Hiking – Heriot Ridge Loop – 29 Mar 2023

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Activity Hiking
Destination Heriot Ridge  Loop
Date 29 March 2023, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info lhquadra@gmail.com or 285-2029
Description We will do a circle of Heriot Ridge leaving and returning to the end of Hopespring Road. There will be two short side trips to see old growth. We will also go to Rousseau Rock for lunch and the view.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Okay if under control
Notes: Bring a lunch, clothes for the weather, poles recommended. Will be postponed if heavy rain.

Hiking – Haskins Farm and Fircrest Loop – 15 Mar 2023

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Activity Hiking
Destination Haskins Farm, Fircrest and Golf Course Loop
Date 15 March 2023
Trip Coordinator Vikki O’Brien
Contact Info resvo2004@yahoo.com, 250-938-2864
Description We will begin at the Haskin Farm parking area at Smith and Heriot Bay Rd, walk over to the golf course and walk a bit of the golf cart trails, then catch the Fircrest trail back towards Haskins farm, down to the beach and back through Haskin Farm to the vehicles.
Meeting Place Haskin Farm parking area
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Easy
Costs Zero
Trip limits 12
Dogs? Yes, if on leash in the Golf Course and under control elsewhere.
Notes Bring a snack, gear for the weather

Hiking – Maud Island – 13 Mar 2023

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This outing has been postponed due to snow on the ground. 

Activity Hiking
Destination Maud Island
Date 13 March 2023, Monday
Trip Coordinator Vikki O’Brien
Contact Info resvo2004@yahoo.com, 250-938-2864
Description Maud Island is situated beside Seymour Narrows and has a spectacular view of the narrows and it is a scenic walk in many areas. We will begin the trail from the far end of Morte lake at the Maud Island parking area. This hike is easy walking overall except for a section where it climbs up the bluffs at the base of Mt Lolo and there is a hill to get to the lookout. It is good to have your poles for the bluffs. On the return we will not take the bluffs, but rather will take the shoreline route. Maud Island has a beautiful lookout area where we will have lunch. This is approximately 4 – 4 1/2 hours including the lunch break.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate
Costs Zero
Trip limits 12
Dogs? Yes, if under control.
Notes Bring lunch, water, good footwear and walking poles. This hike is approx 10 km.

Hiking – Rousseau Ridge Loop – 29 Mar 2023

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Activity Hiking
Destination Rousseau Ridge Loop
Date 29 Mar, 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; dress for the weather; bring hiking poles if you use them.  We will not do this trip in very poor weather.

Trip Report – Surge Narrows Trail – 24 Feb 2023

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Eight of us joined the Surge Narrows hike on Feb 24th. It was a nice crisp day with no rain. The first part of the trail was a new route with some up and down areas after we crossed the impressive new bridge. We noticed it was quite crunchy underfoot with crystallized ice formations and rocky over the new section. We crossed two other dilapidated bridges along the route, taking turns crossing, and then wound down to a scenic outcrop where we had lunch and checked out the ebbing tide forming rapids at the narrows. Heading back the same way we arrived, someone commented that the trail was good for cardio even though it isn’t too long a hike. Once we finished the trail we walked the road leading to the boat ramp and took a short trail off to the right to check out the dock. There was a marine radio on the dock for emergencies. It was an enjoyable hike and worth the drive. (3.8 km; 2 hours)

Vikki

Thanks to Vikki and Norris for the photos

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Hiking – Surge Narrows Trail – 24 Feb 2023

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 8 Feb 2023

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The month-long delay, in the hopes of getting some snow and decent weather, mostly paid off when we finally hit the snowshoe trails on Feb 8. Two guests joined me, one experienced snowshoer and one newbie eager to find out more about the sport, and both eager to see what Paradise Meadow snowshoe trails have to offer.

