We lined up at 8:00, to get on the 9:00 ferry for our Ripple Rock hike. After all the recent rain, we were almost giddy with delight at having a dry, sunny day. It took 20 minutes to drive north of Campbell River to the trailhead.

Our group of 9 set off amid lively conversations about recent and future travels. The trail was a bit muddy in sections, but otherwise good and easy to follow. We passed a few spectacular old growth trees and wondered why they were spared when trees around them were logged.

It is a popular trail and we met several other folks along the way and at the bluff. We ate lunch at the bluffs, looking over at Maud Island and watching tugs pull barges through Seymour Narrows.  8.7 km 4 hours with lunch stop

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Hiking – Ripple Rock Trail – 8 June 2022

Seven of us had a great day to hike up the trail along Mohun Creek and view the three Trout Falls.  The first falls is very near the trailhead on Menzies Main and was immediately rewarding.  There was lots of water flow with the wet spring we have been having.  We then followed the undulating forest trail to the middle falls, with the biggest height drop of the three.  The trail was in good condition and most winter windfall had been cleared.  We followed the short, steep section of trail to the top of the falls and continued to the third falls into the crack.  We stopped for lunch on a mossy bluff above the last falls, enjoying the view and gentle sunshine.  

The group decided it preferred a loop rather than returning along the creek, so we followed a good trail along the creek continuing upstream until it veered to join the Mary Lake logging road. This was an easy downhill ramble and we stopped to visit Mary Lake along the way.  The lake was lovely and quiet, but it is clearly heavily used at times.  We closed the loop with a short, undisturbed walk on Menzies Main and arrived at the vehicles just before a rain shower.  These are some of the most impressive falls in the Campbell River area and the trail is in good condition and well used.  It was a lovely spring outing.  (7.3 km; 3¼ hours)

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Hiking – Trout Creek Falls – 30 Mar 2022

On a bright and very cold morning, five of us hiked some of the trails on the east side of the Quinsam River.  We entered this complex trail system at Boneyard Bypass and rambled through the forest and ravines until we came out on a high bluff with great views of the Vancouver Island mountains and some warm sunshine.  Returning to the forest, we encountered a bit of snow before descending to the river bank.  This is a beautiful salmon river with a high bank to the west.

Our lunch stop was at the bench overlooking a bend in the river.  The bench is amazingly comfortable and perfectly situated to catch the mid-day sun.  Unfortunately the river is undercutting the bank beneath the bench and more bank was falling into the river during our brief stay.  We continued south and climbed back up to the high land, wandered along many trails with interesting names like Wind-Up, Slammin’ Salmon, Squirrel Run, Eagle Rest and Jade Dragon.  This route covered a variety of forest, open bluff and ravine edge for some dramatic terrain.  Completing a loop, we returned back along the same path.  On this beautiful day, there was something new on this trip for everyone, and for many it was the first visit.  (10.2 km; 3½ hours)

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Hiking – Quinsam River Trails – 23 Feb 2022