Category Archives: Quadra Island

Hiking – Rebecca Spit Loop – 30 Oct 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Rebecca Spit Loop
Date 30 October 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description We will visit the Sasquatch and then continue to Paddy’s Lagoon.  We will follow some unofficial trails that loop out and then circle back to the campground.  We will explore the recent improvements to Drew Creek.  If we then continue to the end of the Spit, the hike is about 8km.
Meeting Place Rebecca Spit parking lot just past the gate on the right by the water at the south end of the park.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Expect some mud on the way to Paddy’s Lagoon.  Bring a snack and gear for the weather.

Hiking – South Morte Lake Loop – 6 Nov 2019

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 This hike was originally scheduled for Oct 23rd

Activity Hiking
Destination South Morte Lake Loop
Date 6 Nov 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator in advance.
Description Starting from the Morte Lake parking lot, we will hike up Morning Beer, joining Deadfish and on to other mountain bike trails.  We will descend maybe by Tripod, carry on along Reed Lake, cross the Wal Can Road and return to the Morte Lake parking lot following McKercher Creek.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? okay, but must not run through the group
Notes: Bring a snack or lunch, poles if you use them, and gear appropriate for the weather.

Hiking – Mt. Seymour – 16 Oct 2019

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Re-scheduled to October 14th, Monday

Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Seymour
Date 14 16 Oct 2019, Monday Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710
Description This hike will take us to the highest point on Quadra Island.  After ascending the old logging road we wander over open bluffs with great views.  Once at the summit there are nearly 360° views.  We will not do this trip in poor weather.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay parking lot to carpool
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 challenging
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs
Notes: Bring lunch, poles if you use them, and gear appropriate for the weather.

Hiking – Kay Dubois Loop – 9 Oct 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Kay Dubois Trail
Date 9 Oct 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 3978
Description We will hike this trail beginning at the south.  This is a classic trail along the shore through a mixed forest with great views of Sutil Chanel. A short walk.
Meeting Place Kay Dubois trailhead at the end of Sutil Road
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay if they don’t run through the group.
Notes: Bring a snack or lunch and poles if you use them.

Hiking – Hope Spring-Thompson Trail loop – 2 Oct 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Hope Spring-Thompson Trail loop
Date 27 Feb 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 3978
Description We will begin the loop at the Hope Spring trailhead and hike clockwise.  This is a classic loop on official trails, with lots of variety: creeks, old growth Douglas fir, and some wetlands..  The hike will be about two hours.
Meeting Place Hope Spring trailhead
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Fairly short and undulating
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay if they don’t run through the group.
Notes: Bring a snack or lunch and poles if you use them.

Trip Report – Hyacinthe and Open Bays – 8 Sept 2019

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After a dark and stormy night, we prevaricated about getting out on the water in the face of an uncertain forecast. However, the lazy kayaker doesn’t get the first wave, or something like that, so three of us scrambled and were on the water by 10:16. Skies were overcast but the rain stayed away, the winds were calm, and the sun even peeped out occasionally. We meandered around Hyacinthe Bay, admiring both the variety of architecture, and the extensive pillow-lava formations. The incoming tide even allowed us to go around Heriot Island, where we were astonished to see large outcrops of sand dollars in the shallow, warmer waters. From there we enjoyed a calm crossing over to the Bretons and Hoskyn Channel. A few seals greeted us, but two were more interested in their squabbling than us. In the Breton Islets, oystercatchers, scoters, and dunlins were busy exploring the intertidal. We noted the number of boats still plying the waters around the Islands, we could see a kayaker launching from one large yacht that was hanging around Open Bay.

Our game plan was to land in the small beach beside the van Veen’s house, but a surprising amount of southerly swell generating wave action on the rocky beach made us decide to land on the sand/gravel of Big Beach and walk over to our house for our break. After lunch in the sun on our deck we were back on the water by 2 pm. An elegant two-masted schooner that has been anchored in Open Bay captured our interest, an internet search later revealed that it is for sale. We then had the pleasure of meeting the kayaker from the large motor yacht, a delightful American lady who travels the west coast in her yacht every summer. She was accompanied by her two dogs lounging on the deck of her kayak, resplendent in their doggie PFDs. She said she usually has her cat with her as well on her daily paddle. We were off the water by 3 pm. after a very pleasant, easy-going paddle. 13.7 km or 7.4 NM; 3½ hours, without the lunch break.

