Hiking – Kay Dubois Loop – 30 Jan 2023

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Activity Hiking
Destination Kay Dubois trail
Date 30 January 2023, Monday
Trip Coordinator Amanda
Contact Info mandy.weinerman@gmail.com
Description Starting at entrance to Kay Dubois we will turn at the big tree, heading up the hill, passing through the forest to do a loop back to Fir road and returning back to Smith.
Meeting Place At end of Smith road at Kay Dubois trailhead
Departure Time 11:00
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits None
Dogs? No
Notes:  

Trip Report – Blenkin Park Trails – 7 Dec 2022

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Four people met at the community centre parking lot for a walk around the trails. There was still a few inches of snow on the trails, and although it was quite wet snow, it was not too slippery for a good walk. Starting on the Homestead Trail, we left from the batting cage, heading towards Smokey’s  Trail. At the Blackjack Trail corner we headed to the community centre trail and made our way back and forth on the connector trails towards the firehall access. At this point we made our way back on the Homestead Trail to the parking lot.  All in all it was a pleasant 2 hour walk. (6.5 km)

Brent

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Trip Report – Drew Creek Trail and Rebecca Spit – 5 Dec 2022

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It was supposed to be a bright sunny day, but turned out to be overcast and +2° C.  Still seven hikers found it to be a very nice day and beautiful with the new snow. There was only a couple of inches of snow near the water, so the hike was easy. We met at the back parking lot at Rebecca spit and then walked south down past the Sasquatch sculpture and the memorial at Paddy’s Lagoon. We went as far as we could south and then returned by the same route to walk through the campground and over to the Drew Creek Trail. The trail was in good shape and magical with the snow hanging on the trees. We then returned through the campground to the back picnic area to have lunch. We were treated to smoked salmon and oysters, crackers and cheese, blueberry muffins, and mint tea. Afterwards we hiked around Rebecca Spit park. The distant mountains covered in snow made it spectacular.   9.5 km and about three hours.

Les

Thanks to Les and Norris for the photos, and to Les for the great food.

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Hiking – Drew Creek and Rebecca Spit – 5 Dec 2022

Hiking – Beech’s Mountain – 21 Dec 2022

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Postponed due to icy conditions.

Activity Hiking
Destination Beech’s Mountain
Date 21 Dec 2022, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Diana McKerracher
Contact Info Dianamckerr@gmail.com 250 285 3204
Description Come for a Solstice Hike up Beech’s Mountain for some of the best views on the island. The summit is the second highest point on Quadra after Mt. Seymour. This will be an out-and-back hike with a lunch stop at the summit.
– approximately 3 – 4 hours including stops.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty Moderate, with some steep rocky sections
Costs none
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: If there’s too much snow or pouring rain, we will re-schedule. The coordinator will let you know on Tuesday evening if there is a change of plans.

Hiking – Morte Lake Loop – 7 Dec 2022

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There is a change of coordinator.  This trip was originally scheduled for Dec 7th.

Activity Hiking
Destination Jackrabbit/Morte Lake Loop
Date 25 January 2023, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710
Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will start at the Morte Lake parking lot, cross the road and over the B3 bridge to access the Jackrabbit Trail. This starts off close to the creek and eventually heads inland up to the Yellow Mud Trail, which we will follow back down to Reed Lake at the Walcan Road. We then cross the road and follow the Mud Lake and Tripod connector over to the sandy beach/three bridges area of Morte Lake. This will be a good spot for a snack or light lunch (bring a pad or bag for sitting on the damp log here). From here we will continue to the east end of Morte Lake and start down the main trail to the parking lot. At the Lower Dead Fish intersection, we will cross the creek and continue down to the parking lot. This route is mainly forested with occasional views of the creek and Morte Lake.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Intermediate, due to length.
Costs
Trip limits 10.  We will try to accommodate those who are interested.
Dogs? Yes, but under control or on leash. No running through the group. Owner must carry a leash, for emergency reasons.
Notes: Waterproof boots are advised, as the trail can have standing water. Good rain gear is important, and if rainy or colder, its not a bad idea to bring a thermos with a hot beverage. a seat pad is good idea for sitting on damp logs at the lake. This will go ahead even if it rains, as long as conditions are not too extreme. Bring rain pants for a clear day, as yellow Mud has lots of wet ferns close to the trail.

Trip Report – Nole to Noble and Side Trails- 22 Nov 2022

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After meeting for a leisurely coffee and treat at the Aroma Café, five hikers, clad in full raingear, made our way into the Q-Cove labyrinth of trails via Plaza Road and “the stairs”. Seventy or so stairs lead the way to Nole Road and the Nole Road right-of-way, a well-established trail, hopefully to never be a road, through to Noble Road. The group quickly became involved in hunting for the faces in the forest (many carved and placed by Johann Weighardt) and found several of the well camouflaged masks.

