Hiking – Granite Bay Rd Jct Area – 30 Dec 2016

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Activity Hiking
Destination Granite Bay Rd Jct area
Date 30 December, Friday
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 lots of possibilities in the area, so we can choose based on the weather and conditions.  We might hike the trail along Open Bay Creek, or the logging roads east of Beaver Lake or the mountain bike trails nearby.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Probably easy, but who knows?
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs?
Notes: Bring a lunch and gear for the weather.

Trip Report – Heriot Ridge Route – 30 Nov 2016

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Six hikers and Luna dog enjoyed a two and a half hour hike on one of our best weather days this fall.  The trip was delayed until the afternoon to let the rain subside and sky to clear.  Starting at the Thompson trailhead, we hiked Thompson Trail to the Heriot Ridge Trail, following it south along the bluffs.  Facing the sun, hikers got a good dose of much-needed Vitamin D.  Slippery rock was negotiated with care, and a few puddles were skirted around.  We stopped near the Hopespring Trail viewpoint for a breather and admired the views to the west, north and south.   A cold wind blowing from the northwest by then kept us moving on.  At the Hopespring Trail junction we turned west for a short distance on the Hopespring Trail, then onto a route south along an extension of the main ridge to Homewood’s High Bluff Trail.   A short climb took us to the top of High Bluff for a rest, snack and view after bundling up against the wind.  We retraced our route north along the ridge at a different bluff level, then had a pleasant downhill walk to Hopespring Road and back to the vehicles.  The glorious sunshine, at times warming us in sheltered areas, was the highlight of trip.

Janis

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Hiking – Heriot Ridge Route – 30 Nov 2016

Hiking – Chinese Mountain – 14 Dec 2016

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This hike will be postponed due to snow, but there may be a substitute hike.  Phone the coordinator.

Activity Hiking
Destination Chinese Mountain
Date 14 December, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description We will go up the south side of South Chinese Mtn. and stop at the view point for a snack. Then we will come down the north side. This is a short hike so if the group wishes we will also go up North Chinese Mtn.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot for car pooling
Departure Time 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate, but up and down
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? Okay, but must not go back and forth through the group.
Notes: Please contact the coordinator 2 days in advance so he will have your phone number if trip is postponed due to weather.

Snow – Mt Washington – 7 Dec 2016

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Date changed to Tuesday, 6 Dec.

Activity Snow
Destination Mt. Washington
Date 6 Dec 2016, Tuesday  7 Dec 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator QIOC
Contact Info qioutdoorclub@gmail.com;  please e-mail by Sunday night
Description Activities and destination will depend on the interests of the group.  Mt. Washington is scheduled to open on Dec 9th, so the nordic area will not be officially open and rentals will not be available on the hill.
Meeting Place Quadra ferry terminal to Campbell River.  Car pools should be arranged in advance.
Departure Time 9:00 ferry to Campbell River.  Those taking cars need to be early enough to get on the 9:00 ferry.
Difficulty
 Up to the group.
Costs Ferry and shared fuel.
Trip limits Availability of cars going up to Mt. Washington.  Vehicles are supposed to have good tires and chains available if necessary.
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring equipment, warm clothing and lunch.

 

Trip Report – Coppermine and Deepwater Bay – 23 Nov 2016

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Seven of us hiked from Deepwater Main to the old copper-mine. There was water on the old road but not as much as expected considering the heavy rains Quadra has been experiencing. It is only about 1.5 km to the mine but the road is steep. The main shaft entrance has fallen in but there is a good view from the side shaft.

We then returned to the Deepwater Main and hiked down it to Deepwater Bay. The creek was running high and the two waterfalls were beautiful. We encountered our only shower of the day on the way down. At the beach we could not believe our good fortune as we ate our lunch in the sunshine before we returned to the vehicles. The whole trip was about 7 km with 335 vertical meters up and down in about 3 hours.

