After cancelling this trip in February due to icy conditions, the weather could not have been better. Fifteen hikers, including five guests, enjoyed the cool of the forest and then the warmth of the sun at the lookouts. Some chose to go up and take in the views from Mt. Lolo, giving themselves a wonderful, varied hiking loop, and others chose to do the lower route to the lookout over Seymour Narrows both ways.
Sandra
(click on photos to view larger)
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- Mt. McBride
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- Elkhorn Mtn. & Kings Peak
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- Looking toward Cape Mudge
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- The causeway to Maud Island
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- Bumble bee
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- View north
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- Looking toward Duncan Bay
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- Looking north in Discovery Passage
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- Steller sea lion
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- The Saltwater Lagoon
Hiking – Stramberg Old Growth Grove – 2 April 2019
This hike has been re-scheduled to Tuesday
| Activity | Hiking |
| Destination | Stramberg Old Growth Grove |
| Date | 2 April 2019, Tuesday |
| Trip Coordinator | Norris Weimer |
| Contact Info | norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 285-3710. Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip. |
| Description | This trail begins near Village Bay Lake and follows open meadows leading into and through the forest on old, unmaintained logging roads. The forest is varied with occasional old growth, creeks, and wetlands. This is not an official trail. Expect blow-down and brush. About 13 km; 5 hours or more. |
| Meeting Place | Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools |
| Departure Time | 09:30 |
| Difficulty |
Moderate, due to unmaintained trail and quite long |
| Costs | None |
| Trip limits | None |
| Dogs? | Dogs must not run through the group |
| Notes: | Bring lunch and water. |
Trip Report – Haskin’s Farm Loop – 13 Mar 2019
Eight hikers arrived on such a magnificent day for the Haskin’s Farm hike. We did a short hike through the woods to join the main trail and headed down to the beach. We enjoyed time to sit in the warm sunshine and take in the magnificent views of Sutil Channel and other islands. After leaving the beach we took the trail to the north, to view some old growth trees. Returned to the main trail and up the hill, kept right walking on a wood lot road to eventually reach the abandoned orchard of Haskin’s Farm. Continued on the trail arriving at Fir Road. Back tracked down the trail and returned to our starting point. We took two dogs with us and they loved the attention. It was a joy to hear the birds singing and chatting to each other. We were certainly blessed with a gorgeous day and a lovely, leisurely walk in the park. 4.7 km; 2 hours.
Margot Wood.
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- Snow Drops
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- Sutil Channel
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- Rose Hip
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- Salal
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- Old Growth Douglas Fir
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- Haskin’s Farm meadow
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- Crocus
Gear Sale – Community Centre – 21 April 2019
| Activity | Gear Sale |
| Location | Community Centre, main hall |
| Date & time | 21 April 2019, Sunday; 12:00 – 2:00 |
| Event Coordinator | Valerie van Veen and Darcy Mitchell |
| Contact Infomation | if you plan to participate as a seller, please respond to qioutdoorclub@gmail.com |
| Description | Either as a buyer or seller, come to the gear swap. You don’t have to be a member to participate. “Gear” may include outdoor gear or exercise equipment. If you are a seller you don’t need to pre-register, but an indication of interest would be helpful. A $2 donation to cover costs would be appreciated, but can be flexible relative to the volume of your sales. Set-up will be between 11:00 and noon. Tables will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sellers are responsible for set-up, selling, and removing all of their unsold items. Clean-up will be from 2:00 to 3:00. |
Trip Report – Blenkin Park – 6 March 2019
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
| 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
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
(click on photos to enlarge)
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- Mt. Van der Est and Estero
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- Sitka Spuce
Hiking – Kay Dubois Trail – 27 Feb 2019
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
| 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
| 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. |
Quadra Island Outdoor Club 