Category Archives: Vancouver Island

Trip Report – Mt. Washington & Mt. Elma – 22 Mar 2023

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Reports are that Mt. Washington has lots of snow.  It’s true.  We started out on the snowshoe trail from Raven Lodge with the vague intention of going to the lakes.  Snow conditions were perfect for snowshoeing.  The trails were broken and there was a sparkling layer of fresh snow.  The sun was bright and warm, the air temperature was good, there was no wind.  The sky was clear and blue.  As I said, conditions were perfect.

Except for one thing.  The trail to Lake Helen Mackenzie crosses a stream on a bridge.  The bridge was packed with snow, up to about a metre above the hand rail.  It was well packed, but too narrow for snowshoes.  And there was no way to avoid it since the stream was open.  We crossed it, but once was enough, so we came back the Battleship Lake route.  It also has a stream crossing with a snow-packed bridge.  That one felt much safer, but it looked as if it might collapse sooner or later.

So we arrived at Lake Helen Mackenzie and stopped for lunch.  We looked around for a further destination.  Mt. Elma looked perfect, so we headed there.  The trail was broken already, so it was an easy, though steep, climb up to the ridge.  The summit ridge was amazing, open meadows with fabulous views.  In particular the mountains io the Forbidden Plateau skyline, all snow covered in bright sun with no clouds blocking the view for once. (13.1 km, 6 hours)

Norris

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 22 Mar 2023

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Hiking – Trout Creek Falls – 10 Apr 2023

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If you would like to do this hike, but not on Easter Monday, please let the coordinator know.

Activity Hiking
Destination Trout Creek Falls
Date 10 April, Monday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca; 250-285-3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Saturday evening.
Description We will drive out Menzies Main a short distance to the trailhead for Trout Creek.  This undulating and varied trail passes by three falls, each very different and scenic.  The trail is basic and it may be a bit muddy, rooty and rocky.  There are a few steep sections, but it’s quite short overall.  It can be made into a loop by returning on a logging road.  About 5km; 2½ hours.
Meeting Place QCove ferry terminal
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs Ferry
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring gear for the weather and lunch.

Snow – Mt. Washington Area – 22 Mar 2023

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Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington area
Date 22 Mar, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will either go Paradise Meadows or to Ramparts Hill, depending on the conditions and the group.
Meeting Place QI Ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 ferry
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs Transportation costs and trail pass if we go to Paradise Meadows (Adult $13)
Trip limits None
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch as we may not eat at Raven lodge.  Have reliable equipment and winter gear.

Snow – Mt. Washington Area 1 Mar 2023

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This trip will be postponed or cancelled, but contact the coordinator if interested.

Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington area
Date 1 Mar, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will either go Paradise Meadows or to Ramparts Hill, depending on the conditions and the group.  Expect a broken trail to follow.
Meeting Place QI Ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 ferry
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs Transportation costs and trail pass if we go to Paradise Meadows (Adult $13)
Trip limits None
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch as we may not eat at Raven lodge.  Have reliable equipment and winter gear.

Snow – Mt. Washington – 8 Feb 2023

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This outing was originally scheduled for the week of January 18th

Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington nordic
Date 8 Feb
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info Vvv@qisland.ca, 250 285 2329; 778 242 5774
Description Never snowshoed and would like to try, or want to get back into winter sport mode… this trip to the Paradise Meadow trails at Mt Washington is for you. These trails are all maintained, tracked  (thus the charge) and well-signed so all we have to do is enjoy ourselves. The trails wind through woods and over the meadows, with beautiful views to the surrounding mountains, and vary from easy and mostly flat to more hills. We will start with the easy trail, doing more if/as the group wishes. Weather permitting, we will stop for a lunch break on the trail, bring lunch and a waterproof sit-upon as we will be sitting in snow. And be sure to bring water…snowshoeing at altitude is a good workout, even on the easier trails. Snowshoe rentals and a cafeteria at Raven Lodge, the Nordic centre. Bring poles if you wish. Expect to be back on the 4:30 ferry.
Meeting Place QI Ferry terminal, carpooling to be determined
Departure Time 9 am ferry *** note new schedule will be in effect on the 18th!
Difficulty
 Easy trail to start
Costs Transportation costs and trail pass, adult $13, Snowshoe rental, full day, $21.
Trip limits None
Dogs? No
Notes: MUST confirm interest in this trip by Monday Feb 6 at 5 pm.
If you are renting, consider booking ahead on the Mt W website (call me if you have trouble navigating their site) You will need waterproof, comfortable boots or hiking boots and gaiters, or you can rent gaiters as well. Bring your own poles if you wish.
Please contact me if you have not snowshoed , or have not snowshoed at Mt W, before and have any questions or concerns about this trip.

Trip Report – ERT Loop – 14 Dec 2022

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We had 10 for this quite long, unusual walk through Campbell River.  Unfortunately the original organizer, Vic, wasn’t feeling well, but wanted the trip to go ahead.  After taking the 9:00 ferry, we walked through town to the ERT (Elk River Timber) trail head and then followed this level route, which feels quite remote even though it is in the city.  Some of the forest is slated for development, so that may change.  There was some hard compacted snow under foot, which was being plowed as we walked.  The ERT leads directly into the Beaverlodge Lands.  There are many well marked trails through this forest and we didn’t have a firmly defined route.  The vague plan was to cross the major road further north and continue through residential areas down to Willow Point.  However, some combination of snow on the side trails and general inattention resulted in us exiting the forest near the Hilchey Rd intersection, so we walked down that noisy, urban road, where the side walks were mostly unshovelled.  

