Category Archives: Quadra Island

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 9 June 2021

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Activity Hiking
Destination Morte Lake Loop
Date 9 June 2021, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Diana McKerracher
Contact Info diana@gicable.com  285 3204.  Please contact coordinator by Monday June 7
Description An easy 9 km hike on established trail all the way around Morte Lake. 4-5 hours with breaks and a possible swim.
Meeting Place Morte Lake parking lot; (allow 15 minutes to drive from Heriot Bay store)
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate.
Costs None
Trip limits 10 participants
Dogs? Okay, if under control at all times
Notes: Bring lunch and swim gear.
Covid protocol in effect.

Trip Report – Shellaligan Pass Loop – 18 Nov 2020

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In damp, cloudy weather, eight hikers enjoyed our first “Hot Chocolate” hike of the season, perambulating the beautiful Shellaligan inland loop clockwise. We set off from the first parking lot from the turn off from Valdes Road, a good decision in retrospect as the logging road was blocked further on by downed trees from the previous day’s windstorm. The first part of this loop is on good logging roads, watch for signage for the turn-offs. Soon we turned right off a wide logging road, onto the trail, this turn easily missed so now marked with extra orange flagging tape. We followed this lovely, easy trail through a veritable sea of green, alongside a very full creek, to the shore. Here we admired the “neurotic sapsucker tree” and noted the collected marine debris awaiting pick-up. Soon reaching the trail sign a bit inland, we headed back on the “shortcut to parking lot” to the “middle” parking lot, turning right onto the logging road back to our cars. Just under 2 hours, good exercise, good company, home by the fire by early afternoon, a great first “Hot Chocolate” hike. 4.9 km; 1½ hours.

Thank you to Norris for the photos!

 
Valerie van Veen
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Shellaligan Pass Loop – 18 Nov 2020

 

Hiking – Shellaligan Pass Trail – 18 Nov 2020

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Activity Hiking
Destination Shellaligan Pass Trail – Land Loop
Date 18 Nov, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329; vvv@qisland.ca
Description This is a “Hot Chocolate” Hike:
South end hikers … meet at Heriot Bay store at 10 AM if carpooling or want to convoy together.  Otherwise meet co-ordinator at turn off to logging road (trail access road) on Valdes Road at 10:20 am. We will drive to the first parking lot (on the left, marked with a trail sign). We will follow the land loop around to the second parking lot, walk back on the logging road to our cars.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store at 10:00 or Valdes Road at 10:20.  See trip description.
Departure Time See trip description
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits 10, following Club Covid protocols
Dogs? Must be in full control, or on leash.
Notes: This is a Hot Chocolate hike; we may stop briefly for a Snack break or continue on. About 2 hours. If rain, sections could be a bit muddy.

Kayaking – Maud Island – 25 Nov 2020

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This trip has been suspended due to additional COVID restrictions

Activity Kayaking
Destination Maud Island
Date 25 Nov, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info 250-285-2111; cell 250-287-0459
Description We will put in at 1000 at the Leishman Road shore access just north of Copper Cliffs. There is parking for a few cars and a rocky beach. Staying close to shore, the plan is to paddle north to Maude Island and/or the Saltwater Lagoon. The trip is about 8 km each way (16 km round trip). The lagoon entrance is passable at certain tide levels so will be an on the spot decision whether to explore or not.
Meeting Place Shore Access Copper Cliffs – Leishman Road
Departure Time 1000 on the water
Difficulty
 Moderate – distance, currents, weather
Costs None
Trip limits 6
Dogs? no
Notes: The tide will be against us but it is a time of neap tides so currents shouldn’t be so strong. Participants should be open to trip revision once the forecast for that week is more relevant – i.e. lets be open to a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday with better weather.
All participants must be equipped for ocean paddling in November – required equipment as per club guidelines (https://qioutdoorclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/paddling-guidelines-aug2018.pdf) and appropriate clothing.
Bring lunch, hot drinks, extra warm layers and something to sit on.

Trip Report – Big Tree – 28 Oct 2020

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The destination for this hike was to the biggest tree on Quadra.  Five of us set out to visit it and other big trees in the area.  It’s in the Park, but there is no trail to it.  We parked the cars where the logging road gets steep and hiked from there.  Leaving the logging road, there is a short section of deadfall and brush.  Once in the Park the forest is more open and there is a path.  The big trees are in a deep valley with a little clear stream running through it. We measured around a few big Douglas fir trees, then had lunch and visited Clear Lake.
 