Recent rains had left the snow crunchy, but not icy and we crunched along the pleasant Old Cabin Trail at a steady pace. Feeling comfortable, the “newbie” was happy to go further, so we added the Crooked Creek loop. We stopped for a short lunch break out of the chilling wind in a copse of trees at the turn around point, just after the quite challenging bridge crossing. We were soon back at our car after a very pleasant day on the mountain. (about 5 km, 3 hours)

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Valerie for the photos

(click on photos to view larger)

Snow – Mt. Washington – 8 Feb 2023

Trip Report – Little Black Dress-Back Door-Silk Stocking Loop – 20 Feb 2023

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Five of us walked the Little Black Dress – Back Door – Silk Stocking loop.  Instead of the predicted rain, we got a very fine mist, but it was calm and not cold.  The atmosphere was well suited to the very green, mossy bluffs, which these trails wind through and over.  On Little Black Dress we had a lunch break near the high point and remarked how quiet it was.  No signs of animals or birds, but we did hear a distant frog.  After lunch, it was mostly downhill on Silk Stocking, passing by artifacts from several old mining attempts.  (6.2 km; 2 ¾ hours)

Norris

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Hiking -Little Black Dress – Silk Stocking – 20 Feb 2023

Snow – Mt. Washington Area 1 Mar 2023

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This trip will be postponed or cancelled, but contact the coordinator if interested.

Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington area
Date 1 Mar, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will either go Paradise Meadows or to Ramparts Hill, depending on the conditions and the group.  Expect a broken trail to follow.
Meeting Place QI Ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 ferry
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs Transportation costs and trail pass if we go to Paradise Meadows (Adult $13)
Trip limits None
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch as we may not eat at Raven lodge.  Have reliable equipment and winter gear.

Hiking – Surge Narrows Trail – 24 Feb 2023

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Activity Hiking
Destination Surge Narrows Trail
Date 24 February 2023, Friday
Trip Coordinator Vikki O’Brien
Contact Info 250-938-2864, resvo2004@yahoo.com
Description The Surge Rapids Trail is the farthest trail from Heriot Bay and from civilization on Quadra Island. It perhaps provide the most dramatic scene on Quadra: the rapids. It is a 45-minute drive from Heriot Bay, north, past Village Bay lakes to the end of the main road, at Hoskyn Channel Landing, near the adventure lodge there. I have room for up to 4 people in my truck. The trail goes through fir forest for 25 minutes or so until you arrive at a rocky lookout point where you can sit and watch the tremendous tidal rapids. This rocky outcrop you sit on is in the Surge Narrows Provincial Park. The trail continues past this viewpoint for 20 minutes along a steep face in the forest then ends at a small bay. You follow the trail back the way you came. It is a great little adventure to walk this trail and sit on the rocks above the rapids.
Hiking total is about 1½ hours plus stopping for views and a snack along the way.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Short, with some steep sections
Costs Zero
Trip limits 15
Dogs? Yes if  under control;  owners must bring a leash along.
Notes Please contact the trip coordinator by 7:00 pm Feb 23, Thursday evening if you plan to attend.

Trip Report – Shellaligan Pass Loop – 15 Feb 2023

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Seven hikers did a clockwise shorter loop walk on an overcast but dry day. Starting at the second parking lot, the short loop trailhead, we headed directly into the forest. Being late winter, most vegetation was beaten down and we had a better look into a beautiful mossy forest. We descended down to the junction above Village Bay, and elected to take the left trail down to the old oyster lease. The tree that fell on the trail last year had been cleared, making it a lot easier to get to the small beach. Not yet ready for lunch and it being a bit chilly, we headed back up to our junction, shortly after which we found another large tree down on the trail. We arrived at our lunch stop, the point at the entrance to Village Bay, where we sought out a bit of shelter from the wind for a quick lunch. Continuing along the coastal part of the loop, back to the parking lot, we arrived at the forest road trailhead, greeted by two friendly canine hikers, excitedly waiting to start their hike on the loop. We spent about 2½ hours in total, covering a distance of 4.7 kilometers.

Brent

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Hiking -ShellaliganLoop – 15 Feb 2023