Category Archives: Quadra Island

Trip Report – Village Bay Lake and Beyond – 5 Oct 2022

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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

Thanks to Carrie and Norris for the photos.


(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Village Bay Lake – 5 Oct 2022

Work Party – Chinese Mtn – 2 Nov 2022

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Activity Work party
Destination Chinese Mtn
Date 2 Nov, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator in advance of the outing.
Description We will be working on a few areas where salal is encroaching on the trail.  We will work until about noon and then have lunch at a scenic location.  The Trail Committee provides tools.  Bring your own gloves, and your own tools if you prefer them.
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.

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 19 Oct 2022

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Activity Hiking
Destination Main Lake and Yeatman Bay from Surge Narrows Rd
Date 19 Oct, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday evening.
Description This recently improved trail is a pleasure to walk through some excellent mature forest, meandering along a creek down to Main Lake.  From there we can follow the old portage/logging road route to Yeatman Bay.  About 10 km round trip, taking 3 hours.  It is a fairly long drive on the Surge Narrows Rd to the trailhead.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch and gear for the weather.  We will do this hike in rain or shine.

Trip Report – Fir Crest Loop – 28 Sept 2022

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After a bit of very light rain, nine of us walked this easy “bar-bell” loop.  Starting at the entrance to Fir Crest Acres, we walked along the north edge of this recently made trail.  The wide trail slopes gently down through the forest.  We then headed south along the edge of the golf course and the bluff until we joined the Haskin Farm trail.  We followed this back to the trailihead and connected over to the logging road, which makes a grassy alley through mature trees.  We used Todd’s Trail to re-connect with Fir Crest, then retraced our path back to the northeast corner of the golf course.  From there we followed the road through back up the hill through Fir Crest Acres and to the vehicles.  Both the weather and the walk were gentle.  It was a very social outing with many people returning from an active summer.  6.6 km; 2 hours.

Debbie
 

Hiking – Fir Crest Loop – 28 Sept 2022

Hiking – Shellaligan Pass Loop – 12 Oct 2022

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Activity Hiking
Destination Shellaligan Pass loop
Date 12 Oct, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info lhquadra@gmail.com or 285-2029
Description We will do the shorter loop but go down to the oyster lease. We may see some whales from the rocks at the entrance to Village Bay as some have been in the area. Trip will take 2-3 hours depending on lunch.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate, with rocky and steep sections
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Yes, but under control
Notes: Dress for weather and bring a lunch.

Kayaking – Village Bay Lake – 5 Oct 2022

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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

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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.org/wp-content/uploads/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.

Hiking – Fir Crest Loop – 28 Sept 2022

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Activity Hiking
Destination Fir Crest Loop
Date 28 Sept 2022,  Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg and Julie Douglas
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator by Monday night
Description By special request, we will be doing a bar-bell loop of the Golf Course and Haskin Farm trails.  This is a good outing if you want an easy hike which is mostly level and on a good trail.
Meeting Place The small parking area inside and to the south of the Fir Crest Acres gates, off Heriot Bay Road.  If you do not know where this is, please confirm with the coordinator.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Dogs must not run through the group.
Notes: We will do this hike rain or shine.  Bring a snack/light lunch and gear for the weather.

Trip Report – QCove to Smiths Rd – 15 Sept 2022

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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)

Kayaking – QCove to Smiths Rd – 15 Sept 2022