Hiking – Canyon View and Elk Falls – 23 April 2025

Activity Hiking
Destination Canyon View Trail and Elk Falls, Campbell River
Date 23 April, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329 vvv@qisland.ca (cell) 778 242 5774
Description Hopefully we will still see some spring flowers along this lovely, newly refurbished trail that follows the Campbell River. Weather permitting, we will then head uphill to the Elk Falls Park. Lunch at Elk Falls, return on River Trail. We will start from the parking lot on the north side of the river across the “log” bridge.
Meeting Place Q Cove Ferry terminal.
Departure Time 10:00 ferry
Difficulty
Moderate
Costs Ferry
Trip limits None
Dogs? On leash; warning.. the ramps and bridge at Elk Falls are made of metal grids that are hard on dogs’ feet
Notes: Bring lunch. We will hike at a leisurely pace to really enjoy this beautiful area. Unless extreme weather, we will at least do the Canyon View Trail. About 2 – 4 hours, 5 – 10 km depending on route. Carpool from ferry if wanted.

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 12 Mar 2025

Since the planned paddle was cancelled due to a wind forecast, we switched to a snowshoe trip.  And the weather at Mt. Washington was a surprise – sunshine and 18 cm fresh snow.  Three of us went up Great Big View following a broken track, then we went on Finger Glades.  The snow and the views were great.  We stopped for lunch and shortly after the broken track ended.  We decided to continue anyway and the route carried on and up.  Eventually we joined a track left by skiers for a while.  Then we were breaking trail again.  We followed the wands for Marmot’s Mess in the wrong direction until we cut cross-county back to the Great Big View trail. Jim was the champion trail breaker and super fixer of a broken crampon.
(5.7 km, 4 hours, 275m ascent)

Norris

Thanks to Jim and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Snow – Mt. Washington – 12 March 2025

Previously scheduled on March 3rd.

Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 12 March, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Saturday evening
Description We will head uphill from the Nordic centre taking the trails for Big View and Finger Glades.  Some sections are quite steep. About 5.5 km, 250 m elevation gain, 3.5-4 hours.  Snowshoes can be rented if needed and there is a $16 day pass that is required.
Meeting Place Quathiaski Cove Ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:30 ferry
Difficulty
Moderate
Costs Ferry, fuel and $16 Day Pass
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: There is a lot of recent snow on the mountain now.. Bring lunch and gear appropriate for the weather.

Trip Report – Nymph Falls to Comox Lake – 27 Jan 2025

This was a very popular hike because we had never done it before and the weather was beautiful and crisp.  Thirteen of us took the ferry and then drove to the Comox Valley, parking at the Nymph Falls Nature Park.  We briefly walked down stream along the Puntledge River to view the falls, with its rock ledges and wide span.  We then followed the well constructed and maintained trail upstream to the weir, past the islands, through the mature forest and meandering trail, arriving at the dam.

Conveniently, there were picnic tables mostly in the sun for our lunch.  We wandered out to the bridge on the Comox Main logging road for a narrow view of Comox Lake and watched a guy jump into the frigid January water.  We then turned back and mostly returned by the same route, with a few short-cuts.  The group enjoyed the great weather, easy walking, the new scenery and the sociability. 14.2 km; 4½ hours.

Debbie 

Thanks to Jim and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Nymph Falls to Comox Lake – 27 Jan 2025

Snow – Mt. Washington – 6 Feb 2025

This trip was cancelled

Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 6 Feb, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Louise Squire
Contact Info lsquire@sasktel.net or 306-539-3813
Description Mt Washington snowshoe excursion leaving from Raven Lodge through the meadows, passing by Battleship Lake and Helen MacKenzie Lake to return. Approx distance of 7.5 kmAs Thursday is Cortes guaranteed sailing, we will be taking the 8:30 ferry to Campbell River. Snowshoes can be rented if needed and there is a $16 day pass that is required.
Meeting Place Quathiaski Cove Ferry terminal
Departure Time 8:30 ferry.
Difficulty
Moderate.
Costs Ferry, fuel and $16 Day Pass
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: We will not go if rain is forecast at 1,000m. Bring lunch and gear appropriate for the weather.

