Category Archives: Quadra Island

Hiking – South Heriot Ridge – 10 June 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination South Heriot Ridge
Date 10 June 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 285-3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will start on Hope Spring Trail and follow routes on open bluffs and unofficial trails to an overlook with a great view of Georgia Strait.  There are a number of different loops possible to return to the trailhead.  Three to four hours.
Meeting Place Trailhead at the end of Hope Spring Road.
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch.  If you use poles, bring them.

 

Trip Report – Newton Lake, Small Inlet & Waiatt Bay – 17 May 2015

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Seven of us set out on a hike to Waiatt Bay on Sunday. It was overcast and cool but just right for a long hike. The road from Granite Bay to the trail head is much better due to the logging road expansion. The trail in to Newton Lake is in good shape and the uphill hike makes for a good warm up. We stopped at the swimming spot for a snack and to admire the blue/green aqua color of the lake. As we descended to Small Inlet we passed the waterfall from the lake, which was gorgeous as usual. As we passed the head of the inlet we took the inland route which seems to be the preferred route now for hikers.  The tide was out at Waiatt Bay so made for a variety of spots for lunch.

On the return trip we took the portage trail to Small Inlet. It is in poor shape and much in need of some chainsaw work. It is always amazing though to see the bubbling spring near the ocean. From there we returned the same route in sunshine. The total trip was 14 km and took about 5 and a half hours.

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Hiking – Newton Lake, Small Inlet & Waiatt Bay – 17 May 2015

Trip Report – Noel’s Pizza Peak – 13 May 2015

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The weather forecast for this trip had been “60% rain” for a long time, so we had a back-up plan in place for an alternate destination. On the day of the trip, we awoke to rain. But by the time we arrived at the meeting place, the rain had stopped and it looked like it would be a nice day. So, back to Plan A. Seven of us went up the North Chinese Mountain trail to the flagged route up the ridge parallel and to the northeast of the Beech’s Mountain ridge. We followed Beaver Lake logging road for a while and then the flagged route to Noel’s Pizza lookout for lunch. Great views from there even though the mountains were in cloud. After lunch we went up the ridge to the upper cairn (475 m), descended to the saddle and took a short-cut to the flagged route to Beech’s Mountain. We enjoyed the views from the top, then down the maintained trail to the parking lot. 8.0 km; 5 hours. The moss is already dry, but the wild flowers were superb: columbine, wild bleeding heart, monkey flower, blue-eyed Mary, chocolate lily, coral root orchid, death camas, wild rose, yellow violets, penstemons, and many more.

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Hiking – Nole’s Pizza Peak – 13 May 2015

Kayaking – Village Bay Lakes – 3 June 2015

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 Postponed to Thursday 4 June

 

Activity Kayaking
Destination Village Bay Lakes, Mine, Main and Little Main Lakes
Date 3 4 June 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Sheelagh Elmitt
Contact Info 285-2296.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description Come and enjoy Village Bay lakes before the crowds arrive. We will launch at Mine Lake and explore the lakes. Hopefully there will be enough water to go up to Little Main Lake.  Paddling  distances will depend on the wishes of the participants.
Meeting Place Mine Lake launch site
Departure Time Come prepared to leave the launch site at 10 am.
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring the necessary safety equipment and lunch.

 

Hiking – Newton Lake, Small Inlet & Waiatt Bay – 17 May 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay
Date 17 May 2015, Sunday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description First we will drive to Granite Bay and the trail head. The road in to the trailhead is much better due to logging activity. We will hike to Newton Lake and then descend down to Small Inlet. This is the new Heart of Quadra Park area. We will use the portage trail to cross to Waiatt Bay and return via the same route.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 First part easy and second moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Yes, as long as they will stay by you
Note: Bring a lunch.
Parts of the trail can be wet this time of year.
About 12 km at an easy pace;  about 4-5 hours including driving.

