Trip Report – Tsa Kwa Luten Hike and Social – 30 Aug 2023

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After the weather drama of the previous days, eleven Club members enjoyed a beautiful early fall day for our TKL Farewell Hike and Social on Wednesday, Aug 30. Starting out from the Cape Mudge Lighthouse parking lot, our route took us through the TKL campground. Several RVers were enjoying the cool, clear morning over propane campfires, the smell of bacon and coffee was very enticing. We followed the pretty and interesting trail to our turn around point at the Cape Mudge Village gate, enjoying lush blackberries on the way. Our hike then took us up past the Lodge, and counter-clockwise around the well-maintained TKL trail. The ravine stairway is a backwoods work of art!  From the bluffs we could see the impressive extent of the tidal flats below. In just under two hours we arrived at the Lodge in time for a coffee before ordering lunch. Joined by a spouse, twelve of us enjoyed a delicious lunch and social time together.  (7.3km, 1½ hours for the walk)

Valerie

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Hiking – Tsa Kwa Luten area – 30 Aug 2023

Hiking – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 13 Sept 2023

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Activity Hiking
Destination Rousseau Ridge Loop
Date 13 Sept, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710; please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip
Description We will start from the North Gowlland road and hike the Gowlland Harbour trail to Rousseau Ridge.  We will take a flagged route and logging road to circle back to the Gowlland Harbour trail and back to the vehicles.  This is an interesting route over open bluffs with great views.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot to convoy to the trailhead
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch and bring hiking poles if you use them.  We will not do this trip in poor weather.

Trip Report – Kanish Bay Paddle – 22 Aug 2023

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Four paddlers were treated to a very nice day of paddling on Kanish Bay. We started out early at Granite Bay to take advantage of the tides and headed off by 0900 on a cool morning. Last year CCW, this year we took the CW (clockwise) route around the bay. With little wind and an ebbing tide, we arrived at the tidal flats tucked in between Bodega Pt and an unnamed island. A short break here allowed us time to cross the beach and take in the view of upper Discovery Passage. Back on the water and passing between the last two islands of the Chained Islets, we headed across the western end of Kanish Bay with our sights set on Granite Point, 3.2 km away. At the point, the waters were calm and the sun much warmer so we just kept going until 15 minutes later we had a bit of a view down Okisollo Channel! Time to turn back… we meandered down the northern shore of the bay, visited the pictographs cliff and then stopped for lunch at Ashlar Creek, a rather rocky and difficult landing spot, but sunny and warm with a big view of the Passage and Vancouver Is.

The tide aided our afternoon efforts by starting to flood, and with the Chum jumping here and there we were soon at Orchard Bay and once again fantasizing about a couple of nights of camping in this very nice part of the area. (This was to have been today’s goal, but too few signed up for the planned camping trip). A family of Loons and a lone Red-necked Grebe were spotted on the bay. We explored for a few minutes and then headed back to Granite Bay and our take out. (17.8 km; 5½ hours.)

Vic 

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Kayaking – Kanish Bay – 22 Aug 2023

Hiking – Tsa-Kwa-Luten area – 30 Aug 2023

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Activity Hiking and Social
Destination Tsa Kwa Luten and surrounds
Date 30 Aug, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Valerie van Veen
Contact Info 250 285 2329, text 778 242 5774, vvv@qisland.ca
Description “End of an era” social … we will walk north along shore to Cape Mudge village, return to walk the TKL trails through the woods on the bluff, returning to TKL for brunch/ lunch.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store to carpool; or Lighthouse parking Lot
Departure Time 9:10 Heriot Bay store, 9:30 Lighthouse parking lot
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs Lunch at TKL
Trip limits None
Dogs? Owner’s decision for this event.
Notes: One more time to enjoy TKL trails ..and lunch at the Lodge😄 must confirm participation by Tuesday eve so I can make a reservation if needed.

Kayaking – QCove to Smiths Rd- 5 Sept 2023

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Postponed to Sept. 6th, Wednesday

Activity Kayaking
Destination QCove to Smiths Road Shore Access
Date 5 6 Sept, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Vic Gladish
Contact Info vicgladish@gmail.com; 250-287-0459 text; or phone 250-285-2111.
Description This paddle trip involves either a shuttle or a drop off/pick up.
We will put in at the boat launch or nearby beach and paddle south to the bottom end of Quadra Island (Cape Mudge) and then up the eastern shore to the shore access at Smiths Rd.
Meeting Place QCove boat launch at 1000
Departure Time On the water by 1030
Difficulty
 Moderate due to possible wind and strong currents. The paddle could take 4 hrs including short breaks.
Costs Parking and/ or boat launch – $4
Trip limits 8
Dogs? No
Notes: This outing requires that each paddler arrange to be dropped off at the put in and picked up at the take out. Alternatively, a shuttle could be worked out to reconnect drivers and cars.
Ocean going kayaks that meet club and coast guard safety standards are required.

