Instead of doing Campbell River Lookout, due to heat and unexpected circumstances, we decided to do a Beech’s Mountain Loop. This is a challenging hike, but not as much as Campbell River lookout. We had an early 8:15 start from South Chinese Mountain parking lot. It was a lovely 15° but with smoky skies. On the way up, Norris showed us a short alternate route instead of going up the washed out creek. When we got back on the main trail, we continued to the junction of Beech’s Mountain and South Chinese and had a short water break. This is a excellent spot to listen to frogs in the early spring. Once we got onto one of the open ridges we were surprised to find a big Canadian flag in one of the trees. There are great views on the open ridges to the west, but the smoke hampered some of the pictures. We continued the steep ascent and took a break on the large open rocks where you have great views to Rebecca Spit and the mainland mountains. After this, we had lunch on the top of Beech’s Mountain, where we enjoyed the views and shade after the steep climb.

There was a steep descent then to the old road that comes up from the Nugetzi Lake turn off. This trail is not well used, but was flagged well. The old road is quite washed out with many loose rocks, but was a nice walk in the shade of the trees. We came to the turn off that goes to North Chinese Mountain and were surprised to find that it has hardly been used the last few years. I had an old track from 2014 that we followed. We came across a few old flags that marked the trail, but there is much blow down and salal and would not recommend it to anyone that does not like bush whacking. There are many large bluffs along the way that give great views. When we came to the last bluff before North Chinese Trail, we were surprised to find that someone had brought up a large, old fishnet and strung it between three large trees over the top of the bluff. I actually think this could be quite dangerous as it is 8′ above the rocks in some places.

We continued on to North Chinese trail and descended back to the parking lot and our vehicles. It was starting to warm up now so we were quite pleased that we had left early.
(6.5 km, 3¾ hours, 420m ascent)

Les

Thanks to Jim, Carrie, Les and Norris for the photos

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Hike – Beech’s Mtn Loop – 27 Aug 2025

It was a beautiful, but hot day for our hike into Main Lake Provincial Park and down to the Lake.  We started an hour earlier than originally scheduled due to the heat.  The eight of us hiked down through the beautiful forest, with green mossy understory in spite of the drought. The campground at East Beach was empty on arrival.  It was too early for lunch or even a swim, so we continued on, crossing the new skookum bridge over the creek, to admire the view from the swim rock, and then walk over to Yeatman Bay.  A large kayak group had pulled-up on shore just as we arrived.  After a short break we headed back to the campground for lunch.  The bay was very busy with three groups of visitors for the day.  About half of our group swam before heading back up the hill to Surge Narrow Rd and the cars.  It was a classic summer day for a wonderfully varied hike.  (9.7 km; 315m ascent; 4½ hours)  

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Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 30 July 2025

A small group of four hikers undertook our “annual” midsummer trek to Newton Lake and Small Inlet. Being a hotter day we passed on the Waiatt Bay leg and allowed more swimming time.  It was shady and cool to start the hike so we arrived at Newton Lake in pretty good time. There was a solitary Common Loon to check on while we had a short drink break and then we headed to the Inlet.

Just under an hour later we were on the tidal flat of Small Inlet. The tide was flooding but still low enough to allow us to trek across to the spring and the trail to Waiatt Bay. The group decided to take the first turn off and headed back towards the lake. We crossed paths with a few boaters on their way to and/or from Newton Lake as we made the slow climb up the switchbacks with visions of lunch and a swim motivating a pretty steady pace.

We had the swim rock to ourselves and enjoyed a great swim on a beautiful summer day! The water was clear and not cold, the air warming towards mid-20s.  The shady trail down from the Lake made for an enjoyable walk out to the trailhead. (We were spared any attacks by wasps despite the warning sign posted by a hiker earlier this week).  (Length: 12.6 km, Time: 4 hrs 41 minutes)

Vic Gladish

Thanks to Jim, Louise and Vic for the photos

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Hiking – Newton Lake and Small Inlet – 23 July 2025

Ten of us had a lovely day for this short hike with great views.  We started from Kolker Main and walked up an old logging spur.  We were amazed at how the brush had grown up this spring, obscuring fairly well used paths.  We quickly arrived at Heron Point for our first viewpoint extending from Hyacinthe Bay to the Chinese Mountains.  We continued on into Chauntaluf farm and followed  their trails up to the Mt. Sweat access.  We climbed steeply up to the first bluff and followed the cairns over the undulating bluffs and up to the Mt. Sweat viewpoint for lunch.  The 180° view takes in Quadra and the Salish Sea, with the mainland and Vancouver Island mountains.  We descended to the north, following flagging back to Kolker Main and from there to the vehicles.  Thanks to Heather Kellerhals for letting the Outdoor Club use the Chauntaluf farm trails to make this loop.  3.7 km, 2½ hours, 180m ascent.

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Hiking – Heron Point and Mt. Sweat – 3 July 2025