Eight brave hikers took a chance on the weather and were rewarded with clear skies and no rain. We hiked the Little Black Dress, Back Door, Silk Stockings loop (counter-clockwise) after many days of heavy rain. The trail was slippery in few sections but nothing unmanageable. The moss was bright green and the bluffs sunny, which provided a wonderful lunch stop. We enjoyed the old copper mining artifacts. Near the end of the loop, we took a side trip to the beaver damn that failed a few years ago but has since been build up again. Unfortunately, there were no sign of any beavers on this trip. (7.3 km which included the beaver damn side trip; 3¼ hours)

Louise

Hiking – Little Black Dress-Silk Stocking Loop – 17 Dec 2025

Five of us hiked the loop starting at Thompson trail head and in a counterclockwise direction came out at Hopespring Rd.  It was a short walk on the road back to our vehicles on Thompson Rd. We had steady rain with most sections of trail having running water and large puddles.  We trudged along not stopping for lunch but still enjoying the hike. The Three Sisters (three old growth Douglas Fir) with blackened bark from last major fire on Quadra Island are amazing to see. Another interesting feature was a rock face covered in thick moss and with all the rainfall a waterfall of moisture coming down it. Because of the wet and misty weather we did not go to any of the viewpoints, which there are several on this hike. (5.8 km,180 m, 3 hrs) 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Thompson – Hopespring Loop – 10 Dec 2025

There had been no rain for three days so nine hikers, including a new member, and one furry friend, had all of the Shellaligan trail system open to us.  We opted to park at the first lot as the logging road deteriorates further on. We walked down this road, paved with huge fallen broadleaf maple leaves, to reach the beach trailhead. This small corner of Quadra is mixed deciduous though most of northern Quadra is coniferous forest. We took time to enjoy the ocean views from the various bluffs, stopping for lunch where the trail comes down to the beach. The oyster farm is active again, we hailed the two fellows harvesting the farm.  Bird sightings included a large flock of Goldeneyes and a few Grebes.  At the Haiku Corner we enjoyed the written contributions of hikers more inspired than us. This is also the junction with the short or long circuits; two of our hikers opted to go back via the short route.  The rest of the group continued on the long route, which can euphemistically be described as “undulating”, following the creek uphill through the beautiful mixed forest.

Shellaligan trails had been closed earlier in the year due to logging. We encountered the new clear cut near the end of the route.  Logging in this area over the years has made trail-finding on the long route somewhat challenging as old landmarks are erased.  For future hikes on the long route, going counter clockwise…when the forest trail first meets a logging road turn left, and left again at the T junction with the next logging road.  There is a signpost high up in the trees for those going in the clockwise direction. Follow this road uphill and look for the trail marker on the right, follow this trail past the clearcut (as of November 2025) to the logging road. Turn left and it is a short walk back to the first parking lot. (7.5 km, 3¾ hours)

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Les and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Shellaligan Loop – 19 Nov 2025