Valerie van Veen

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Kayaking – Hyacinthe and Open Bays- 8 Sept 2019

Trip Report – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 4 Sept 2019

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Our group of eight and two dogs hiked up to the Nugedzi Lakes, beginning the hike on the fairly steep old logging road.   Near the end of the logging road we stopped at a viewpoint toward the northeast to enjoy the view and cool off in the shade.  The day was clear, sunny, and quite warm.  We continued on, deciding to take the side trip to the lily pond and the viewpoint to the southeast.  We then followed the undulating trail through the forest up to the Lakes.  Most of the forest along the way is mature with a few old cedars and lovely, open understory.  We stopped for lunch on the rocky point on Nugedzi Lake and some of the group swam in the not quite warm water.  Again the group chose to carry on to the viewpoint to the west over Discovery Passage and views of Vancouver Island.  On the way back we made the small extension to visit Little Nugedzi Lake before hiking back down the steep, eroded logging road.   10.8 km and 5½ hours.

Debbie

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Hiking – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 4 Sept 2019

Kayaking – Hyacinthe & Open Bays – 8 Sept 2019

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Hyacinthe and Open Bays
Date 8 Sept 2019, Sunday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329; vvv@qisland.ca
Description Summer-end Sunday Social … a gentle paddle to explore Hyacinthe Bay, then over to Open Bay, possibly check on intertidal and seals in the Bretons. Land on beach beside our house for coffee, tea, goodies provided to accompany your lunch/snack at our place. Paddle back to Len Road beach around 2 pm in time for high(er) tide.
Meeting Place Len Road beach
Departure Time 9:30 , on water by 10
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring your own lunch. Kayaks will be put up on driftwood on our beach while we enjoy the break up at our house. Forecast is for possibly showers in afternoon, little wind. Must email/call by Friday night to confirm participation. Kayaks must be ocean kayaks and conform to all Transport Canada requirements.

 

Trip Report – Eagle Ridge & Blindman’s Bluff – 28 Aug 2019

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Six people drove up the hill at the end of Leishmans Road to a spot past the bridge. From there we hiked to the beaver pond which was low and covered with lily pads. We turned left and proceeded up Eagle Ridge. It was a clear day so there were splendid views of the passage. Mt. Victoria really stood out with the blue sky background.

After a short break we backtracked the same route and went up to Blindman’s Bluff. Hiking it counterclockwise, we stopped for lunch before we ran out of shade as it was getting hot. That area has great views of Gowlland Harbour. After lunch we did the open rocks and back down to the vehicles. On the way out we stopped to admire the old growth fir at the entrance. 5.7 km and 3 hours

Les

Thanks to Les the photos

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Hiking – Eagle Ridge & Blindman’s Bluff – 28 Aug 2019

Trip Report – Small Inlet – 25 Aug 2019

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This trip was scheduled for Aug 21 but was postponed, due to poor weather, until August 23rd. On August 23rd several of us conferred early in the day and decided again that the weather was not conducive to an enjoyable outing. Two paddlers arranged to meet for an afternoon paddle when the the weather made a change for the better. We enjoyed a 3 hour outing to the Breton Islands. A humpback whale made an appearance out in Sutil Channel and we encountered numerous seals, oystercatchers, and turnstones in and around the islands and rocks. It was decided that we would try again to get our Kanish Bay trip done and it was arranged for Sunday 25th.

Four paddlers met at Granite Bay on a sunny but windy morning and set off, finally, for our planned outing. Conditions on the water very quickly dictated that we implement plan B and we headed to Small Inlet instead of out into Kanish Bay. With wind and tide helping us we reached the portage trail in an hour, visited with a camper briefly and then set off for Waiatt Bay. We had the trail to ourselves, enjoyed the warm sunshine at Waiatt Bay and then headed back to Small Inlet. We decided to try for Orchard Bay for lunch and headed west into a strong headwind and rising tide. We battled our way out of the Inlet and eventually had to agree that, with the wind not abating as forecasted, we would pass on Orchard and head to the midden campsite in Granite Bay. We shared the beach and headland with a large family picnicking there and had an enjoyable and leisurely late lunch. It was a short paddle to the boat launch from there to conclude a 7 NM, 6 hour outing. The Chained Islands and Orchard Bay will have to wait for another day!

Vic

Thanks to Vic for the photos

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Kayaking – Kanish Bay/Small Inlet – 23 Aug 2019