Kayaking Training – Mine Lake – 29 June 2016

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Activity Kayak training and refresher course
Destination Mine Lake
Date 29 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Darcy Mitchell and Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca.
Description Doug Taylor, Paddle Canada kayak skills instructor, will provide training (or skills review) in assisted rescue, self-rescue and bracing (techniques to avoid kayak capsize). Depending on the number of registrants and their background and experience, we may have one session for those without prior training, and one for those with training in these skills. Assignment of individuals to particular sessions will take place once registration is complete; if most people are looking only for skills review, we may not be able to offer basic training in this session. Contact Val van Veen at the email address given above to be sent a registration form that will include requested information about your current skills level and completed training.
Meeting Place Mine Lake boat launch/ beach access, 2 km beyond Village Bay Lake
Departure Time Session 1 – 8:30 am; Session 2 – 12:30 pm
Difficulty
 NA
Costs $55 per person
Trip limits 10 (5 per session)
Dogs? no
Notes: Space is very limited and participants will be registered on a first-come, first served basis. Deadline for mailing the registration form with payment is 8 June.

Multi-day Kayaking – Carrington Bay – 12-14 June 2016

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 CANCELLED

Activity Multi-day Kayaking
Destination Carrington Bay, Cortes Island
Date 12-14 June 2016, Sunday to Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info 250-285-2393.  Please contact the coordinator by June 1st.
Description We will leave on the 10:50 a.m. ferry to Cortes. Drive over to Coulter Bay and launch from there. A nice paddle to Carrington Bay, to set-up our tents at the tent site. Explore Quartz Bay/Penn Islands. After dinner we can explore Grandma’s Grove plus the trails in Carrington Bay Park, which has a rich homesteading history along with a gorgeous lagoon. Next day paddle to Von Donop Inlet to explore.
Planning to leave Tuesday afternoon, returning to Quadra. Time either 3:50/5:50p.m. ferry.
Meeting Place Cortes ferry line-up
Departure Time 10:15 for the 10:50 ferry
Difficulty
 Moderate to difficult, weather dictates the difficulty.  Some exposed crossings.
Costs Ferry and gas cost.
Trip limits Must have kayak rescue skills.
Dogs? no
Notes: I will organize car-pooling and pot-luck dinners. Bring your own breakfasts, lunches and water for three day’s.
Ocean kayak and all necessary safety equipment, camping equipment, walking boots.

Hiking – Open Bay – Big Beach Creek forests – 22 June 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Open Bay – Big Beach Creek forests
Date 22 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie
Contact Info 285-2329 or vvv@qisland.ca.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description North Island people can meet at intersection of Hyacinthe Bay Rd and Granite Bay Rd. We will make the loop that was identified in a few explorations this winter/spring, using trails, routes, and logging roads. Be prepared for some bushwhacking. About 3-4 hours of hiking. Bring snack/lunch. Alternative may be arranged if raining.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Parking Lot at 10 am; Granite Bay Rd. intersection at 10:15
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must be under control at all times
Notes:

Hiking – Ripple Rock – 20 June 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Ripple Rock
Date 20 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie
Contact Info 285-2329 or vvv@qisland.ca.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description 8 km round trip. A moderate to challenging hike on the improved Ripple Rock Trail to see the famous Ripple Rock site from the other side (if you have already done Maud Island). Bring lunch. Return on 3:30 or 4:30 ferry expected.
Meeting Place Meet at ferry to carpool if arrangements not already made.
Departure Time 09:00 ferry to Campbell River
Difficulty
 Moderate, some steep sections
Costs Ferry costs
Trip limits none
Dogs? Must be on leash
Notes: Good trail/hiking shoes recommended. Cancelled if raining.

Kayaking – Open Bay – 6 June 2016

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Activity Kayaking
Destination Open Bay
Date 6 June 2016, Monday
Trip Coordinator Valerie
Contact Info 250-285-2329 or vvv@qisland.ca.  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip.
Description This will be an intermediate paddle. Depending on currents, weather, we could paddle to/around the Bretons, Moulds Bay, Village Bay, into Hoskyn Channel. Lunch stop to be determined enroute.
Meeting Place Launch site, Breton Rd, Open Bay
Departure Time 10:00 (arrive around 9:30 to prepare)
Difficulty
 intermediate, strong  winds and currents possible
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Participants must be prepared for wind and strong currents; kayaks must be ocean kayaks equipped for ocean conditions. If access road is wet we will have to carry/trundle kayaks down a short hill to the beach. Meet at launch site (end of Breton Road) after 9:30 to be on water by 10 am.