Trip Report – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 16 Aug 2023

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Since it was forecast to be another hot August day, we decided to beat the heat and start early – 7:30.  So eight of us began the long hike uphill at 18°C.  Although the creek was dry, we crossed on the new bridge.  After stopping briefly at the unofficial viewpoint looking northeast, we continued on the trail past the Lily Pond and noted the low water level and that the usually marshy areas were completely dry.  The viewpoint to the southeast had good visibility over Rebecca Spit and the Salish Sea.  We continued along the undulating trail to Nugedzi Lake, and even though it was only 10:00 am, we had lunch and several went swimming.  The water was warm.  After the leisurely break, we ventured on to the western overlook up Discovery Passage and toward Vancouver Island.  From there we noted the smoke and clouds from the fire at Mt. Con Reid in Strathcona Park.

Turning back, we detoured to Little Nugedzi Lake, yet another picturesque lake on a beautiful day.  From there we began the long-feeling trek back across Nugedzi Plateau and down the steep logging road to the vehicles.  Then up to 26°C.  (11 km, 5¼ hours)

Norris

Thanks to Neil and Norris for the photos

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Hiking – Nugedzi Lakes and Views – 16 Aug 2023

Trip Report – Newton Lake, Small Inlet and Waiatt Bay – 26 July 2023

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It has been three years since the Club undertook this wonderful hike and four years since a swim was part of the fun! So, seven hikers set a good pace to get things started up the cobbly slope to the Small Inlet Park boundary. It was a soggy go through the thick patches of salal, thanks to our overdue rainy spell, but the sun was out and the day was perfect. The absence of birdsong was quickly noted and seen as a harbinger of the passing of summer.

We rested briefly at Newton Lake and then resumed our uphill hike to the switchbacks that descend quickly to Small Inlet. Here we started to cross paths with numerous boater/hikers on their way to Newton Lake’s inviting waters. We walked the tide flats from the first beach access to the trail head for Waiatt Bay. A brief stop was made to marvel at the bubbling water feature for which we still have no interpretive information. We must conscript a geologist for the next visit to the area!

A short hop through beautifully lit forest brought us to very busy Waiatt Bay. We ate lunch and watched the coming and going of a dozen people, dogs and skiffs between the many moored boats and our beach. As the day heated up our group was motivated to pack up and head to the lake for our long awaited swim. The uphill climb from Small Inlet definitely built up the desire for some of us to jump in on our arrival lakeside, and enjoy the mid-summer “warm” water of Newton Lake. A refreshing dip enabled us to maintain a good pace through the long, rocky downhill trail to the parking lot.

Everyone agreed that it was a fantastic outing on a perfect summer day!  (12.7 km; 5 hours)

Vic

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Hiking – Newton Lake-Small Inlet-Waiatt Bay – 26 July 2023

Trip Report – Surge Narrows Road to Main Lake – 21 July 2023

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Despite the two day postponement, even more hikers signed up, so five of us set out on a pleasant, overcast Friday morning on the newish Surge Narrows Road to Main Lake trail. We found the correct trailhead, thanks Les, and started on the woodland path to Main Lake. With time considerations, we decided to forego the side trip to Roscoe Lake, planning on doing it if time/energy allowed on the return. The trail meanders through the forest, roughly following a very old logging road, eventually running beside a creekbed, now absolutely dry in our current drought conditions. We stopped to admire the magnificent burn-scarred old growth close to a now dry waterfall.

We came in through the back of the large campground at Main Lake east beach, which was occupied by several families enjoying the warm weather. We decided to continue on the portage route to Yeatman Bay and have our lunch break there. After a short break, during which we watched a multi-generational family dig for clams in the rising tide, we headed back to the Lake for a short swim. This refreshing break was now much needed as the heat had returned, despite a forecast of lower temperatures.

