Category Archives: Vancouver Island

Reconnaissance Report – Raft Cove Provincial Park – 22-24 July 2025

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We had wanted to visit Raft Cove by boat from the Mackjack River for at least a decade.  The combination of adequate information, timing and weather never worked out until July 2025.

The launch site is now well known and quite popular.  After the short, gravel path, access to the river is down a wooden ladder.  We thought the shore would be muddy, but it’s more like sand.  It works best to depart just as the tide in the river peaks and turns to ebb. This allows the boats to go with the current and float over the fallen trees.  The paddle down the river was lovely and makes clear that we are in a temperate rainforest.  It was mostly sunny and very quiet except for the Kingfisher.  The weather at the beach was “coastal” – warm with soft clouds and not too windy.  We set up our tents on the beach.  There were quite a few others camping in the park, but the area is large and absorbs many.  The park infrastructure of tent pads, outhouses and food caches was quite good for a remote park.

We had no particular agenda for our middle day.  The morning cloud/fog lifted to a brilliant, sunny day.  We relaxed in camp and walked a lot on the long, sandy beach, visiting the arch and sea stack.  We walked the hiking trail to the parking lot.  This was not exactly part of the plan, but the recent drought and the trail upgrade in 2009-2010 made this a reasonable walk instead of a gymnastic exercise climbing over fallen trees and through mud pits.

We packed up on the third morning and paddled across the river to briefly explore the south side of the park.  Although it was a bit early for the rising tide, we went with the flood tide back up the river returning to the launch site and the vehicles.  There were a few hurdles, but we arrived before two canoes launched and six paddle boards arrived after us.  This is a beautiful, wild area, but at least in the summer, it isn’t complete wilderness and solitude.

Debbie

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Trip Report – Mt. Kitchener – 16 July 2025

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Because of the hot weather, we decided on an early start.  We caught the 7am ferry and drove to the Big Tree turnoff, then up the logging road to the trailhead.  We started hiking at 9 am.  The first half hour is a well-worn trail up through the forest, with some blow-down at the edge of the clear cut.  Then there is a rock band, with a short scrambling section.  From then on, it’s all open terrain, alpine or sub-alpine with amazing views.  We decided to do Mt. Kitchener first.  We had an early lunch and lingered there.  Initially there were clouds in the valleys to the north, and it gradually cleared.  Other than that, clear and cloudless, with some haze to the south.  We were amazed that we could see whitecaps in Johnstone Strait, more than 1,400 metres below us. and Mt. Waddington, about 125 km to the north.  After that we visited Mt. McCreight, and then descended to the vehicles.

(4.3 km; 5 hours; 450 m elevation gain)

Norris 

Thanks to Les and Norris for the photos

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Hiking – Mt. Kitchener – 16 July 2025

Trip Report – Woss Lookout and Little Huson Caves – 9-11 July 2025

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Five campers moved the trip dates forward one day due to rain forecast. This turned out to work very well as we only had showers one day and in the nighttime. We were going to camp at Woss Lake, but decided to check out Klaklakama Lake on the way and were very fortunate in getting the first place we stopped. After setting up camps, we had lunch and then proceeded to the Little Huson Caves. Atluck Creek has carved many sculpted images in complex shapes while running through Quatsino limestone. We first took a short walk and descended down the steep stairs to look at the River Cave from the north. The rocks were very slippery from the rain so we were not able to go below the platform and look into the cave. We then took the trail back up to the south opening where you could get down and look through the cave the opposite way. There are many places to explore here along the creek with beautifully shaped limestone. We also visited the Bridge Cave and then walked to Little Huson Lake. We then proceeded back to the campsite to have dinner and visit around the campfire.

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The next morning, we had a communal breakfast with blueberry pancakes, bacon, and devilled eggs. What a great way to start the day and fuel up for the hard hike up to Woss Lookout. From the parking area, we walked up the old logging road that is steep and has many loose rocks to the trailhead. This is a short steep hike with many ropes to help you up and over the rocks and roots. It was definitely a challenge to navigate up and even worse, coming back down due to the slick roots and rocks. At the summit, we enjoyed excellent views from the old restored lookout tower. You’re able to look up five different valleys from the top so you can see why this was such a good place for a fire tower. After descending, we drove back to camp to have another quiet evening by the lake.  (4.4 km, 3 hours, 375 m elevation gain, 35% in incline in the steep section)

Before heading home the next day, we visited the Upper Klaklakama rec site and walked the short nature loop with many fine old growth trees and some unusual trees like Pacific Yew and Amabilis fir.

Les

Thanks to Les, Jim and Norris for the photos

Multi-day Hiking – Woss Area – 8-10 July 2025

Hiking – Mt. Kitchener – 16 July 2025

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Kitchener
Date 16 July 2025, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday evening.
Description Mt. Kitchener is located northeast of Campbell River and south of Sayward in the Prince of Wales Range. The summit is 1,457m, but fortunately the first 1,000 m can be driven up, leaving about 500 m elevation gain.  The trail begins steeply through the forest and after a short scramble emerges onto a sub-alpine ridge.  As the the ridge gains height, the views appear on all directions.  We will visit Mt. McCreight (1,419 m) with some remembrances of the military plane crash from 1950.  We will continue on to Mt. Kitchener, but not visit the crash site. About 4.5 km or more if the group wants to explore; 4+ hours, plus the drive.
Meeting Place Q Cove Ferry terminal.
Departure Time 7:00 8:00 ferry.  If the weather is very hot, we may go earlier.
Difficulty
 Challenging, but not very long
Costs Shared ferry and fuel costs
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: This trip will require 4-wheel drive vehicles with some clearance.  We will not do this trip in poor weather.  Bring lunch and water.

