Category Archives: Quadra Island

Trip Report – Blenkin Park – 6 March 2019

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Five hikers and two dogs enjoyed a one and a half hour hike through Blenkin Park. Starting on the Homestead Trail, we explored two side trails, one called the Swale Trail, and the other a new trail to Smokey’s place on Heriot Bay Road. At the junction of that new trail with the old trail to Smokey’s, we stopped to wonder at the “trinket” tree. Backtracking to Homestead, we continued to Daisy Trail, then west on the Community Trail to Sheppard Trail. Reconnecting to Homestead Trail for a short distance, we turned off onto Blackjack Trail, ending the hike at the east end of the baseball diamond. The weather was dry and partly sunny. Trail conditions were mainly dry with a few snow patches in open areas, but not icy. Along the route we admired many large Douglas fir and beautiful White Pine, large and small, and thick moss draping parts of the forest as the sun shone through the branches. Despite the good trail condition and weather, we saw no other trail users.

Janis

Hiking – Blenkin Park – 6 March 2019

Hiking – Blenkin Park – 6 March 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Blenkin Park
Date 6 March 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info 3614.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description Starting at the Community Centre, we will hike a loop through the Blenkin Park trails.  The walking is easy with some great variety in this forest.  This is the first time the Outdoor Club has visited these trails.  Including the extension to Smokey’s on the Heriot Bay Road, this will take less than 2 hours.
Meeting Place Community Centre parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay under owner’s control
Notes: This trip was re-scheduled from the Deadfish Loop due to icy trails.

Trip Report – Kay Dubois Loop – 27 Feb 2019

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Since the snow on the local trails has compacted into slippery ice, we moved this trip to a low altitude sunny trail.  Six of us and two dogs hiked the Kay Dubois trail then came back on the logging road between Sutil Road and Fox Drive.  That part still had ice patches.  Then we took the trail down the hill to join the Kay Dubois trail at the strange old sitka spruce tree.  5.2 km; 1½ hours.

Norris

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Hiking – Kay Dubois Loop – 27 Feb 2019

Hiking – Kay Dubois Trail – 27 Feb 2019

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Yet another change of destination!

Activity Hiking
Destination Kay Dubois Trail
Date 27 Feb 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.
Description In our ongoing search for a relatively snow and ice-free walk, we will try Kay Dubois.  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 Wa Wa Kie
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 and poles if you use them.

Hiking – Hopespring-Thompson Trail loop – 27 Feb 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Hopespring-Thompson Trail loop
Date 27 Feb 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.
Description Our local source says that this trail is not too slippery.  We will give it a try, starting on Thompson Trail and working counter-clockwise.  This is a classic loop on official trails, with lots of variety: creeks, old growth Douglas fir, some wetlands and a big ascent.  The hike will be about two hours.
Meeting Place Thompson 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 and poles if you use them.

Hiking – Haskin Farm Trail – 13 March 2019

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Activity Hiking
Destination Haskin Farm Trail
Date 13 March 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info RSVP to qioutdoorclub@gmail.com or 3710 no later than Sunday and earlier would be better due to the limit of eight people.
Description We will start our walk at 157 Quadra Loop, entering the driveway.  PLEASE take the second road on your right. A short walk through the woods onto the Haskin Trail. We will take a trail eventually coming to the abandoned orchard once part of Haskin Farm. Descending down to the beach with lovely views over Sutil Channel and the outer islands.   This trip is limited to eight people.
Meeting Place 157 Quadra Loop
Departure Time 10:00 am
Difficulty easy
Costs none
Trip limits Eight people
Dogs? No.
Notes: Please try to car pool if possible. On entering 157 Quadra Loop, take second road on your right and please close the gate. I will be outside to meet you. Park near the old truck shed.

Trip Report – Blindman’s Bluff – 30 Jan 2019

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Seven of us set out for Blindman’s Bluff.  We went in from Lieshman’s Road instead of the regular way on the Copperhead logging road because of the washed out culvert.  The forecast sunshine failed to show up, but the overcast was high enough to give us some peeks at the surrounding mountains.  The moss and lichen were wonderful.  On the way back, the group decided to take the regular trail and look at the washed out culvert, the new and improved beaver dam, which replaces the one that broke, and also visit the copper mine site.  5.3 km; 2¾ hours.

Norris

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Hiking – Blindman’s Bluff – 30 Jan 2019

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 20 Feb 2019

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This trip has been postponed

Activity Hiking
Destination Morte Lake Loop
Date 20 Feb 2019, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info Please contact the coordinator at debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710.
Description This is a classic walk through forest and around the Lake.  There are a number of variations depending on the access route used and the possibility of following unofficial trails on the south ridge.  We can also explore the improved route up the north shore bluff.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Tru Value parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must not run through the group.
Notes: Bring lunch and rain gear.  This trail can be quite wet in places.

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 16 Jan 2019

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For our first outing of the year to Mt. Washington, we had two for x-country skiing and nine for snowshoeing.  The snowshoers did a loop in the morning of Old Cabin, Tree Beard and Rossiter’s Rise, then returned to Raven Lodge for lunch.  In the afternoon, we made a loop of Old Cabin and Crooked Creek.  The skies were a bit overcast, the snow somewhat crunchy and the breeze was fairly bracing.  Two of us had binding issues and found it easier to walk; the trail was completely firm so no problem.  Everyone got enough exercise and we finished up around 2:30.  7.7 km; 3¾ hours.

Debbie

Photos by Norris

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 16 Jan 2019

Trip Report – Q Cove Trails – 1 Jan 2019

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The trip into the woods south of the library was scheduled for 2 Jan, but the weatherman was saying heavy rain and high winds, so we moved the trip up to 1 Jan at the last moment.  In the morning there was a very light rain, which was hardly noticeable in the woods.  So nine of us wandered off into the maze of community trails, all unofficial.  This is all private property, so many of the trails connect to someone’s back yard. Some of the trails are on what seems to be easements which extend existing roads.  The main part of property is in the Official Community Plan as a place for future housing.  Until then, it’s a pleasant forest to stroll through, with quite a few small streams and some impressively big cottonwood trees. The trails are well maintained.  The community has decorated the woods with carved masks, beadwork, and a “Word Log”.  We also visited the new stairs connecting Nole Road and Plaza Road.

While we were walking near the end of Nole Road, one of the alders leaning over the trail ahead of us decided to fall across the trail.  There was no wind, no gust of wind, it just decided to fall over for no reason, as alders do. Luckily, we were not too close and not in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Back at the cars, Les provided a little New Year’s tail gate treat with chocolate and pineapple.  4.3 km; 1¾ hours.

Norris

Photos by Norris

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Hiking – Q Cove Trails – 2 Jan 2019