Category Archives: Quadra Island

Kayaking – Village Bay – 29 May 2019

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Village Bay
Date 29 May 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; (cell 250-287-0459).  The coordinator should be contacted no later than 24 hours prior to departure.
Description We will meet at and launch from Len Rd Beach access and paddle to Village Bay, and return. Approximately 16 km. You MUST use a fully equipped sea kayak with all required safety equipment as per Club guidelines. (https://qioutdoorclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/paddling-guidelines-aug2018.pdf) Bring water and lunch.
Meeting Place Len Road Beach Access
Departure Time Meet at put-in 0830; Depart by 0900
Difficulty
 Moderate depending on winds
Costs Nil
Trip limits 7 + coordinator
Dogs? No
Notes: If you want to carpool (saves space at put-in) email me. If you can take 1 more person, kayak, and gear please let me know. I can take 1 additional paddler.
It will be mid ebb tide when we put in but should be an easier take out in mid afternoon.

Hiking – Noel’s Pizza Peak – 2 May 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Noel’s Pizza Peak
Date 2 May 2019, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or leshand@gicable.com   Be sure to sign up so I can call you if weather changes
Description Noel’s Pizza peak is the informal name for the west ridge of Beech’s Mt. It is a flagged route, not an official trail therefore there may be some blow down and scrambling.  About 4 hours
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: If you use poles bring them. You need good footwear for this hike.

 

Hiking – Shellaligan Loop – 15 May 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Shellaligan Loop
Date 15 May 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 285-3978.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description Three different loops are available.  Stay in touch with the coordinator for details.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot for car pooling.
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate.  There are a few rocky bluffs to scramble up and some undulating sections.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Dogs must not run through the group.
Notes: Bring lunch and gear for weather.

Hiking – Beech’s Mtn Loop – 18 Sept 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Beech’s Mountain Loop
Date 18 Sept 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info phone 3614
Description Starting at the Chinese Mountains trailhead, we follow the South Chinese Trail to its juncture with Beech’s Mountain Trail. Along this trail we ascend many steep rock bluffs with spectacular views to the east, west and south from the open bluffs. At the top of Beech’s Mountain, we make a steep descent through the forest to an old rough logging road. Eventually the route veers away from the road onto mossy bluffs with convoluted route-finding using flagging tape. The route connects with the North Chinese Mountain Trail (essentially a steep rubbly old logging road) which we descend to the parking lot.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot to carpool
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty Moderate to difficult (many steep and potentially slippery bluffs to negotiate, as well as steep rocky logging roads)
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Okay if under owner’s control
Notes: Sturdy hiking shoes/boots required. Hiking poles may be helpful. Bring a lunch or snack. Estimated time 3 to 3½ hours. Please read the Outdoor Club Hiking Guidelines before the trip. If you leave a phone message, also leave your phone number in case trip plans change. Hikers who show up without pre-registering may not be allowed on the trip due to group size maximum.

Hiking – Heriot Ridge Loop – 10 July 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Heriot Ridge Loop
Date 10 July 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info phone 3614
Description This loop follows Thompson Trail, then turns south over the bluffs on the Heriot Ridge trail. This trail ends at a nice west-facing viewpoint. After crossing the Hopespring Trail, we continue on a route south on top of Heriot Ridge with more western views, drop steeply into a cool forest and connect to one of the Homewood trails. From there we take a short side trip to High Bluff Viewpoint to enjoy the wide open vistas west to Vancouver Island and south along the Strait. The route returns north along the Ridge’s open bluffs, but at a lower level, intersecting with Hopespring Trail and down to Hopespring Road. A 10 minute road walk takes us back to the Thompson trailhead.
Meeting Place Thompson trailhead on Thompson Road. Carpool if you are able.
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty Easy to moderate (on steep and potentially slippery bluffs)
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Okay if under owner’s control
Notes: Sturdy hiking shoes/boots required. Hiking poles may be helpful. Bring a lunch or snack. Estimated time 2½ to 3 hours. Please read the Outdoor Club Hiking Guidelines before the trip. If you leave a phone message, also leave your phone number in case trip plans change. Hikers who show up without pre-registering may not be allowed on the trip due to group size maximum.

Hiking – Thompson-B&B Trail Loop – 22 May 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Thompson-B&B Trail Loop
Date 22 May 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info phone 3614
Description We hike up Thompson Trail, climb to the first viewpoint for views north and east, then descend the mossy bluffs of the open ridge in a northward direction. After the ridge peters out, we follow a deer route through the forest to the B&B Trail. After hiking this for a short distance, we take a side trip to Eileen’s Bluffs, with splendid views east and south from angles not normally see on the island. Backtracking to the B&B Trail, we carry on to Thompson Trail and east on Thompson to the trailhead.
Meeting Place Thompson trailhead on Thompson Road. Carpool if you are able.
Departure Time 9:30 am
Difficulty Easy to moderate (on steep and potentially slippery bluffs)
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Okay if under owner’s control
Notes: Sturdy hiking shoes/boots required. Hiking poles may be helpful. Bring a lunch or snack. Estimated time 2½ to 3 hours. Please read the Outdoor Club Hiking Guidelines before the trip. If you leave a phone message, also leave your phone number in case trip plans change. Hikers who show up without pre-registering may not be allowed on the trip due to group size maximum.

