Category Archives: trip photos

Trip Report – Amor and Nearby Lakes – 29-30 Sept 2023

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This trip used the road-accessible Rec Site on Amor Lake for greatest flexibility.  Of the six people who participated, some stayed three nights, two nights, one night or just one day.  It certainly isn’t the best campsite on Amor Lake, but it has some conveniences. We were incredibly lucky with the beautiful autumn weather, since the trip was planned long in advance.

Friday:  Two came out on Thursday and set up camp.  Three others arrived on Friday morning and all launched as soon as possible.  We headed out to the south end of Amor and hauled out at the Mr. Canoehead campsite.  We navigated the short portage to Surprise Lake with the assistance of borrowed wheels for the kayaks and paddled across Surprise Lake as if we were doing the canoe circuit.  We left the boats at the south end of Surprise Lake and walked the 2.2 km portage to Brewster Lake through a lovely forest.  We had lunch at the launch site into Brewster Lake before retracing our steps and paddled back to the campsite by mid-afternoon.  We walked down the Blackwater Main logging road to visit the Rec Site on Blackwater Lake, which was sunny and scenic.  After relaxing on the shore, we headed back for dinner and enjoyed a great campfire, as the ban had just been lifted during the week and the evenings were cool.  The full moon was a bonus. (paddling 5.2 km, 1¼ hr; walking 8.3 km, 2½ hr)

(click to enlarge photos)

Saturday: We were joined by one more person on Saturday morning and were quickly away, heading north and across Amor Lake to the portage to Twin Lakes.  The launch site was quite muddy, but we managed awkwardly to get to the trail and walk up the undulating path to Twin Lake.  The campsite there, which is accessible by road, was very busy on this long weekend with great weather.  We briefly followed a trail up the north side of Twin Lake to a swim rock before heading back.  After returning to Amor Lake, we stopped for lunch at the first campsite we passed, which was on the north shore and had a beautiful sandy beach and lots of sunshine.  Continuing on, we came out of the east arm of the Lake and headed to the campsite at the north end, which has significant infrastructure.  We admired the dock with the picnic table as well as the covered shelter, but especially the sandy beach, sun-facing direction and great view.  We headed south along the western shore exploring the many campsites and sandy beaches along the way.  On our return to the campsite, two of the group packed up and left, leaving four others to enjoy another relaxed evening around the campfire.  (paddling 13.1 km, 3¼ hr; walking 2.5 km, ¾ hr)

We saw four of the Sayward canoe circuit lakes on this brief two-day paddle.  It was an easy and relaxed exploration.  We only encountered four other boats on Amor.  This was a fitting end to the season, having begun in May with an outing to Morton Lake Provincial Park and paddling on two other Sayward canoe circuit lakes – Mohun and Goose.  We had beautiful weather for both trips and enjoyed the relative quiet of the shoulder season.

Debbie

Multi-day kayaking and camping – Amor Lake – 29-30 Sept. 2023

Trip Report – Mine Lake Bluff – 20 Sept 2023

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Six of us were fortunate to have a truly beautiful autumn day for this highly varied hike.  The group decided to do the hike as a loop, which is more challenging than out-and-back. We walked along the Mine Lake shore to Homewood’s Woodsman Camp and then steeply up the trail to the foot of the bluff.  The exposed section of the route was fairly dry in spite of the previous day’s rain.  Views of Mine Lake, the Quadra high plateau, and the Vancouver Island skyline made it all worthwhile.  We explored much of the bluff perimeter, with impressive cliffs on the east and west sides, before settling down for lunch at a sunny viewpoint.  We picked up the trail down the north side and under the impressive cliffs we had just been standing on.  After visiting some of the periphery of the camp we followed the path out to the first campsite, at the corner of Mine Lake and the narrows. One person swam before we headed back along the lake to the vehicles.  We enjoyed this leisurely hike to so many beautiful spots on a wonderful fall day. (6.6 km; 4 hours)

Debbie
 
Thanks to Carrie and Norris for the photos.
 