Unfortunately, as we began the return trek up the hill from the Lake two members of our group disturbed a wasp nest. The wasps made sure we knew they were not pleased at being stomped on! Our return trip was much less pleasant than our ingress, as pain and heat made the steep, then more gradual, incline back much more challenging. Our discomfort was compounded when another wasp nest was encountered, fortunately only one hiker was stung this time. We did not feel motivated to take the side trip to the small lake, and were greatly relieved to finally reach our cars, with air-conditioning and no wasps!

Given the wasps and the heat, and the steady uphill return, this hike would be best kept for spring or fall, especially when the creek and waterfall would be running.

About 5.5 hours, with lunch break and a quick swim.

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Louise and Les for the photos.
 

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Hiking – Main Lake and Yeatman Bay – 19 July 2023

Trip Report – Francisco Point at Low Tide – 17 July 2023

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We had a small but enthusiastic group on the low tide walk at Francisco Point with Deb Cowper’s amazing observations and information. The low tide in the middle of the day was a bit more than half a metre. We walked over the cobbled shore to the tidal lagoon. Deb talked about the seaweeds we were seeing (lettuce, cauliflower, Sargasso, and bladderwrack), the trajectory of the sea star wasting disease and the creatures affected by it, the life cycle of barnacles, the way that marine organisms can draw calcification from seawater to build their shells and outer structures. Deb talked about the moulting process for red rock crabs and what often appears to be a dead crab Is just the outer shell, left behind after moulting.  Five is the magic number for the radial symmetry of echinoderms: sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sand dollars.

We gently turned over rocks to look at the critters hiding beneath while exposed from the low tide. We saw porcelain crabs, Northern kelp crab, chitons, ochre sea stars, a blood star, sea cucumber, periwinkle, barnacles, worms, tubes, snails and a few small fish. Often the things attached to rocks were very small, really a nursery. We saw sea urchins the size of a pin head. We always gently rolled the rock back returning the creatures to their protected nooks.

We want to thank Deb Cowper for coming over to Quadra to share her knowledge.

Debbie

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Hiking – Francisco Point at Low Tide – 17 July 2023

Reconnaissance Report – Woss Lake Provincial Park – 12-14 July 2023

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We had talked about this trip for over a year, but it came together at the very last minute. There is little information available about Woss Lake Provincial Park and much of it is unhelpful or actually incorrect. Historically this was an important trade route for the Namgis and Mowachaht, but today it is not much visited. There are some reasons why this beautiful place is quite inaccessible and little known.

Six of us in two kayaks and two canoes set out on a beautiful summer day to explore this area hoping to find the campsite and the Grease Trail. We launched at 11:30 in calm water from the Woss Community Cabin, which is about 8 kilometres down Woss Rd. The views on this in-land fjord are wonderful with Rugged Mountain and the glacier at the southwest end of the Lake. By 13:00 the diurnal wind from the south began to build and continued to increase to about 20 knots until after sunset, but the wind didn’t die completely until midnight. We spent several hours pulled out on the shore waiting for the wind to abate. Magically, a large Namgis cedar dugout canoe came quickly down-wind while we were on shore.

The campsite was not where we expected because the trail location on Backroads map is incorrect. The campsite is in much better condition than we expected since the BC parks says there are no facilities, and other sites simply repeat that there are a “few tent pads.” The campsite was built and the trail re-established as an initiative by the Namgis between 2001 and 2005. Lindsay Elms’ information in Beyond Nootka is the most complete. While some of the tent platforms have rotten wood, the general facilities and location are excellent for rustic camping.

The following day we planned to hike up to the pass on the Grease trail, which would descend to Tahsis on the far, south side. The trail was in better condition than we expected, since BC Parks are certainly not maintaining this. It seems likely that the Namgis are working on it. It was well flagged and most of the creeks were bridged for the first 3 kilometres. Then there was lots of flagging in different colours, but no convincing trail and no logical continuity. Because Backroads maps shows the trail on the wrong side of the creek and Lindsay Elms says that the grant was to develop 3 kilometres of trail, our expectations were that this would be a short steep hike. That was not the case and we had not allowed sufficient time to continue to the pass. We returned to the campsite through this excellent forest with many streams. The diurnal wind started earlier and persisted longer than the previous day.

The last day we paddled out following the west-side shore with interesting geology and small bays. Starting earlier in the day, we arrived at our launch site by noon and encountered virtually no wind at all. We learned a lot about this area on the trip, but definitely not everything and hope to return.

Debbie

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