We took the direct route on a southerly bearing, to Noble Road – about 1.5 km – and then down Noble Rd to the designated parkette across from QI Builders and back into the trail system. From here various private properties are traversed via trails and bridges that are well maintained by the owners of some of those properties. Heading in a northerly direction now, on the backside of Green Road properties, we passed by the “Word Log” and its everchanging one-word philosophical offering and one very impressive Cottonwood tree. By taking three of the side trails, we were able to zig zag our way back to the library end of the plaza to conclude a soggy, nearly two hour walk.

As we exited the forest our group was fortunate to meet up with two frequent flyers of the trail who also are responsible, along with two other neighbours, for a lot of the heavy trail maintenance work, including bridge building.  Thanks to Ben, Michelle, Brian and Joyce.

This is an easy to access trail through a beautiful second growth forest. One could explore a lot of this system between tasks while at the QCove Plaza. But beware – it is easy to end up going in circles and losing your way! Also, except for the “right of way” these trails are on private property and generously shared.  4 km

Vic

Thanks to Carrie and Norris for the photos

Click on photos to enlarge

 

Hiking – Nole to Noble Loop – 22 Nov 2022

Hiking – Drew Creek Trail and Rebecca Spit – 30 Nov 2022

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Postponed to Monday, Dec 5th.

Activity Hiking
Destination Drew Creek, then Rebecca Spit
Date 5 Dec, Monday    30 Nov, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029; lhquadra@gmail.com
Description We will start with the short Drew Creek walk. Then we will go down past the Sasquatch sculpture. From there return to the park and go around Rebecca Spit Park.
Meeting Place Drew Creek at Heriot Bay Rd
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Easy
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs? Yes, but under control
Notes: Please sign up at least 24 hours prior so can be contacted if canceled.
Trip will go unless heavy wind and rain, so dress prepared.

Trip Report – Santana Mine – 16 Nov 2022

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Six of us visited the not-so-famous Santana Mine.  Mine Lake gets its name from it, since the mine overlooks the lake.  Or it would if the trees weren’t so high.  So we set out in a thick fog to visit it.  Thanks to Ellen and Alex for their permission to use their driveway and cross their private property.  There are other routes to the mine.  We made a loop, coming back down on Conville Point Road.  The other approach is from Bold Point.

The recent snow overload damaged trees and bushes, so this was a bit of a bushwhack.  Also, there was still snow covering parts of the path, so it was even easier to get lost than normal. The sun made a feeble attempt to show itself at the high “viewpoint” where we had lunch, but no view.  The mine is very interesting.  The main drift (tunnel) still has the old railroad tracks and is safely walkable.  The wildlife is abundant: long legged spiders, crickets, and a few moths.  We also visited the short opening a bit higher up, and peeked into a long drift a bit further north.  The entrance to that one is very low and the floor is flooded.  The route on to Conville Point Road had a few more deadfall obstacles, but the road had a very nice display of larches in full fall colour.  5.1 km; 3 hours.

Norris
 
Thanks to Carrie and Norris for the photos
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Santana Mine – 16 Nov 2022

Trip Report – Maud Island – 9 Nov 2022

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The day was cold (for Quadra) and the air was clear and still and the sun was warm.  Five of us took advantage of the nice early winter weather to hike to Maud Island.  Because the recent dump of heavy, wet snow left the trail coated with some icy, hard snow, we all wore some sort of ice cleats on our boots, which worked very well.  Actually the road access and the trail were in surprisingly good condition considering the storm. 

We had lunch at the Seymour Narrows overlook, along with a few sea lions.  There wasn’t much turbulence in the Narrows, but the sea gulls were fishing.  On the way back some of us took the high trail and some took the low trail.  For the high trail it was 10.1 km; 4¼ hours.

Norris
 

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hiking – Maud Island – 9 Nov 2022

Hiking – Santana Mine – 16 Nov 2022

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Activity Hiking
Destination Santana Mine
Date 16 Nov 2022, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710. Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will hike a loop from Mine Lake up the west side of Mine Mountain to the Santana Mine.  From there we will hike out using Conville Point Road to return to Mine Lake.  The route involves a private driveway, old logging roads, flagged routes and recent logging roads.  There may be wet areas.  About 3 hours.  Our thanks to Ellen Russell and Alex Hartford for letting the Outdoor Club cross their private property.  The history of the mine is quite interesting.  Here is a link to the claim information:  https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/summary.aspx?minfilno=092K%20%20013
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate
Costs None
Trip limits 10
Dogs?
Notes: This is not a maintained trail.  Bring a flashlight.  Bring gear for the weather and lunch.