Most of us went for lunch at Daves’ Bakery, where the sandwiches are excellent.  Half of the group decided not to walk back to the ferry, with four taking the bus, which was a first for everyone.  The remaining five walked back along the sea walk paralleling Discovery Passage.  This was snow-free, easy walking along a developed promenade.  This walking group returned to Quadra on the 2:30 ferry.  For the Outdoor Club this is a very unique and varied hike. (11.4 km; 2¾  hours to Daves’ Bakery and 7.1 km and 1½ hours from there to the ferry terminal)  

Debbie  
 
Thanks to Norris and Rob for the photos
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – ERT Trail – 14 Dec 2022

Hiking – ERT Trail – 14 Dec 2022

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Activity Hiking
Destination ERT (Elk River Timber) Trail
Date 14 Dec 2022, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg Vic Gladish
Contact Info debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca or 3710 vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-285-2111; text 250-287-0459
Description A Campbell River ramble, easy walking but long distance, approximately 15 km.
We will walk on 0900 ferry from the Cove, wend our way through town to ERT north trailhead at 14th and Maple, ERT to Beaverlodge trails to Willow Point Park Sportsplex trails to Seawalk, Seawalk to Willow Point for lunch (Socal or Miki’s?), Seawalk back to ferry terminal or experience CR Transit system. Rain or shine. 9 am ferry from QI, estimated 3:30 or 4:30 ferry return.
Meeting Place Q Cove Ferry Terminal
Departure Time 9:00
Difficulty
 Easy walking over a long distance
Costs None, except lunch and the ferry if you are under 65.
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: This is a long walk, mostly on pavement.
Please contact the coordinator by Monday 12th.

Trip Report – Forbidden Plateau – 21 Sept 2022

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Four enthusiastic hikers enjoyed an absolutely perfect Fall Equinox Day as we hiked in Paradise Meadows/Forbidden Plateau. Our ultimate destination was Kwai Lake, via the circle route through Paradise Meadows and past Lake Helen Mackenzie. Taking the 8 am ferry, we were on the trail by 9:20 am.

We enjoyed a pleasant break at Lake Helen Mackenzie with stunningly beautiful reflections of the surrounding hills.  Debbie had wisely suggested we go counter-clockwise, as we always seem to go clockwise when hiking in this area. Even though this meant going uphill on the dreaded “Helen Mackenzie headwall”, it was still better than stumbling down the steep, rooty, eroded trail at the end of a long hike.

We were not the only ones enjoying the early autumn sunshine, as the number of cars in the parking lot attested. We encountered several backpackers on their way out, two school groups camping in the backcountry group camps, and many day-hikers like ourselves.  At Kwai Lake we found a quiet grassy area on the southwest shore for lunch, away from a large school group taking their break on the rocky outcropping on the opposite shore.  After lunch, we completed the circle, passing Croteau, Lady, Kooso and Battleship Lakes. Some sections of this circle route are boardwalk, protecting wetlands and tree roots, the rest varies from pleasant forest paths to very eroded, rooty trails.  About 6½ hours, approximately 17 km.

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Valerie and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Strathcona Park – 21 Sept 2022

Hiking – Strathcona Park – 21 Sept 2021

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Activity Hiking
Destination Strathcona Park
Date 21 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie Van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca
Description Celebrate the fall equinox on the beautiful Forbidden Plateau, Strathcona Park. Starting from Raven Lodge we will aim for Kwai Lake following well-established trails. A full day – about 20 km return. Maybe a group dinner in CR? Weather dependent.
Meeting Place QCove ferry terminal to arrange carpools as desired
Departure Time 8:00 am ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate to challenging due to length
Costs Ferry
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Must be on leash in the Park
Notes: This trip is weather dependent. Must contact coordinator by Monday evening, Sept. 19.

Reconnaissance Report – Victoria Peak Ridge – 20 Aug 2022

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We did this hike on impulse after the destination we had wanted was unavailable due to a locked gate on a logging road.  From Quadra it’s quite long as a day trip.  The drive from Campbell River was nearly 6 hours round trip.  And it was a very hot day.  Normally this is a route for climbers on their way to Victoria Peak, but we were after a hike to the sub-alpine with good views.  Forty-eight kilometres out from Sayward, we turned onto W79, which is signed as the road to Victoria Peak. This road is in decent condition and winds its way up fairly steeply.  There were 16 cross ditches, none of which were impossible, but it was very slow going.  After a while we decided to walk, but we could have driven another 2½ kilometres.  From the trailhead to the ridge it’s short, but quite steep.  A typical climbing access route, the path to the ridge rises 213 m over 713 m, for about a 30% incline.

Wandering along the sub-alpine ridge is very pleasant.  It continues up for a bit more than a kilometre until the ridge is quite level and more distant views are revealed.  There was significant heat haze, making it tricky to see Quadra from the ridge and there was forest fire smoke to the west from lightening strikes the night before in the Nimpkish Valley.

After lunch and a bit of exploring on the ridge, we headed back down, going quite slowly in the heat.  ( 8.6 km; 658 m elevation gain)  Once back on the logging road toward Sayward, we stopped at the White River Provincial Park to walk through the old growth grove to the White River.

Debbie

(click on photos to enlarge)