Hike – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 4 Sept 2024

Posted on August 30, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Hiking with swim
Destination	Nugedzi Lakes and Views
Date	4 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator	Vic Gladish
Contact Info	vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-9459 text
Description	Hike up a steep, eroded, old logging road and meander through open forest to the lovely Nugedzi Lakes. We will also take two or three side trips to viewpoints looking northeast, southeast and west. Nugedzi Lake is a great place for lunch and a swim. About 11 km and 5½ hours.
Meeting Place	Quadra Community Centre. NOTE – NOT Heriot Bay Store.
Departure Time	10:00
Difficulty	Moderate due to steep, rutted approach.
Costs	Nil
Trip limits	10
Dogs?	No
Notes:	Bring lunch and swim wear if you want to swim. This is a view hike and will not be done in poor weather. Carpooling – if I can arrange carpools by phone or message, we can skip the meet up and go straight to trailhead.

Hiking – Beech’s Mountain – 11 Sept 2024

Posted on August 29, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Beech’s Mountain
Date	11 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator	Allan Liimatta
Contact Info	250 416 9338 (text) or allanliimatta @ gmail.com
Description	Hike to top of Beech’s Mountain with excellent views of coast and Vancouver Island mountains, weather depending. Also views of Campbell River and Drew Harbour. The trail is uphill with elevation gain of 1200 ft. Lots of rock on trail with some sections to scramble up. In and out about 2.5 to 3 hours with lunch break at summit.
Meeting Place	Chinese Mountain trailhead
Departure Time	10:00
Difficulty	Moderate to difficult
Costs	None
Trip limits	10
Dogs?	No
Notes:

Trip Report – Kanish Bay – 22 Aug 2024

Posted on August 28, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

The planned three day outing, once again, became a day trip thanks to the weather. Waiting out the rainy weather, at home, paid off with an exceptional Kanish Bay day. We (seven paddlers) put in late in the morning on the low tide and headed out through Granite Bay for Orchard Bay where we took our lunch break.

After lunch, on calm seas, we continued westward on the north shore of Kanish Bay. We lingered at the pictograph cliffs and then, just before Granite Pt., made the decision to turn south and head across the mouth of the bay. A slight northwest breeze rippled the water as we headed for the Chained Islands. After two hours of paddling we took a much needed 10 minute break.

With tide and breeze in our favour, we headed east and worked our way back to the Granite Bay boat launch. As the tide was close to its high point, the takeout was made much easier, topping off a very good day of paddling.

Very little wildlife was spotted on this outing – a few small fish jumping, a murrelet, a few gulls.

(8.3 NM 4 hrs paddling)

Vic

(Click on photos to enlarge)

: Launching at Granite Bay

: Very low tide

: Shell beach islet

: Kanish Bay

: Arriving at Orchard Bay

: The lunch break

: On the shallow clam garden

: Bald Eagle

: Pictograph cliffs

: Faint pictograph

: Break at the Chained Islands

Kayaking – Granite Bay and Beyond – 22 Aug 2024

Kayaking – Granite Bay and beyond- 22 Aug 2024

Posted on August 19, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

Activity	Kayaking
Destination	Granite Bay/ Kanish Bay/ Small Inlet
Date	22 Aug, Thursday
Trip Coordinator	Vic Gladish
Contact Info	vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459
Description	Paddle into Kanish Bay and/or into Small Inlet. About 4 to 5 hours depending on what we decide to do. Bring a lunch.
Meeting Place	Granite Bay boat launch
Departure Time	Meet at 8:45; on the water by 9:15
Difficulty	Easy to moderate depending on the weather.
Costs	Launch fee – $5.00
Trip limits	8
Dogs?	No
Notes:	The tide will be very low in the middle of the day. Be sure to read our paddling guidelines and make sure you are properly outfitted.

Trip Report – Quathiaski Cove – 9 Aug 2024

Posted on August 11, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

Ten members of the Club gathered at the Quathiaski Cove boat launch at 1830 on a beautiful summer evening. Eight paddlers launched their kayaks and we left two onshore as they had no paddles!

On calm seas we set out on a flood tide for the green blinker by the seal rocks near Grouse Island. As the currents and very light wind presented no concerns we paddled out of the Cove and along the length of Grouse Is. and then across the gap to the north shore of Q Cove. The Discovery Passage currents were pretty benign so we continued on to the cliff to view the now deserted Guillemot (a small jet-black seabird) colony and its “whitewashed” rockface. As we turned to the south, we could feel the tide carrying us in that direction and we headed back into the Cove, over a boulder field, under the watchful eye of the local eagles.

