Category Archives: Quadra Island

Trip Photos – Kayaking Main Lake 21 August 2013

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Nine club members enjoyed a beautiful, sunny, calm day at the Lakes.  Leaving from the Mine Lake boat launch, we paddled to the northeast corner of Main Lake, landed on the sandy beach and hiked across to Yeatman Bay.  Several of us walked out to the tidal island at the south end of the bay to have a look at the channel.   The paddle took about 55 minutes.  The trail, which is 1.6 kilometres long and in good condition apart from some muddy bits, takes just under half an hour one way. After lunch, about half the group went for a short swim (very welcome as it was hot!), then we headed back to the parking lot, arriving at 2:30.  The lakes seemed busy (at least busy for Quadra!), but it was a very pleasant and relaxed outing. Perhaps on a future trip, we’ll paddle right round Main Lake and possibly venture into Clear Lake or Little Main.

Darcy Mitchell

Kayaking Main Lake 21 August 2013

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Kayaking Octopus Islands 21-23 Sept 2013

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Activity Multi-day paddling trip
Destination Octopus Islands Marine Park
Date Saturday 21 September 2013 to Monday 23 September
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell and Lonn McMartin
Contact Info darcm@telus.net  or 250 285 2739 .
Description This is a two-night camping trip to the Octopus Islands Marine Park on the northeast side of Quadra Island.  The trip needs to be timed for slack water at Beazley Passage, therefore it is important that departure times are prompt.  It is 5.5 – 6 nautical miles from the departure point to the probable camping area.  Sunday will be spent exploring the Marine Park and adjacent areas, including possible  hikes to Small Inlet or up to Newton Lake.  We should be back at Surge Narrows dock  between 2:00 and 3:00 on Monday (slack water is 1:45 p.m.).

Participants should be fairly experienced paddlers and campers.  Training at the Paddle Canada Level 1 or equivalent is strongly advised.  Ability to perform both self-rescue and assisted rescue is essential!

Participants must be paid up members of the club for this outing.
Meeting Place Surge Narrows dock/boat launch (about 45 minutes from Quathiaski Cove)
Departure Time 11:15 am
Difficulty
 Intermediate
Costs None
Trip limits 10 (but no more than 6 tents)
Dogs? No
Notes: There will be a meeting of participants on the evening of Monday, September 16 at 7:30 at 533 Grouse Road to discuss arrangements for equipment sharing (radios, first aid equipment, stoves, pots), food preparation, etc.  Camping space is limited, so it is important to minimize tent sizes and numbers; sharing is good if you’re willing.

This trip is highly weather dependent.  Participants will be contacted by 9 p.m. on Thursday, September 19 if the trip is cancelled due to weather. 

octopus

Park info:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/octopus/

Proposed Communication Tower on Heriot Ridge

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An application has been submitted to Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) for use of a small parcel of land on Heriot Ridge for a communications tower. There are several concerns about this, including concerns about mistakes in the application and the procedure, in addition to concerns about the usage and the site chosen. There is some confusion about this, so it’s best to go through this in order of history.

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Hiking Mt. Seymour 18 August 2013

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Activity hiking
Destination Mt. Seymour
Date Sunday, 18 August 2013
Trip Coordinator Syd Lapan
Contact Info 285-2999.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description We will hike to the summit viewpoint with a side trip to Nugedzi Lake on the way down.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools
Departure Time 09:00
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? yes; owners must bring a leash
Notes: Bring lunch and water

Trip Photos – Hiking Shellaligan Trail 27 July 2013

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The group hiked the longer loop, on a warm, sunny, windy afternoon.  This is a beautiful forest and coastal walk.

Hiking Shellaligan Trail 27 July 2013

Social Rebecca Spit 24 July 2013

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Activity Potluck
Location Rebecca Spit
Date 24 July 2013, Rescheduled from 17 July.
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell
Contact Info Call Darcy Mitchell at 285 2739 or email darcm@telus.net if you have any questions
Description Calling all QI Outdoor club members and guests to a Potluck Picnic Dinner at Rebecca Spit on Wednesday, July 24 starting at 5:00 p.m.   We’ll have a few kayaks on site, so if you’ve been wanting to try your hand at paddling, this is your chance!  Dinner starts at 6:00.  We’ll also have some short reports on club excursions to date and time to discuss your ideas and feedback on Club activities and plans.  AND – there will be a draw for a door prize, so be sure to bring family and friends!
Notes: If a postponement is needed, it will be posted here as a comment.