Kayaking Training – Main Lake Provincial Park – 26 June 2019

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Activity Kayak training session
Destination Main Lake Provincial Park
Date 26 June 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell; Instructor Monica Russell
Contact & Registration Info mitchelldarcy51@gmail.com (preferred) or 250-923-5540.  The registration deadline is May 26th.  Payment must accompany the registration and is non-refundable.
Description Led by trainer Monica Russell, this session will start at 10:30 and end about 3:30, with a half hour lunch break. Training will include:
– the basics of kayak safety and necessary equipment;
– strokes including forward, reverse, sweep, draw, stern rudder, bracing and edging;
– controlled wet exit, assisted rescue and self-rescue.
Rescue practice, when participants will be wet, will take place after lunch.
Meeting Place Boat launch at Mine Lake
Departure Time 10:00 meeting for 10:30 start of training session
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs $80; send your course fee to Julie at PO Box 397, QCove
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Participants will benefit most from the rescue training if they are able to stay in the water for some time – wet suits of any type, together with neoprene hoods or caps, will be very useful.  Bring lunch and warm liquids.  Participants provide their own kayak, paddle and all necessary equipment, including pump, paddle float, sponge, whistle. This session is the pre-requisite for participation in multi-day club kayaking trips and is an excellent refresher for all paddlers.

Trip Report – Deadfish-Tripod Loop – 10 April 2019

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Four hikers enjoyed a three and a half hour hike on the bike trails south of Morte Lake. It was raining when we carpooled at the Heriot Bay store parking lot, less so at the Morte Lake parking area and had stopped within a half hour of leaving the trailhead. We began on the Deadfish Trail and stopped on Deadfish Summit to view Beech’s Mountain and watch wispy clouds rising from Morte Lake. Descending the Seven Deadly Sins switchback trail, the group turned north on Nirvana to connect with the South Morte Lake trail. We followed this east along the mirror-calm lake and stopped for a snack at the sandy beach at the southwest corner of the lake. Before reaching the beach, the view down into the water in the little bay revealed an exquisite turquoise colour – who needs to go to a tropical isle? We proceeded along Tripod Connector (the tripod is still there at the stream crossing) and uphill to Ridge trail, which skirts the base of Deadfish Summit ridge and connects to Lost Rider. At the Lost Rider-Morning Beer Trail junction we headed up onto the open ridge which parallels Deadfish Trail. Along this ridge we had grand views of Chinese Mountains, Hyacinthe Bay and beyond to Cortes Island. This rugged trail proceeds along the open moss-covered bluffs, eventually dropping steeply downhill to the Morte Lake parking lot. Due to the recent rains, the mosses and hanging lichens along the route vibrated with a brilliant green, even more so when the sun made an occasional appearance.

Janis

Hiking – Deadfish-Tripod Loop – 10 April 2019

Trip Report – Stramberg Old Growth Grove – 2 April 2019

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Nine of us hiked by Vic’s Marsh then on to the Stramberg big trees in Main Lakes Provincial Park.  The weather was a perfect and the trail was in good condition and well flagged. The journey offers lots of variety including open marsh, a homestead site, old corrals and a barn, undulating forest trail with rocky bluffs and fern wetlands, and old logging roads.  There has been some erosion this past year of dirt bridges over creeks, but conditions were very dry for early April.  We ate lunch in the swale leading into the grove and then wandered among the trees.   The trees are impressively big  — and old.  There was frequent wolf scat on the trail.  12 km; 5 hours.

Norris

Thanks to Norris, Les and Cyndy for the photos, and to Stephen and Carrie for the trail camera photo taken earlier.

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Stramberg Old Growth Grove – 2 April 2019

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 24 April 2019

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This trip description has been substantially revised.

Activity Kayaking
Destination Gowlland Harbour
Date 24 April 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710
Description The plan is to launch our kayaks at the April Point Marina and go around Gowlland Island.  The exact details will depend on the weather and other conditions.  The weather forecast is good and we are hoping the spring flower will be in bloom.  We will check out the interesting islands, such as Doe, Stag, Fawn, Crow, Wren, Mouse, Vigilant.  This trip is planned around the currents in Discovery Passage.  We will go north on the end of the ebb and return south on the beginning of the flood. About 8 km; 4-5 hours.
Meeting Place April Point Marina
Departure Time 9:30 (arrive, unload and prepare) launch at 10:00
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits max 10 kayaks
Dogs? no
Notes: This trip is dependent on weather.  Bring your kayak, paddle and all equipment required by the Coast Guard. Bring your own lunch and water.