(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Mine Lake Bluff – 20 Sept 2023

Trip Report – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 13 Sept 2023

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Six of us hiked this loop starting from North Gowlland Road.  The recent welcome rain made the bushes wet and the day humid.  We hiked North Gowlland Trail up to Rousseau Ridge with a short break for elevenses and to enjoy the view..  From there we descended the mossy bluffs toward Gowlland Harbour Rd, with a few short steep sections into the forest and back up on the ridge.  Each ridge has great views of Discovery Passage and the Vancouver Island mountains, which were in cloud for us.  We stopped for a leisurely lunch on the third and lowest bluff.  We continued our descent to a logging road heading east and then picked up a route over lower, but still open bluffs taking us back to North Gowlland Trail.  We enjoyed the three very old Douglas firs, the Three Sisters, on the way back to make our loop.  Since we did this loop about 15 months ago, the flags have been removed, making the route finding trickier.   6.8 km; 3¼ hours.

Debbie
 

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Hiking – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 13 Sept 2023

Trip Report – Paddle around Cape Mudge – 6 Sept 2023

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Almost exactly one year to the day since our first Round the Cape paddle trip, four club members set out from Q-Cove to repeat the adventure. This report will therefore sound a lot like the one written last year (cut and paste…) The necessary shuttle was pretty simple with just four participants, one volunteer spouse and a two-car paddling couple! Two paddlers got to the put-in without motorized transport!

By 10:10 we were on the water just as the ferry was loading – two ferries to watch out for this time. Weather, (overcast and threatening drizzle, but no wind) tides and currents were all in our favour as we rounded Whiskey Point and headed south to Cape Mudge. We passed closely by the Village (accompanied briefly by a pair of harbour porpoises on our starboard), and then the lighthouse, working against the counter currents while the main tide continued to flood, and then rounded the Cape. One petroglyph barely revealed itself here, but one sharp-eyed paddler spotted it. These often treacherous waters were very calm, due to our timing, and we headed into the boulder strewn shallows of the south shoreline. It was interesting to be at the base of the sandy cliffs that we had hiked to the edge of last week for a view of the shoal at very low tide.

As we glided along a flock of a dozen or so Common Loons struck up a conversation about kayaking intruders, Harlequins scurried along the water’s edge to put distance between us, and the migrating coho were leaping about. Large schools of herring or sardines were seen in the shallow waters of Wilby Shoals.

By this time we were looking for a reasonable place to pull out for a “rest” and stretch, but, once again a cobbly beach was the best we could do. As it was time for lunch, our rest stop lasted nearly an hour. Back on the water and heading for our final “turn around the corner”, a nice beach was spotted and perhaps will be remembered for next year’s lunch stop! We rounded Francisco Point and headed north on a somewhat brighter and milder afternoon without notable resistance from the ebbing tide. With our destination in sight for most of the 5 km, it did feel like a long stretch as we avoided rocks and watched for whales.  (15.0 km; 4¼ hours.)

List of bird sightings – at least a dozen Common Loons (very vocal), many Harlequin ducks, a Common Merganser, numerous Bonaparte’s, Glaucous-winged, and Mew Gulls, Cormorants, a Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagles

Vic 

Thanks to Vic and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking -Paddle around Cape  Mudge – 6 Sept 2023

Trip Report – Kanish Bay Paddle – 22 Aug 2023

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Four paddlers were treated to a very nice day of paddling on Kanish Bay. We started out early at Granite Bay to take advantage of the tides and headed off by 0900 on a cool morning. Last year CCW, this year we took the CW (clockwise) route around the bay. With little wind and an ebbing tide, we arrived at the tidal flats tucked in between Bodega Pt and an unnamed island. A short break here allowed us time to cross the beach and take in the view of upper Discovery Passage. Back on the water and passing between the last two islands of the Chained Islets, we headed across the western end of Kanish Bay with our sights set on Granite Point, 3.2 km away. At the point, the waters were calm and the sun much warmer so we just kept going until 15 minutes later we had a bit of a view down Okisollo Channel! Time to turn back… we meandered down the northern shore of the bay, visited the pictographs cliff and then stopped for lunch at Ashlar Creek, a rather rocky and difficult landing spot, but sunny and warm with a big view of the Passage and Vancouver Is.

The tide aided our afternoon efforts by starting to flood, and with the Chum jumping here and there we were soon at Orchard Bay and once again fantasizing about a couple of nights of camping in this very nice part of the area. (This was to have been today’s goal, but too few signed up for the planned camping trip). A family of Loons and a lone Red-necked Grebe were spotted on the bay. We explored for a few minutes and then headed back to Granite Bay and our take out. (17.8 km; 5½ hours.)

