Kayaking – Breton Islands – 29 Feb 2024

Change of date and launch site.  Originally scheduled for Dec 21st , then Jan 31.

Activity Kayaking
Destination Breton Islands
Date 29 February, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; (cell 250-287-0459).
Description This will be a short day paddle. We will put in from private property on Open Bay.
Daylight will be in short supply while the tide will be mid to high most of the day! Hopefully there will be plenty of birds and mammals to observe and some sun to warm us on the beach as we sip hot drinks and have lunch.
Meeting Place Private property off of Valdez Road. The address will be given to you by the coordinator.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
Easy; winter paddling
Costs None
Trip limits 8
Dogs?
Notes: This trip will be weather dependent! Paddling in a snow flurry can be more pleasant than in rain but lets look for light winds and some sun.
Be prepared for the weather; carry your snacks in the cockpit; staying warm and dry will be our our primary concern and will dictate the length of the outing.
Please review paddling guidelines in preparation for this outing: https://qioutdoorclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/paddling-guidelines-aug2018.pdf

Hiking – Nole to Noble – 4 Dec 2023

Activity Hiking and Social
Destination Nole to Noble/ QCove Trails
Date 4 Dec 2023, Monday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; text 250-287-0459
Description Happy Hour in the morning….coffee, etc at our meeting point, followed by an easy walk. We will walk the “Nole to Noble” right of way including the big staircase and several side trails which we will zig and zag on while looking for Johann’s perched carvings.
Meeting Place Aroma Cafe
Departure Time Meet for coffee, etc at 0900; Walk at 1000
Difficulty
Easy
Costs Breakfast, snack, beverages
Trip limits 8
Dogs? On leash
Notes: Parking can be a challenge.
The trails are mostly on private property, thus the limit of 8.
This event will go rain or shine. In the event of high winds however, I will cancel as this forest is subject to windfall.

Hiking – Mt. Seymour – 6 Nov 2023

Change of start time! Dress for the weather.

Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Seymour
Date 6 Nov 2023, Monday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info lhquadra@gmail.com or 285-2029
Description We will meet at Heriot Bay store and then drive the half hour to the Granite Bay approach. From here we will hike approximately two hours up to the top. We will have lunch and then come back down. It will take approximately 4 to 4 1/2 hours with lunch. Dress for the weather. If there is snow or heavy rain, the trip will be postponed or canceled. Please sign up at least a day early so that I may contact you if there are changes.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot
Departure Time 10:30 9:30
Difficulty
Challenging but we will try taking it a little slower.
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring poles if you use them and good footwear as there are rocky and steep areas.

Trip Report – Chinese Mtn Work Party – 25 Oct 2023

Four of us worked our way up the Chinese Mountain-Beech;s Mountain trail, claring deadfall and salal as we progressed.  It turned out to be a beautiful clear fall day with great views.

Norris
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Work party – Chinese Mtn – 25 Oct 2023

Trip Report – Morte Lake Loop – 11 Oct 2023

The rain quit in the morning and three hikers enjoyed a beautiful sunny autumn day. We started up the mountain bike trail known as Dead Fish. There has been considerable work done on this trail. Mountain bikers have made new jumps and numerous banked corners. They have moved large amounts of rocks and dirt to do this. The small creek is now running again after the few rainfalls we have had. There were numerous multicoloured mushrooms that have just come up because of the rain as well. We crossed back over to the old Morte Lake Trail where Dead Fish turns and goes up the hill. We proceeded on past the two small lakes that are very low and to the east end beach of Morte Lake. It is very low as well, and a lot of new sand showing on the beach. Instead of taking the new mountain bike route that makes huge switch backs up the side of the hill ,we kept to the old trail, which is much shorter. It is in poor condition now, though, as it has quit being maintained.
We stopped at the north west beach to have lunch. Someone has cleared many of the rocks into piles so it is a very sandy beach with the water so low. We enjoyed the sun here and the lake before going on around the lake. We kept to the old route all the way back to the cars. (11 km; 3½ hours moving time)

Les
 
Thanks to Les, Valerie and Carrie for the photos.
 
(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 11 Oct 2023

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 11 Oct 2023

Activity Hiking
Destination Morte Lake Loop
Date 11 Oct 2023, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info lhquadra@gmail.com  or 285-2029
Description We will do the classic around the lake hike. May do some small adjustments depending on the group.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
Easy
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? OK, but must be under control and not run back-and-forth through group
Notes Sorry for the short notice for this hike. I thought maybe some of us would like to work off some of the turkey, LOL.
Please contact one or two days early to sign up as only those who have signed up will be contacted in case of postponement or cancellation due to weather.

Work Party – Chinese Mtn – 25 Oct 2023

Activity Work party
Destination Chinese Mountain
Date 25 Oct, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator in advance of the outing.
Description The Chinese Mountain system is not in bad condition, but there is some deadfall that needs to be chainsawed and the annual brush cut is due.  If there is time and energy, we may work on the trail to Beech’s Overlook.  The Trail Committee provides tools.  Bring your own gloves, and your own tools if you prefer them.  We will have lunch at a scenic location.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot to organize tools and carpool to the trailhead
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
Moderate work
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch.

Trip Report – Mine Lake Bluff – 20 Sept 2023

Six of us were fortunate to have a truly beautiful autumn day for this highly varied hike.  The group decided to do the hike as a loop, which is more challenging than out-and-back. We walked along the Mine Lake shore to Homewood’s Woodsman Camp and then steeply up the trail to the foot of the bluff.  The exposed section of the route was fairly dry in spite of the previous day’s rain.  Views of Mine Lake, the Quadra high plateau, and the Vancouver Island skyline made it all worthwhile.  We explored much of the bluff perimeter, with impressive cliffs on the east and west sides, before settling down for lunch at a sunny viewpoint.  We picked up the trail down the north side and under the impressive cliffs we had just been standing on.  After visiting some of the periphery of the camp we followed the path out to the first campsite, at the corner of Mine Lake and the narrows. One person swam before we headed back along the lake to the vehicles.  We enjoyed this leisurely hike to so many beautiful spots on a wonderful fall day. (6.6 km; 4 hours)

Debbie
 
Thanks to Carrie and Norris for the photos.
 
(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Mine Lake Bluff – 20 Sept 2023

Trip Report – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 13 Sept 2023

Six of us hiked this loop starting from North Gowlland Road.  The recent welcome rain made the bushes wet and the day humid.  We hiked North Gowlland Trail up to Rousseau Ridge with a short break for elevenses and to enjoy the view..  From there we descended the mossy bluffs toward Gowlland Harbour Rd, with a few short steep sections into the forest and back up on the ridge.  Each ridge has great views of Discovery Passage and the Vancouver Island mountains, which were in cloud for us.  We stopped for a leisurely lunch on the third and lowest bluff.  We continued our descent to a logging road heading east and then picked up a route over lower, but still open bluffs taking us back to North Gowlland Trail.  We enjoyed the three very old Douglas firs, the Three Sisters, on the way back to make our loop.  Since we did this loop about 15 months ago, the flags have been removed, making the route finding trickier.   6.8 km; 3¼ hours.

Debbie
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 13 Sept 2023

Hiking – Mine Lake Bluff – 20 Sept 2023

Activity Hiking
Destination Mine Lake Bluff
Date 20 Sept 2023, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710; please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will hike through the Camp Homewood site on Mine Lake and then through the forest to the scenic bluff. We can decide as a group whether we want to do this as a loop or out-and-back.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
Moderate if we do out-and-back.   Some challenging spots with exposure if we do the loop.
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? no
Notes We will not do this trip in wet weather and maybe not even in poor visibility.