Hiking – Heriot Ridge Loop – 21 Oct 2015

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 Postponed to Oct 22

Activity Hiking
Destination Heriot Ridge Loop
Date 22 October 2015, Thursday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 285-3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description There are at least three loops to choose from, depending on the interest of the group:  the Heriot Ridge route, the Hope Spring and Thompson Trail Loop, or the loop that includes Rousseau Ridge, logging roads and the B&B trail.  All possibilities include views and lovely forest walks.
Meeting Place TBD
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch.

 

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 12 Oct 2015

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 Postponed to 14 October

Activity Hiking
Destination Morte Lake Loop
Date 12 October 2015, Monday
14 October 2105, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info 285-3710 or norris.weimer@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description This is a classic hike circumnavigating Morte Lake.  We may vary the route and take some of the new trails on the ridge south of the Lake.  4 to 5 hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate.  Maintained trail, possibly mountain bike trails and flagged routes.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch

 

Hiking – Beech’s Mtn – 27 Sept 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Beech’s Mtn
Date 27 September 2015, Sunday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info 285-3710 or debbie.quigg@ualberta.ca; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will start on the Chinese Mtn trail and continue on to Beech’s Mtn.  The trail is quite steep and winds through forest and onto rocky bluffs with great views.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch and walking poles, if you use them.

 

Trip Report – Mine & Main Lakes – 9 Sept 2015

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Six club members enjoyed a relaxed day at the Lakes. We launched from the Mine Lake boat ramp at 10:00 and paddled around the Main Lake islands, landing at the sandy beach at the east end of the lake about 11:45. After lunch, most of the group walked the trail to Yeatman Bay, picking mushroom along the way. We returned to the boat ramp at 2:30. On this calm, mainly sunny day, we had the lakes almost to ourselves. It was a very pleasant early fall outing (with a small bonus of chanterelles…).

Darcy Mitchell, coordinator

(click on photos to view larger)

Kayaking – Main Lakes Provincial Park – 9 Sept 2015

Hiking – Ripple Rock- 16 Sept 2015

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 POSTPONED

Activity Hiking
Destination Ripple Rock
Date 16 Sept 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca, 250 285 2329; please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description interesting hike to view the other side of the famous site of the Ripple Rock (we see it from Maud Island).
Meeting Place ferry parking lot at 9:30
Departure Time 10 am ferry; meet at  ferry parking lot at 9:30 to carpool
Difficulty
 moderate, some steep sections, stairs.
Costs ferry costs shared
Trip limits none
Dogs? on leash and/or under control at all times
Notes: a moderate hike but with some steep sections, and many stairs over previous rock scrambles; possible to do even if light rain; bring  lunch; about 4 hr hike and I hr driving total; expect to return on 4:30 ferry

 

Hiking – Mt. Seymour – 23 September 2015

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 Postponed to October 7 and then postponed again

Activity Hiking
Destination Mt. Seymour
Date 23 September 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Julie Mellanby
Contact Info 285-3978; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description This is a great hike with wonderful views on a clear day.  It’s a steady climb up old logging roads, until the trail branches off and follows open bluffs and forest to the summit at 620 m, the highest point on Quadra Island. We will then descend by the same route.  Four to five hours.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store for car pooling
Departure Time 9:30
Difficulty
 moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring lunch

 

Trip Report – Far West Wall – 5 Sept 2015

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The Chinese Mountains have recently become a popular climbing area.  On the down side, the trailhead parking lot is now often full (there are plans to fix the road into it and expand the parking lot), but on the plus side, there are new trails to explore and new viewpoints opened up.   On this trip, ten of us explored the path to what was called “Far West Wall” last year.  The new name is “Eagle Crag” because some climbers found an eagle’s nest on it.  The trip is short, only 4.4 km round trip, half on official trails and half on the new path.  And there is a section about 200 meters long where it is easy scrambling and not walking, where the path goes up a series of small ledges to reach the top of the crag.  There is about 200 metres elevation gain in total.  The view from the top of the crag goes from Morte Lake and Little Morte Lake, about 180 degrees to the south end of Cortes Island.  The view from the bottom of the crag is pretty good too.

For climbers, the guide book to this area is Philip Stone’s “Quadra Island Rock Climbs”,
http://www.wildisle.ca/quadrarockclimbs/

There are also some maps and photos online which show the climbing areas and the access paths to them.
http://www.quadraisland.ca/adventure-recreation-tours/rock-climbing/chinese-mountains.html

Norris

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Hiking – Far West Wall – 2 Sept 2015

Kayaking – Open Bay & Hoskyn Channel – 12 Sept 2015

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 CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

Activity Kayaking
Destination Open Bay and Hoskyn Channel
Date 12 September 2015, Saturday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info vvv@qisland.ca, 250 285 2329;
Please contact the coordinator not later than Thursday.
Description Paddle to explore the islands/islets in Hoskyn Channel: the Bretons and King Islets
Meeting Place End of Breton Road, Open Bay to determine which launch site to use, alt is end of Valdez
Departure Time Meet at 10:00 am
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate, depending on wind/weather. Go/nogo will be made after 4:30pm marine forecast on Sept 11.
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? no
Notes: Plan to be back at launch by 4 pm at latest. Bring lunch, snacks. Lunch might be early on in trip due to lack of beaches beyond the Bretons

Hiking – Elk Falls – 30 Sept 2015

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Activity Hiking
Destination Elk Falls and Campbell River
Date 30 Sept 2015, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Emily Toman
Contact Info emitoman@shaw.ca or 250-923-7122; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will take the 9:00 ferry to Campbell River.   It’s possible to do a loop around the Campbell River and Elk Falls, including the new suspension bridge and the upper falls.  This hike includes some great views and sections of old growth forest.   It’s about 12 km round trip with some steep sections.  The trail has a very good surface.
Meeting Place Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River.  Car pools should be arranged in advance.
Departure Time Those taking cars need to be early enough to get on the 9:00 ferry.
Difficulty
 easy to moderate
Costs ferry
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay, but must be on a leash at all times.
Notes: Bring lunch

 

Trip Report – Bedwell Lake & Myra Falls – 25-27 Aug 2015

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Five energetic souls headed up to Ralph River Campground. Our first night was settling into this very lovely campground and exploring the local area. Ralph River campground is quite a beautiful campground in that it has large private sites with many very large old growth trees. It is also not very busy especially during the week.

We set out the next morning to do our main hike to Baby Bedwell and beyond. The weather was coolish which was an advantage in our 600 meter elevation gain hike. The trail is man made and quite rough with lots of loose rocks and switchbacks. It passes through many beautiful areas of forest and river crossings before it reaches the sub alpine. We had the joy of sighting a very large black bear having his morning berry pick. He observed us without fear and kept vigilant without stopping his lunch.

We arrived at Baby Bedwell Lake, one of the most beautiful sub alpine areas. A delightful swim and lunch was enjoyed here. Three members of the team carried on to Bedwell Lake campground, a further 2 hour hike. Five tired hikers got back to Ralph River Campground for our usual delightful pot luck dinner. Car camping has its advantages!

The next day, after a more leisurely start and breaking camp, we headed to Upper Myra Falls. This was a delightful 6 km walk through beautiful old growth forest (once we got through the waste lands of the mine) to Upper Myra Falls which was spectacular with its beautiful aqua blue pools.

The group split at this point, some went exploring Lower Myra Falls, while the others sought out a swimming spot on Buttle Lake. It was a very enjoyable three days spent in a very beautiful area so close to home.

Sheelagh

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Hiking – Ralph River – 25-27 August 2015