Vic 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Kanish Bay – 22 Aug 2023

Trip Report – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 16 Aug 2023

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Since it was forecast to be another hot August day, we decided to beat the heat and start early – 7:30.  So eight of us began the long hike uphill at 18°C.  Although the creek was dry, we crossed on the new bridge.  After stopping briefly at the unofficial viewpoint looking northeast, we continued on the trail past the Lily Pond and noted the low water level and that the usually marshy areas were completely dry.  The viewpoint to the southeast had good visibility over Rebecca Spit and the Salish Sea.  We continued along the undulating trail to Nugedzi Lake, and even though it was only 10:00 am, we had lunch and several went swimming.  The water was warm.  After the leisurely break, we ventured on to the western overlook up Discovery Passage and toward Vancouver Island.  From there we noted the smoke and clouds from the fire at Mt. Con Reid in Strathcona Park.

Turning back, we detoured to Little Nugedzi Lake, yet another picturesque lake on a beautiful day.  From there we began the long-feeling trek back across Nugedzi Plateau and down the steep logging road to the vehicles.  Then up to 26°C.  (11 km, 5¼ hours)

Norris

Thanks to Neil and Norris for the photos

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Hiking – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 16 Aug 2023

Trip Report – Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay – 26 July 2023

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It has been three years since the Club undertook this wonderful hike and four years since a swim was part of the fun! So, seven hikers set a good pace to get things started up the cobbly slope to the Small Inlet Park boundary. It was a soggy go through the thick patches of salal, thanks to our overdue rainy spell, but the sun was out and the day was perfect. The absence of birdsong was quickly noted and seen as a harbinger of the passing of summer.

We rested briefly at Newton Lake and then resumed our uphill hike to the switchbacks that descend quickly to Small Inlet. Here we started to cross paths with numerous boater/hikers on their way to Newton Lake’s inviting waters. We walked the tide flats from the first beach access to the trail head for Waiatt Bay. A brief stop was made to marvel at the bubbling water feature for which we still have no interpretive information. We must conscript a geologist for the next visit to the area!

A short hop through beautifully lit forest brought us to very busy Waiatt Bay. We ate lunch and watched the coming and going of a dozen people, dogs and skiffs between the many moored boats and our beach. As the day heated up our group was motivated to pack up and head to the lake for our long awaited swim. The uphill climb from Small Inlet definitely built up the desire for some of us to jump in on our arrival lakeside, and enjoy the mid-summer “warm” water of Newton Lake. A refreshing dip enabled us to maintain a good pace through the long, rocky downhill trail to the parking lot.

Everyone agreed that it was a fantastic outing on a perfect summer day!  (12.7 km; 5 hours)

Vic

Click on the photos to enlarge

Hiking – Newton Lake-Small Inlet-Waiatt Bay – 26 July 2023

Trip Report – Surge Narrows Road to Main Lake – 21 July 2023

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Despite the two day postponement, even more hikers signed up, so five of us set out on a pleasant, overcast Friday morning on the newish Surge Narrows Road to Main Lake trail. We found the correct trailhead, thanks Les, and started on the woodland path to Main Lake. With time considerations, we decided to forego the side trip to Roscoe Lake, planning on doing it if time/energy allowed on the return. The trail meanders through the forest, roughly following a very old logging road, eventually running beside a creekbed, now absolutely dry in our current drought conditions. We stopped to admire the magnificent burn-scarred old growth close to a now dry waterfall.

We came in through the back of the large campground at Main Lake east beach, which was occupied by several families enjoying the warm weather. We decided to continue on the portage route to Yeatman Bay and have our lunch break there. After a short break, during which we watched a multi-generational family dig for clams in the rising tide, we headed back to the Lake for a short swim. This refreshing break was now much needed as the heat had returned, despite a forecast of lower temperatures.

Unfortunately, as we began the return trek up the hill from the Lake two members of our group disturbed a wasp nest. The wasps made sure we knew they were not pleased at being stomped on! Our return trip was much less pleasant than our ingress, as pain and heat made the steep, then more gradual, incline back much more challenging. Our discomfort was compounded when another wasp nest was encountered, fortunately only one hiker was stung this time. We did not feel motivated to take the side trip to the small lake, and were greatly relieved to finally reach our cars, with air-conditioning and no wasps!

Given the wasps and the heat, and the steady uphill return, this hike would be best kept for spring or fall, especially when the creek and waterfall would be running.

About 5.5 hours, with lunch break and a quick swim.