Trip Photos – Hiking Seymour Ridge 13 July 2013

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Four intrepid hikers went for this challenging hike on a clear, warm day.  We hiked up to the Seymour summit with excellent views of Little Nugedzi Lake, the outer islands, coastal mainland and Vancouver Island.  The trail was in excellent condition after being cleared from winter damage by volunteers for the Trails Committee.  We continued on to Nugedzi Lake for lunch.  There was an amazing display of wild tiger lilies around the lakes.  The hike then followed the Nugedzi trail through the forest and past the beaver ponds, with a side trip to the viewpoint over Georgia Basin.  There has been significant wind damage in this forest over the past winter.  From this point the route followed an unmaintained track along the ridge to Beech’s Mountain.  Progress was very slow, as the wind damage was severe in this area also.  After bush whacking and climbing through fallen trees, the group reached the Beech’s Mountain with rewarding views to the east.  The wild flowers were still very good along the way.  On the descent to the Chinese Mountain parking lot we encountered a grouse with chicks.  It took us 7 1/2 hours to go the 12.2 km, with lots of breaks and stops for photos.

Hiking Seymour Ridge 13 July 2013

Trip Photos – Kayaking Hyacinthe-Open Bays 7 July 2013

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Six club members and one guest enjoyed a beautiful day for our paddle from Hyacinthe Bay to Open Bay. A light wind, gusting NW to about 12-15 knots in more exposed waters, provided some challenge, but the warm, dry weather made for a very pleasant paddle overall. The low tide at Hyacinthe Bay made for a good work out in getting launched. A river otter interrupted his fishing off the rocks to watch us warily as we paddled out into the Bay.
Our first pause was to admire the new, custom designed Toelle built, Peterson home in Hyacinthe Bay, which hugs the bluff as if grown, rather than built, there.
We skirted around seal rock, being careful to not disturb the dozen or so seals enjoying the sunshine and low, low tide.
The very low tide at Open Bay gave us plenty of beach to enjoy as we ate our lunch, and chatted with friends there with their dogs for a good beach run.
Somewhat reluctantly we left our relaxing lunch spot to tour the amazing rock formations of Open Bay. We made a note to plan a club tour with a local geologist to learn more about the fascinating geological history of this area.
With the wind rising, we headed directly back to Hyacinthe Bay, admiring the cliffs of pillow lava as we rounded the point. Some members spotted the route they took on an earlier club hike over Hyacinthe Ridge.

Route: Hyacinthe Bay (Len Road) to Open Bay and return
Total time from put-in to return: 4.5 hours (10 am – 2:30 pm)
Number of participants: 7
Winds and Sea state: light to moderate winds, 5 – 15 knots; slight ripples to low waves
Weather: sunny, warm, 23C
Trip Coordinator: Valerie van Veen

Kayaking Hyacinthe-Open Bays 7 July 2013

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Hiking Shellaligan Trail 27 July 2013

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Activity hiking
Destination Shellaligan Trail
Date Saturday, 27 July 2013
Trip Coordinator Syd Lapan
Contact Info 285-2999.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description We will be hiking the smaller loop, and stopping at the rocky ledges to enjoy the view.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools
Departure Time 13:30
Difficulty
 Easy, with some steep sections
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Bring a snack and water

Trip Photos – Hiking Maud Island 30 June 2013

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Six people hiked to Maud Island on a warm, sunny day.  The views were good from Mt. Lolo cliffs and the Seymour Narrows overlook.  There was a spectacular grove of foxglove and lots of fringed pine sap.  At the narrows, there were whale watching boats, yachts, log booms, fishing boats, and eagles.  There is a lot of nice variety to this trail — mossy forest walk, descending the cliffs on Mt. Lolo, the causeway to Maud Island, and Saltwater Lagoon.

Hiking Maud Island 30 June 2013