With the sun getting lower in the smoky skies, the golden hour was upon us as we rounded the corner into Unkak Cove and paddled its very shallow waters. The many crabs and small fishes (sculpins?) scurrying along the bottom were just a foot or two below us. The rising tide allowed us to get very close to the end of the cove where we turned 180 and headed south once again.

We left Unkak Cove and paddled past the numerous docks and buildings adjacent to the old ferry landing and then crossed back over to Grouse Island amidst the raucous screeching of an eagle family with recently fledged eaglets. After viewing the all but abandoned residence and its dilapidated sign it was time to head to the take out. With the red ball of sun at our backs and a beautifully lit Cove ahead we cruised in to the boat launch mere minutes before a stunning sunset. (2.9 NM, 1.75 hours)

This idyllic summer evening paddle ended with a social hour with snacks and beverages and friendly conversation around a propane campfire at the Gladish residence.

Wildlife: Eagles, Oystercatchers, Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Crows, Harlequin Ducks, Harbour Seals

Vic

Thanks to Vic and Norris for the photos.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

: Paddling out

: The ferry arriving

: Looking in to QCove

: The north bluff

: Entering Unkak Cove

: Calm and shallow

: Re-entering QCove

: Back at the boat launch

Social Paddle – Quathiaski Cove – 9 Aug 2024

Trip Report – Thomspon-Hopespring Trail Loop – 7 Aug 2024

Posted on August 10, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

Eleven hikers, including five guests, started on a morning hike from the end of Thompson Road. It was a beautiful sunny day although warm and a bit smoky already. We continued on past the Gowlland Harbour Trail and turned onto the small trail down into the creek valley with the group of old growth trees. This is a stunning area with some very beautiful majestic, old growth-trees. We then went back to the Hopespring trail and onward to the Three Sisters which are some of the largest old-growth Douglas firs on Quadra. A little way down the trail we turned off again to view another group of nineteen old growth trees. Back on the trail we climbed up to the Heriot Ridge Trail and proceeded to the bench to have lunch and enjoy the view. Afterwards we hiked down to the end of Hopespring and walked the road back to our vehicles. (6.1km, 3 hours).

Les

Thanks to Les, Chris and Norris for the photos

(click on photos to enlarge)

: In the old growth grove

: Big, old Douglas fir

: Lunch at the Heriot Ridge viewpoint

: Happy hikers

Hiking – Thompson-Hopespring Trail Loop – 7 Aug 2024

Hiking – Deadfish-Tripod Loop – 26 Aug 2024

Posted on August 5, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

This hike has been re-scheduled to August 28, Wednesday!

Activity	Hiking
Destination	Deadfish-Tripod Loop
Date	28 August, Wednesday 26 August, Monday
Trip Coordinator	Nicole and Louise
Contact Info	Nicole: email quadranick@gmail.com or Louise: text 306-539-3813
Description	The hike will start at Morte Lake parking lot, making a big loop on biking/hiking trails south of Morte Lake. We will ascend Morning Beer and Nirvana trails, then west along south Morte Lake. Turning back on Tripod, Ridge trail and Lost Rider, we return by Deadfish to the parking lot. Duration should be about 2 hours (3 hours max).
Meeting Place	Meet at the Morte Lake trail head
Departure Time	10:00
Difficulty	Moderate
Costs	none
Trip limits	10
Dogs?	No
Notes

Trip Report – Eagle Crag Loop – 31 July 2024

Posted on August 2, 2024 by qioutdoorclub

Five of us hiked the trail to Eagle Crag, then the steep path to the top of the bluff. Here we rested, had a bite to eat, and enjoyed the fantastic view. There were clouds over the Vancouver Island mountains, but other than that the visibility was very good, especially considering how much fire smoke there is elsewhere. We enjoyed the perfect temperature, the sunshine, and the gentle breeze for quite a while. We were visited by a hummingbird and a grouse.

After that, we continued up an old path, originally for climbing access to a higher bluff, surprising a garter snake. At the top of this path, we again sat and enjoyed the beautiful day. Then we took the trail down from Beech’s Mountain, back to the vehicles. (4.9 km; 3.5 hours)

Norris

(Click to enlarge)

: Looking west from Eagle Crag

: View soustheast

: Rebecca Spit

: Female Sooty Grouse

: Dew on spiderweb

Hiking – Eagle Crag Loop – 31 July 2024

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Quadra Island Outdoor Club

hiking, paddling, and other outdoor activities on or near Quadra