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Louise and Les for the photos.
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 19 July 2023

Reconnaissance Report – Woss Lake Provincial Park – 12-14 July 2023

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We had talked about this trip for over a year, but it came together at the very last minute. There is little information available about Woss Lake Provincial Park and much of it is unhelpful or actually incorrect. Historically this was an important trade route for the Namgis and Mowachaht, but today it is not much visited. There are some reasons why this beautiful place is quite inaccessible and little known.

Six of us in two kayaks and two canoes set out on a beautiful summer day to explore this area hoping to find the campsite and the Grease Trail. We launched at 11:30 in calm water from the Woss Community Cabin, which is about 8 kilometres down Woss Rd. The views on this in-land fjord are wonderful with Rugged Mountain and the glacier at the southwest end of the Lake. By 13:00 the diurnal wind from the south began to build and continued to increase to about 20 knots until after sunset, but the wind didn’t die completely until midnight. We spent several hours pulled out on the shore waiting for the wind to abate. Magically, a large Namgis cedar dugout canoe came quickly down-wind while we were on shore.

The campsite was not where we expected because the trail location on Backroads map is incorrect. The campsite is in much better condition than we expected since the BC parks says there are no facilities, and other sites simply repeat that there are a “few tent pads.” The campsite was built and the trail re-established as an initiative by the Namgis between 2001 and 2005. Lindsay Elms’ information in Beyond Nootka is the most complete. While some of the tent platforms have rotten wood, the general facilities and location are excellent for rustic camping.

The following day we planned to hike up to the pass on the Grease trail, which would descend to Tahsis on the far, south side. The trail was in better condition than we expected, since BC Parks are certainly not maintaining this. It seems likely that the Namgis are working on it. It was well flagged and most of the creeks were bridged for the first 3 kilometres. Then there was lots of flagging in different colours, but no convincing trail and no logical continuity. Because Backroads maps shows the trail on the wrong side of the creek and Lindsay Elms says that the grant was to develop 3 kilometres of trail, our expectations were that this would be a short steep hike. That was not the case and we had not allowed sufficient time to continue to the pass. We returned to the campsite through this excellent forest with many streams. The diurnal wind started earlier and persisted longer than the previous day.

The last day we paddled out following the west-side shore with interesting geology and small bays. Starting earlier in the day, we arrived at our launch site by noon and encountered virtually no wind at all. We learned a lot about this area on the trip, but definitely not everything and hope to return.

Debbie

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Trip Report – Open Bay to Village Bay – 10 July 2023

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Six Club members and one guest enjoyed an (almost) idyllic summer day on the Salish Sea on our July 10 paddle from Open Bay to Village Bay and beyond.

Before embarking, we reviewed  our Club’s Paddling Guidelines and discussed the proposed route, predicted weather, tide and currents . Two paddlers volunteered to take the going and returning sweep positions.

We enjoyed the easy launch from Open Bay using the beach property of a Club member and were soon perusing the islets around the Bretons. The calm, almost benign conditions encouraged us to take the outside route around the Bretons up Hoskyn Channel. We saw seals and many seabirds, including Mergansers, Oyster Catchers, Harlequins, Guillemots, and, most notably, Arctic Terns, possibly attracted by the large shoals of herring visible around the rocky reefs. Even though there were several boats apparently watching the whales who were audibly breaching and blowing south of us, disappointingly we did not see any whales during our paddle.

We arrived at Village Bay in time for a leisurely lunch, enjoying the warm sun and social time. As predicted, the wind began to rise just after 12:00, creating some visible chop. Still feeling energetic, we decided to proceed further north to paddle around Bold Island and visit the oyster and mussel farm. The aquaculture-farm was in full operation as we paddled leisurely by, to the envy of the workers. As expected, the conditions changed from benign to more challenging as we left the protection of Bold Point and came out into Hoskyn Channel. Given the wind/wave conditions we opted to head directly across to the entrance to Shellaligan Pass. The pass was a peaceful respite before the even more challenging conditions in Open Bay. A short, invigorating paddle through the rocky reef brought us back to the protected, calm waters of our launch site.  (15.1 km; 5 hours with lunch)

Once our kayaks and gear were loaded, we very much enjoyed a social hour on our Club member’s shaded and tranquil deck. We were also well entertained by the hummingbirds and swallows attracted to the many feeders, and nesting boxes on this lovely property.

With many thanks to the two volunteers who acted as sweeps on this trip, and especially to the Club member who offered us the use of their beach access, and then a social hour on their lovely deck afterwards.

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Valerie and Norris for the photos.


(click on photos to enlarge)

Kayaking – Open Bay to Village Bay – 10 July 2023