Category Archives: Quadra Island

Trip Report – Gowlland Harbour – 21 July 2025

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Nine people gathered at my place for a easy paddle and social on a sunny summer day. Because of the driveway, launching from here is a challenge and the tide was very low. Once in the water we paddled north to check out all the new toys at Camp Homewood. It seems they have acquired many new and different types of boats. Then on to Seascape, now called Jade Resort, to find that the sunken barge had finally been cleaned up. Unfortunately, at the taxpayers cost. On past Gowlland Resort we turned and went to the Vigilant Islets for a quick stop and to stretch our legs. On our return, there was a colony of seals on Wren Islet that were enjoying the warm sunny day. We then paddled between Fawn Islet and Stag Island to return to my home for cold beverages and appetizers provided by everyone.  About 5 km and a 2 hour paddle. 

Les

(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 21 July 2025

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 30 July 2025

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The start time has been changed to 8:30!  

Activity Hiking
Destination Main Lake and Yeatman Bay from Surge Narrows Rd
Date 30 July 2025
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710; Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description This moderate hike starts from Surge Narrows Road through a beautiful old forest, passing by a lake and along a creek, to the east end of Main Lake. Those that want to will continue on the portage track to Yeatman Bay or wait at Main Lake.  The campground will be busy in mid-summer.  About 10 km, 4 hours on a good trail.
Meeting Place Community Centre Parking lot or by arrangement
Departure Time Meet at 9:30  8:30
Difficulty Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 12
Dogs? Must not run through group.
Notes: Come prepared for the weather

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 21 July 2025

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Gowlland Harbour
Date: 21 July 2025, Monday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info lhquadra@gmail.com or 285-2029
Description This will only be a one and a half to two hour paddle followed by a social hour on the deck at my house. I will provide hot dogs so the barbecue will be on. Please bring your favorite beverage and a small appetizer for the group.
Depending on current and weather we may go around Gowland Island otherwise we will just stay around the southern part of Gowland Harbor. Because of this please bring a spray skirt and all necessary equipment mandated by the Coast Guard.
If it is more than showers the date will be changed.
Meeting Place 1157 West Rd.
Departure Time Arrive at 9:00; on the water by 9:30
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits 12
Dogs? No
Notes: Only one vehicle at a time can come down the hill so be on time. I have permission to park vehicles at the landlord’s house. From there it is a steep concrete driveway with a switch back involved. You will need to be able to back up with your mirrors to get down close to the water. Otherwise you will park up above and we will use two people to carry the kayaks down. When you sign up I will explain more as it will not be that hard.

Trip Report – Heron Pt. and Mt. Sweat – 3 July 2025

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Ten of us had a lovely day for this short hike with great views.  We started from Kolker Main and walked up an old logging spur.  We were amazed at how the brush had grown up this spring, obscuring fairly well used paths.  We quickly arrived at Heron Point for our first viewpoint extending from Hyacinthe Bay to the Chinese Mountains.  We continued on into Chauntaluf farm and followed  their trails up to the Mt. Sweat access.  We climbed steeply up to the first bluff and followed the cairns over the undulating bluffs and up to the Mt. Sweat viewpoint for lunch.  The 180° view takes in Quadra and the Salish Sea, with the mainland and Vancouver Island mountains.  We descended to the north, following flagging back to Kolker Main and from there to the vehicles.  Thanks to Heather Kellerhals for letting the Outdoor Club use the Chauntaluf farm trails to make this loop.  3.7 km, 2½ hours, 180m ascent.

Debbie
 
Thanks to Carrie and Norris for the photos
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Heron Point and Mt. Sweat – 3 July 2025

Hiking – Nighthawk Lake – 9 July 2025

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This trip has been postponed indefinitely.

Activity Hiking
Destination Nighthawk Lake
Date 9 July 2025, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca, 250 285 2329, 778 242 5774
Description For those not going on the July 8-10 camp. This will be a moderately paced hike, making a loop on moderate trails with one uphill of note. Bring a snack. With the early start we will be finished before lunch. This will be cancelled for extreme temperatures or deluging. Contact coordinator by Monday evening.
Meeting Place Pull off on Walcan Road across from Mud Lake
Departure Time 9:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Under control
Notes:

Trip Report – Morte Lake (Originally Plumber Bay) – 25 June 2025

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The heavily loaded logging truck barrelling along the Walcan Road meant business as we manoeuvred our two cars, with four hikers and three dogs, as close to the road edge as possible. We soon realized that these trucks were coming from our eventual destination, the Maud Island / Plumper Bay trailhead. A quick but necessary change of plans and smart u-turn and we were back at our starting point, the Morte Lake parking lot. As this was billed as a low-key hike, we saw no reason to change that as well. We headed towards Morte Lake along the pleasant Deadfish trail, taking the bridge across the creek to connect to the main trail. We had a short, early lunch at the small north beach. It was still too chilly to swim, but at least no more rain after an earlier downpour. We took the main trail back to our cars, noting the improvements to divert runoff. Altogether a pleasant hike with a lake rather than ocean view for our break. (6.3 km 2.5 hours)

Valerie

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Plumper Bay – 25 June 2025

Hiking – Newton Lake-Small Inlet-Waiatt Bay – 23 July 2025

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Activity Hiking / swiming
Destination Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay
Date 23 July 2025, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459
Description We will hike up to Newton Lake, down to Small Inlet, take the portage trail to Waiatt Bay and then back to the Newton Lake. Distance about 15 kilometres – will take approximately 6-7 hours (including lunch and short swim stops at Newton Lake)
If there is sufficient interest, there will be a shorter option, for those who want to go to Small Inlet, but not continue on to Waiatt Bay.
Meeting Place Quadra Community Centre
Departure Time 9:00
Difficulty
 A rocky, rutty initial kilometer, and a steep section at Small Inlet, plus overall distance makes this a moderate – not easy – hike.
Costs Share fuel costs
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring plenty of water, lunch and snacks, and swimming stuff if you want to swim.
The trip is best on a good summer’s day so will be postponed if the forecast is for rain.

Trip Report – Mt. Seymour – 19 June 2025

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We had moved this hike from Wednesday to Thursday due to the heavy rainfall forecast, which didn’t come until afternoon, but it really poured so we were glad that we had.

Five hikers left at 9:30 in the morning from the Granite Bay Road to hike to Mount Seymour. The large ferns on the start of the trail were very wet from the rainfall the night before, but the trail was in good shape. It was a cool pleasant morning with clouds and sunshine that made the moss very photogenic. We briefly stopped to admire the Nugedzi Lakes and could see huge thunder heads to the west toward Gold River. We continued our ascent and stopped on top by the large rock cairn to enjoy lunch and the views. There was a small breeze, but the sunshine had warmed up the rocks, so it was a very pleasant time on top of the highest point on Quadra Island. After this, we went to the viewpoint looking out over Browns Bay and then to the second peak with the view to the north.

We then descended down, following the same path, to the fork that goes to Nugedzi Lake. Because it looked like the thunder heads were coming toward us we decided not to carry on to the Nugedzi view point and we went back down the same route to the vehicles.
8 km, 4 1/2 hours and 500 m total ascent to 612 m elevation.

Les

Thanks to Les and Norris for the photos.

(click on photos to enlarge)    

 

Hiking – Mt. Seymour – 19 June 2025

Hiking – Heron Point and Mt. Sweat – 3 July 2025

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Activity Hiking
Destination Heron Pt and Mt. Sweat loop
Date 3 July, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710  Please contact the coordinator by Tuesday night.
Description This is a fairly short hike starting on Kolker Main. We will briefly follow a logging road, a short connector and a mossy bluff to Heron Point for great views of Hyacinthe Bay and the Chinese Mtn area.  From there we will take a cairned route through undulating forest trails and rocky bluffs to Mt. Sweat. We descend to Kolker Main through open, forested slope and return to the vehicles on Kolker Main.  This is a view hike and will not be done in poor weather.  About 4 km; 2½ hours.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot.  We will drive out in a group.
Departure Time 10:00 or earlier if it’s hot
Difficulty
 Mostly easy, except some steep places on Mt. Sweat.
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No, some of this will be on private property.
Notes: Some of this trip is on private property and we thank Heather Kellerhals for allowing our visit to Chauntaluf Farm.  Bring gear appropriate for the weather and trail conditions, as well as lunch.

Hiking – Plumper Bay – 25 June 2025

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Activity Hiking
Destination Plumper Bay
Date 25 June 2025, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca, 250 285 2329
Description This will be a moderately paced, fairly short hike along a gentle trail to Plumper Bay. We will stop for snacks, lunch then return along the same trail.
Meeting Place Morte Lake parking lot to carpool to the trailhead
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty Easy to moderate
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Under control, must not run through group.
Notes: NOTE MEETING PLACE…Morte Lake parking lot to carpool as needed. NOTE 9:30 am start time in case of summer heat. MUST contact coordinator by Monday evening to confirm participation. Bring snacks, lunch, dress for weather. Light rain ok, cancelled if heavy rain or above 30c. Only registered hikers will be notified.