Hiking – Century Sam – 12 July 2025

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This hike is postponed!

Activity Hiking
Destination Century Sam Lake
Date 12 July, Saturday
Trip Coordinator Louise Squire
Contact Info lsquire@sasktel.net
Description This trip is hard to schedule because it needs good weather and the access is through a gate which is only unlocked for 12 hours on Saturday and on Sunday. Mosaic says on Thursday if the gate. will be unlocked.  Once passed the gate, the access is via a logging road which eventually has water bars. The hike itself is on a heavily used, but not really maintained trail. The creek crossings are on logs. To the lake is about 8.3 km (return) and 400m elevation gain; to the ice caves is about 13.6 km (return) and 570m elevation gain. The hiking time may be about 7 hours. The trail will likely be very busy.
Meeting Place QCove ferry terminal
Departure Time 7:00  am ferry
Difficulty
 Challenging for the length of the day, altitude, elevation gain and poor quality of the trail.
Costs Ferry, shared fuel costs.
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No
Notes: We will not do this trip in poor weather.   Come prepared for mountain conditions.

Trip Report – Amor Lake – 21 May 2025

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Seven paddlers launched at Amor Lake, a little later than planned as the road seems considerably rougher than previously. We headed north from the boat launch to the campsite at the north end of the lake. The site boasts a shelter with picnic table and fire ring (not an official structure) installed when there was easier road access. Some ATV’s seem to be getting in, but the main access road from Blackwater Main is blocked now. After lunch, we headed to the portage trail at the east end of the lake for a planned walk up to Twin Lake. However, by then, the rain had started and the access point is both muddy and rocky, so we gave the portage hike a miss. After taking a short break at one of the sandy beaches on the west side of Amor, we paddled back to the boat launch, at which time the rain stopped. We were the only folks out, and enjoyed the quiet, if occasionally damp, conditions. Not too much wildlife – just a few loons which were not perturbed by our presence.  (13.4 km, 4¼ hr)

Darcy

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Kayaking – Amor Lake -21 May 2025

Multi-day Hiking – Woss Area – 8-10 July 2025

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Activity Multi-day camping and hiking
Destination Woss Area
Date 8-10 July 2025, Tuesday to Thursday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029 or lhquadra@gmail.com
Description The activities for this trip may change depending on the people that go. We will definitely be doing the Huson Caves that is easy and the Woss fire tower lookout that is a hard steep climb. There is the Woss River trail and Schoen Park that we may check out, as well as Mount Cain. Depending on the interest of the group, we could also do a paddle with canoe or kayaks.
Meeting Place QCove ferry terminal; be at the ferry terminal early enough for the 8:30
Departure Time 8:30 ferry
Difficulty Easy to hard
Cost Ferries, fuel
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes:

Trip Report – Ripple Rock Trail – 13 May 2025

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Three of us and two dogs hiked out from trailhead at Highway 19 to the viewpoint overlooking former Ripple Rock. Blasted in 1958, it was the largest non nuclear blast up until that time. It was a beautiful sunny day with slight breeze so temperature was ideal for hiking. With no significant rainfall for awhile the trail was dry with no mud or slippery sections. We walked the trail at a good pace with dogs helping us along. The whole route out and back was 9 km and took 3 hours and 6 minutes, with a 15 to 20 minute break for a snack at Ripple Rock viewpoint. The last uphill stretch to parking lot was a bit exhausting, but welcome once there.

Allan
 
Thanks to Allan for the photos
 

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Hiking – Ripple Rock Trail – 13 May 2025

Trip Report – Trout Creek Falls – 7 May 2025

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On a sunny spring day, nine hikers drove out Menzie’s Main to the start of the trail. There is a easy place to park just before and after the bridge over Mohun Creek, which used to be called Trout Creek. It is only a short walk to the first of three waterfalls. The first is impressive, but smaller. The trail has lots of rocks and roots in it so you must be careful not to trip. The trail has been used extensively already this spring. As you hike up the trail, there are many pools and rapid areas that are very picturesque. The second waterfall is the highest and very beautiful. The trail is very steep here so you need to be careful not to slip. The third waterfall is short but very impressive as it drops over a rock face and then makes a sharp right down a rocky ravine before it drops more. We carried on and had lunch on the rock bluff above the waterfall. After lunch we hiked out to the old logging road, stopped briefly at Mary Lake and then returned to the vehicles.
7 km in about three hours

Les
 
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Hiking – Trout Creek Falls Loop – 7 May 2025

Hiking – Ripple Rock – 13 May 2025

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Activity Hiking
Destinatio Ripple Rock Trail, Campbell River
Date 13 May, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Allan Liimatta
Contact Info allanliimatta@gmail.com; 1 250 416 9338
Description Ripple Rock Trail starts 16 km north of Campbell River. It is a moderate hike through a lovely forest. The trail undulates over 9 km (RT), taking 4 to 4.5 hours return. There are several metal bridges, and a 47-step staircase near the top.
Meeting Place QCove ferry line up
Departure Time 10:00 ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs Ferry and gas
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Bring a leash.
Notes: Please arrange your own carpools. Bring a lunch and dress for the weather.