The biggest tree we measured was 7.4 meters around.  We think it is the same one as featured in this drone video.  The video says 9 metres around, but we suspect that was at the very base of the tree, which is not the standard way to do it.  It also says 800 years old and 90 metres high Watch that video here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MARVLftC-YY     4.9 km; 3 hours.
 
Norris
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Big Tree – 28 Oct 2020

Trip Report – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 14 Oct 2020

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Seven of us hiked to the top of Rousseau Ridge starting near the end of North Gowlland Road.  From there we followed the open mossy ridge as it gently sloped down, with a few steep sections and great views.  The route emerges onto a logging road.  We followed that back uphill to the end.  We continued on a short, wet trail which joins the Gowlland Trail below Heriot Ridge.  We followed that back to the start, with a side trip to the old growth grove of big Douglas fir frees.  The day before had torrential downpours, but the weather for us was good.  8.6 km; 4 hours.
Norris

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Rousseau Ridge – 14 Oct 2020

Hiking – Big Tree – 28 Oct 2020

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Activity Hiking
Destination Big Tree
Date 28 Oct, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description The destination for this trip is (what we believe) is the biggest Douglas fir on Quadra.  The walk to it is not long, but there is no trail and the route up goes up and over a saddle and down the other side, somewhat steep (and back up and over on the return).  We can visit several big trees in this valley.  Expect to climb over deadfall.  The approach is by logging road.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot to convoy to the start of the hike.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate (short, but no trail)
Costs
Trip limits 8
Dogs?
Notes: Bring snacks/lunch; hiking poles if you use them.  Wear good boots.  COVID protocol in effect.

Trip Report – Kanish Bay – 30 Sept 2020

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We put in at low tide in Granite Bay and were ready to go by 10:00. Our group of five paddlers headed west, at a very leisurely pace, into a flat calm Kanish Bay and to the Chained Islands. As rest stop was in order by the time we reached the campsite on the next to last island of the group we had a chance to assess the site for future overnighting. As we approached the island we met up with a group of 5 kayakers from Vancouver Island who had crossed from Browns Bay on a large Zodiac for a day of paddling.

We headed north east to the north shore of the bay and worked our way east to Orchard Bay (finally!). As we approached OB a couple in a double kayak came straight for us out of Small Inlet – it was Debbie and Norris who had come out from Small Inlet and their anchored sailboat to visit. At this point we also observed 2-3 harbour porpoise circling about in the bay. Also observed while crossing Kanish Bay were a number of salmon jumping and a flock of about 30 loons that took flight as a very noisy, very fast speedboat roared down to Granite Bay and back out to Discovery Passage.

We then enjoyed a long lunch break in the sun at Orchard Bay and scouted out the area for camping potential. It was about this time that we noticed that the air was becoming somewhat smoky.

From this point we headed towards Small Inlet – decided it was taking on too much to venture in – and explored the shallows around the islands (a bit too shallow!) as we headed back to Granite Bay and the takeout at high tide.  6 NM (approx. 12km) over 5¾ hours.

Vic

Thanks to Vic, Valerie and Norris for the photos.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Kanish Bay – 30 Sept 2020

Kayaking – Kanish Bay – 30 Sept 2020

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Kanish Bay (Granite/Small)
Date 30 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info 250-285-2111; cell 250-287-0459
Description Plan A – Kanish Bay – Chained Islets to Ashlar Creek to Orchard Bay
Plan B – Orchard Bay to Small Inlet and short hike to Waiatt Bay.
Meeting Place Granite Bay boat launch
Departure Time 10:00 on the water
Difficulty
 Moderate to difficult depending on weather, tides, winds, distance.
Costs Use of ramp $ 5.00
Trip limits 8 kayaks
Dogs? no
Notes: Meet at 0930 for a 1000 departure. Must have a sea kayak and equipment that meets club and coast guard regulations.
Bring lunch and be prepared for fall weather.

 

Hiking – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 14 Oct 2020

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Activity Hiking
Destination Rousseau Ridge Loop
Date 14 Oct, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will start from the North Gowlland road and hike the Gowlland Harbour trail to Rousseau Ridge.  We will take a flagged route and logging road to circle back to the Gowlland Harbour trail and back to the vehicles.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot to convoy to the trailhead
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate (on the Rousseau bluff)
Costs None
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring snacks/lunch; hiking poles if you use them.