Hiking – Surge Narrows – 1 June 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Surge Narrows
Date 1 June 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 285-3978.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description We will hike the trail to the Surge Narrows viewpoint.  There will be nearly a 9 knot flood current at 11:00.  We will continue on the unmaintained route for additional views of the rapids.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools
Departure Time 09:00
Difficulty
 easy
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? yes
Notes:

Hiking – Stramberg Old Growth – 25 May 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Stramberg Old Growth
Date 25 May 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info 285-3614.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description This trail begins near Village Bay Lake and follows open meadows leading into and through the forest on old, unmaintained logging roads.  The reward at the end of the hike is a grove of old growth firs.  This is not an official trail.  Expect blow-down and brush. About 13 km; 5 hours or more.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools
Departure Time 09:00
Difficulty
 moderate, due to unmaintained trail and quite long
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs? yes
Notes: Bring lunch and water.

Trip Report – Gowlland Harbour – 2 May 2016

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Thirteen members left Gowlland Harbour Resort on a bright, sunny, calm day for a tour around North and South Gowlland Harbour. Many thanks to resort manager Carmen for allowing us to launch there. We paddled north first toward the log dump and sorting area. There was a lone buck on one of the islands and two otters playing on a dock for entertainment. Some members had not realized how much activity goes on in the log sort. We then paddled to the old shipwreck off May Island and had lunch on the island. The snow-capped peaks of Strathcona Park were stunning against the blue sky.

Next we went to Vigilant Island and watched many seals playing. From here we traveled down the east side of Gowlland Island to the narrow opening into April Point Bay. A few of us tried our skills in the current and found it can be hard in cross current. A word of caution to anyone that does not know this area, the current is not always running the same way as it is outside in Discovery Passage and can be quite fast.

We then paddled around the south end of Gowlland Harbour and up by Stag and Fawn Island. The Sea Blush bloom was early this year, but some flowers were still to be seen. We arrived back at launch site about four hours and 6.5 nautical miles after having left. All and all, it was a stunning day.

Les

Note:  Special thanks from all of the participants to Les for the delicious prawns, smoked salmon, cheese and wine contribution to our picnic lunch.

Here is the bird list for the day:

Horned Grebe
Glaucous-winged Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
California Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose
Mallard Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
Northwest Crow
Common Raven
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Spotted Towee
Townsend’s Warbler

(click on photos to view larger)

Kayak – Gowlland Harbour – 2 May 2016

Trip Report – Snowden Demonstration Forest – 27 Apr 2016

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Five members explored the trails in the Snowden Demonstration Forest. Because the road over the dam is closed due to of construction, the access is via Duncan Bay Road (access map available at Outdoor Addictions), but the roads are good. We parked at the Lost Lake parking area and hiked around Lost Lake. We stopped for a snack on the eastern viewpoint and had lunch at the western viewpoint. The forest has quite an open understory, and there were trillium and other early wildflowers. The trails and routes we used were named Mudhoney Pass, Sanitarium, Scotty’s, T’aint, Riley Lake, and Tri Mac. The trail map is available at the Outdoor Addictions store or online at https://gocampbellriver.com/files/MapsForDownload/Snowden_Forest_Trail_Map.pdf

The trails range from flat grades that used to be logging railroad lines to walks along moss covered rocky ridges. We didn’t see anyone else while we walked. It was a very enjoyable walk, and it barely scratched the surface of what is available there. 7.6 km, 3.5 hours.

Norris

(click on photos to view larger)

Hiking – Snowden Demonstration Forest – 27 Apr 2016

Hiking – Mt. Seymour logging roads- 13 May 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Seymour logging roads
Date 13 May 2016, Friday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the trip coordinator prior to the trip.
Description We will hike around Mt. Seymour on old logging roads and flagged routes.  There are several lovely small lakes along the way.  The route goes up around the backside (west) of the mountain but does not go to the summit.  There are some good viewpoints on the north side. A car shuffle will be done.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot, to arrange carpools
Departure Time 09:00
Difficulty
 moderate but long
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: 14.3 km.  The logging road going up is very rough walking.  Once we are high, the logging roads are mostly flat and easy, but not maintained.  There may be wet places and bugs.