Hiking – Nymph Falls to Comox Lake – 27 Jan 2025

This trip is full as of 22 Jan 2025.  Please contact the coordinator to waitlist.

Activity Hiking
Destination Nymph Falls to Comox Lake
Date 27 Jan 2025, Monday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710
Description We can explore the Nymph Falls Nature Park, with views of the sculpted rocks in the Puntledge River and a system of trails, before we take the wide trail upstream to the dam.  This trail leaves the provincial park and enters BC Hydro territory. About 13.5 km and 5 hours, or longer depending on the Park exploration
Meeting Place Q Cove Ferry terminal.  Please arrange your carpool in advance.
Departure Time 9:30 ferry
Difficulty
Easy, but fairly long
Costs Ferry costs
Trip limits 10
Dogs?  
Notes: Bring lunch and gear for the weather.

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 8 Jan 2025

Seven of us put on snowshoes and wandered around the Mt. Washington official snowshoe trails in two groups, one more ambitious than the other.  The day was sunny and warm and the trees were raining as the snow in the trees melted.  There were the sounds of “tree bombs” around us as clumps of snow also fell out of the trees.

The more ambitious group did Rossiter’s Rise, Tree Beard, Crooked Creek, Lookout and some of Old Cabin Loop .  (7.3 km, 3.5 hours, 215m ascent)

Norris

Thanks to Jim and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Snow – Mt. Washington – 8 Jan 2025

Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 8 Jan, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will follow some of the Mt. Washington snowshoe trails leaving from Raven Lodge.
Meeting Place Quathiaski Cove Ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 ferry.
Difficulty
Easy to moderate.
Costs Transportation costs and trail pass. The price of a snow shoe day pass is $16.
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch as we may not eat at Raven lodge.  Have reliable equipment and winter gear.  Expect warm conditions

Trip Report – Snowden Demonstration Forest – 4 Dec 2024

Snowden Demonstration Forest is a working forest, but also it’s very popular with trail bikers, who have built an extensive network of trails.  Ten of us sampled some of those trails on a foggy day.  
 
Starting at Lost Lake parking, to Mudhoney Pass 🟦, to Lost Lake trail 🟢.  Lunch at the Lost Lake picnic shelter.  Then TriMac 🟢, Riley Lake 🟦, and Oggies , to Riley Lake parking and finally a new trail (unnamed on our maps) back to the cars. (7.3 km; 3 hours)
 
The trail development is so fast, some of our maps and apps were out of date..
  
Norris 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Snowden Demonstration Forest – 4 Dec 2024

 

Trip Report – Baikie Estuary – 6 Nov 2024

After heavy rains and wind on Quadra earlier in the week, complete with power outages, nine of us met a tenth walker at Spruce and 19th to start our walk. Our first block was along an interesting row of river front houses and then a view of a few of Alex Witcombe’s driftwood sculptures near an informative plaque about local wildlife at the river edge.

Then it was up and over the bridge to the Raven trail that follows the estuary and across a number of wooden bridges. Spawning Chum could be seen at many vantage points and as we strolled out to the mill pond, we got a glimpse of many water fowl.

We came upon a recently reconstructed section near the information board and were greeted by a very informative worker who was in the process of hand bombing thousands of trees to bring the island back to where it was before industry. The Greenway Land Trust and Wei Wa Kum have put years, months and many hours into reclaiming this once very industrial area and their efforts are really starting to show.

This short 5K walk only minutes from Campbellton offers everyone a great way to enjoy our surroundings with very little effort as the trails are wide and very accessible. We ended with a fine meal at More Eatery and we headed home without any rain.  (4.7 km; 1½ hours for the walk)

Neil U

Thanks to Neil and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Baikie Estuary – 6 Nov 2024