 

Trip Report – Kayaking Gowlland Harbour – 6 May 2015

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Six members met at April Point marina. The very low tide provided an excellent opportunity to see intertidal marine life. Paddled the east side of Gowlland Island, picking up two further kayakers. We kept out of the way of the tug boat coming in with a log boom. The islands gave us a beautiful display of wildflowers, the yellow/pink blush. We enjoyed floating amongst the seals, they put on quite a display. The sea urchins and starfish were amazing along the rock and floor of the ocean.  Paddled over to the shipwreck off May Island and held our lunch on May Island. The island was covered with flowers, such a beautiful wild garden. Margot showed us the old eagles nest and the disaster that happened a couple of years ago.  We then paddled over and along the shore of Quadra Island, beautiful rock faces coloured with an array of flowers. We paddled past Gowlland Harbour Resort, Fawn, Stag, and Doe islands, and eventually on to April Point. The day felt like summer, a brilliant blue sky and warm sunshine all day. The eagles and seals delighted us, a lovely paddle and a good start off for further kayaking trips.

What a magnificent way to spend a day.

Margot Wood

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Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 5 May 2015

Trip Report – Maud Island – 29 April 2015

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The weather forecasts varied wildly, but in the end we had a good day for the hike to Maud Island. The nine of us hiked through the mossy forest and along the old logging road leading to the foot of Mt. Lolo. Even with some cloud, the views were good. We descended the trail down the south bluff, continued through the forest and along the coastal trail to the area north of the causeway where Canoe Pass Tidal Energy Corp. has recently built a dock and rearranged the rocks. The work leading to constructing tidal turbines was not as far advanced as we had expected.

http://www.newenergycorp.ca/Portals/0/documents/case_studies/Canoe%20Pass.pdf

We hiked to the overlook on Maud Island for lunch and were rewarded with sightings of sea lions and a whale (humpback?)  in Seymour Narrows. We returned via the saltwater lagoon. About 4 hours, 10.2 km.

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Hiking Maud Island 29 April 2015

Trip Report – Mt. Sweat – 22 April 2015

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This trip was postponed to the raincheck date, which turned out to be a lovely day. Rolf and Heather welcomed the dozen hikers at their property, and Rolf had lots of information about the history and natural history of the area.   He has the 1890 survey of the property and there are fruit trees from the same period. The group hiked past the Kellerhals’ garden and up through a series of mossy bluffs and intermittent forest to several great 270° viewpoints, extending from the Vancouver Island mountains across the Strait of Georgia (Salish Sea) to the mainland mountains. We had lunch at the Mt. Sweat summit and then descended by the same route until we turned off to the pond/reservoir. Along the way we saw the Sequoia trees in their experimental forest, their garden, beautiful spring deciduous trees, some old growth fir, a hummingbird, sapsucker, tree frog, a newt swimming in the pond, and an unusual worm case. Many thanks to Rolf and Heather for showing us this great area.

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Hiking Mt Sweat 21 April 2015

Hiking – Noel’s Pizza Peak – 13 May 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Noel’s Pizza Peak
Date 13 May 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description Noel’s Pizza is the informal name for the west ridge of Beech’s Mountain.  It is a great viewpoint overlooking Morte Lake.  It is a flagged route, not an official trail.  There are several different approaches that we can use and a loop is possible.  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: Bring lunch.  If you use poles, bring them.

 

Kayaking – Gowlland Harbour – 5 May 2015

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 Postponed to Wednesday 6 May due to weather.

Activity Kayaking
Destination Gowlland Harbour
Date 5 6 May 2015, Tuesday Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 285-2393.  Please contact Margot before 4 p.m. on May 4th. I need to inform April Point Marina.
Description We will meet at April Point marina to launch – no cost. Paddle the east side of Gowlland Island, passing by Stag, Doe, Fawn. Hopefully the islands will give us a beautiful display of wildflowers, the blue/pink blush. Creatures we may see: porpoise, seals, eagles, herons etc.  I have booked two tables for lunch on May Island, after viewing the shipwreck off May Island.  We will paddle down the inside of Gowlland Harbour, past Gowlland Harbour Resort, Homewood and onto April Point. A lovely peaceful paddle for approximately 3-4h.
Meeting Place April Point Marina Dock
Departure Time 10:30
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring your kayak, all necessary safety equipment and lunch.  The trip will be cancelled or postponed if it is windy.