trip and numerous seals and sea lions and/or dolphins quite a ways offshore. No doubt they were after salmon which were seen jumping near our kayaks.
The rest stop ended up being a little longer and some snacked enough that we put off our lunch stop until the takeout. Back on the water and the sun appeared, warming things up even more as we cruised northward from Francisco Pt to our destination at Smiths Road. Once ashore, lunch and beverages were enjoyed on the beach.
List of bird sightings – at least two dozen Common Loons (very vocal), many Harlequin ducks, Common Mergansers, Bonaparte’s, Glaucous-winged, and Mew Gulls, Cormorants, Great Blue Heron, geese, Bald Eagles, Vultures, Horned Grebes,
About 3.5 hours of paddling; Distance – 15.3 km
Vic Gladish
Thanks to Jan and Norris for the photos
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Launching at QCove
- The Powell River Queen
- Other boats in Discovery Passage
- Along the west shore
- Church at the Village
- Cape Mudge lighthouse
- Petroglyphs in the tide
- Cape Mudge bluffs
- The long snack break
- Curious Harbour Seals
- Along the east shore
- Arriving at Smiths Rd
Kayaking – Village Bay Beach – 31 Aug 2022
Postponed.
Activity | Kayaking |
Destination | Village Bay Beach |
Date | 31 Aug, Wednesday |
Trip Coordinator | Valerie Van Veen |
Contact Info | 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca |
Description | Forecast warm day with light winds; high tide just around launch time (yay!), not a huge tidal change that day. We will meander to Village Bay, enjoying maybe the last of summer kayaking weather. Swim at VB if desired, then home. We can go by the lava tunnels at Valdes Beach if anyone hasn’t already seen them. |
Meeting Place | Len Road launch |
Departure Time | 9 am meet, on water by 9:40 |
Difficulty |
Moderate |
Costs | None |
Trip limits | 8 kayaks |
Dogs? | Experienced kayak dogs only |
Notes: | This is a pleasant paddle, usually seals, maybe the last of the orcas and humpies, migrating birds??? MUST confirm with organizer by Monday eve Aug 29. Must comply with Club paddling guidelines and Coast Guard requirements. |
Kayaking – QCove to Smiths Rd- 15 Sept 2022
Activity | Paddling |
Destination | QCove to Smiths Road Shore Access |
Date | 15 Sept, Thursday |
Trip Coordinator | Vic Gladish |
Contact Info | vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459 text; or phone 250-285-2111. |
Description | End of Summer – around the Cape; This paddle will involve a shuttle which will require an earlier start in order to be ready for a 0930 put in. We will put in at the Q Cove boat launch and leave the Cove just before the current changes (slack) to ebb and enter the back eddy as we head south to the lighthouse. We will round Cape Mudge and head north along QI’s east coast as far as the Shore Access off Smiths Road. |
Meeting Place | QCove boat launch |
Departure Time | Meet at put in at 0800; Shuttle vehicles to take out; On the water by 0930 |
Difficulty |
Easy to moderate depending on the weather. Currents will be a factor. |
Costs | None |
Trip limits | 8 |
Dogs? | No |
Notes: | The shuttle will be the first challenge of the day. Try to arrange your own shuttle if a spouse or friend is willing to help. Otherwise we will do something like this: All meet at QCove and unload kayaks. All cars will go to Smiths Road (I will stay with the kayaks and gear); As few cars as necessary will drive back to QCove with all paddlers. We should probably meet at 0800, unload, shuttle and plan to put in at 0900. Be sure to read our paddling guidelines and make sure you are properly outfitted. |
Trip Report – Kanish Bay Paddle – 17 Aug 2022
Six paddlers got an early start – 9:15 – from the Granite Bay boat launch on a beautiful summer day, with the forecasted northwesterly looking very manageable. Taking a counter clockwise route this time we headed to Orchard Bay for a quick pit stop and a stretch. We headed along the north side of Kanish Bay for a couple of kilometers and then decided it was time to head across to the Chained Islands in case the wind got any stronger. We encountered some chop coming nearly broadside and then some interesting waves as we got close to the second last island. Circling this island we arrived at the campsite in a sheltered bay and had a leisurely lunch in the shade. As the day was getting much warmer a couple of us attempted a swim in the very chilly water.
Getting back on the water we cruised in the shelter of the islands along the south side of Kanish Bay. Several salmon were spotted jumping and a flock of mergansers were working hard to keep ahead of us. With the day getting much hotter it was a good time to head to the take out and go in search of cold beverages. 12.0 km; 4 hours.
Vic Gladish
(click on photos to enlarge)
- Leaving Granite Bay
- Entering Kanish Bay
- Approaching Orchard Bay
- Checking out the crossing
- Approaching the Chained Islets
- Arriving at the lunch beach
Kayaking – Granite Bay and beyond- 17 Aug 2022
Activity | Paddling |
Destination | Granite Bay/ Kanish Bay/ Small Inlet |
Date | 17 Aug, Wednesday |
Trip Coordinator | Vic Gladish |
Contact Info | vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459 text; or phone 250-285-2111. |
Description | Paddle into Kanish Bay and/or into Small Inlet for the hike across to Waiaitt Bay if weather and tides permit. About 4 to 5 hours depending on what we decide to do. Bring a lunch. |
Meeting Place | Granite Bay boat launch |
Departure Time | Meet at 8:45; on the water by 9:15 |
Difficulty |
Easy to moderate depending on the weather. |
Costs | Launch fee – $5.00 |
Trip limits | 8 |
Dogs? | No |
Notes: | Low tide (1.6 m) middle of day making our lunch stop trickier and perhaps eliminating the hike. Be sure to read our paddling guidelines and make sure you are properly outfitted. |