Les

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Hiking – Coppermine and Deepwater Bay – 23 Nov 2016

Trip Report – Bike Loop from WalCan Rd – 16 Nov 2016

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Seven of us started from the parking area where the WalCan Rd crosses Hyacinthe Creek at the end of Reed Lake. We followed Janis up Straight as a Dime in very light rain and low cloud, and continued until we joined Silk Stocking.  At the end of Silk Stocking we walked down the logging road to Bite the Bullet. We crossed the bridge and took Lady Lumps to Cash Only, and then Rick’s Ride to Yellow Mud, stopping at the beaver dam. This is a very lovely loop. There are great mossy bluffs, historical open copper mines with some old mining artifacts, open forest, and wet lands, complete with ducks. 10.9 km; 4 hours.

Debbie

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Hiking – Bike Loop from WalCan Rd – 16 Nov 2016

Multi-day Hiking – Salt Spring Island – 30 Jan-2 Feb 2017

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 This trip is FULL.   You may call the coordinator to be put on the wait-list.

Activity Three days of hiking
Destination Salt Spring Island
Date 30 Jan – 2 Feb 2017, Monday to Thursday
Trip Coordinator Margot Wood
Contact Info margotw@gicable.com or phone 250.285.2393; please contact the coordinator as soon as possible; the deadline for committing to this trip is December 29.
Description Staying three nights at a rental property on Salt Spring Island, hiking each day.  We will check into the rental property & get settled. Off to hike. There are a number of hiking trails on Salt Spring Island, the most popular trails are in Maxwell Park. Maxwell Park is the second highest point on SSI. It rises about 595 metres, with a sheer drop on one side. the view can be quite spectacular. There is a network of trails within the park, one can drive into the park or walk up. Mt. Baker can be seen to the east, on a very clear day. There is also a network of hiking trails at Ruckle Park down in the southeast corner of SSI. A spectacular trail that goes to the shore at Yeo Point, lots of bird life on the water. There are some lovely hiking trails in Mouat Park, right in Ganges. Another addition is the Quarry Park Trail in Vesuvius, the trail takes you down to the waters edge. The Dunbabin Trail meanders through the forest in Dunbabin Park, an easy trail, a few stairs along the way. We will probably run out of days, not hiking trails.
We will divide the dinners amongst us and be responsible for our own breakfasts and lunches.
Car-pooling will be organized.
Salt Spring Island Hiking Trails: http://www.saltspringmarket.com Click on Hiking Trails & Map.
Meeting Place Quathiaski Cove, ferry line-up
Departure Time 9:00 am sailing, be early in case of overload.
Difficulty  Easy to Moderate.
Cost Accommodation approx. $65-$70 p. night, depending on number of persons attending. Ferry costs. Gas.
Trip limits Eight people.  Deadline booking is 29 Dec 2016. Full payment will be required on that date.
Dogs? No
Notes: Salt Spring Island Hiking Trails: http://www.saltspringmarket.com   Click on Hiking Trails & Map.

Hiking – Heriot Ridge Route – 30 Nov 2016

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 Start time postponed to 12:00

Activity Hiking
Destination Heriot Ridge Route
Date 30 Nov 2016, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Janis McLean
Contact Info 285-3614;  Please contact the coordinator prior to the trip
Description Rather than the official trail, we will follow routes and old trails on Heriot Ridge.
Meeting Place Thompson trailhead on Thompson Rd
Departure Time 9:00  12:00
Difficulty easy to moderate
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? okay
Notes: Bring walking poles as the bluffs may be slippery.  Maybe a snack.

Trip Report – Karst Formations – 12 Nov 2016

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After yet another night of heavy rain, the weather improved and four of us went on an impromptu walk in the afternoon to see the karst features off the Granite Bay Rd.   We followed a sketchy route along the sinkholes, climbing down into the depressions and exploring the insurgences and resurgences.  There wasn’t as much water flowing as we had hoped, but we enjoyed the water disappearing and reappearing in the Quatsino limestone.  We then walked over to the falls into the really big sinkhole off of North Mtn Hookup. About 2 hours.  On the drive back we stopped to see the Chum spawning in Haycinthe Creek.  Though many were dead, some were still fighting their way upstream.

Debbie

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Naturalist – Karst Formations – 12 Nov 2016

Hiking – Coppermine & Deepwater Bay – 23 Nov 2016

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 Change of meeting time to 9:00

Activity Hiking
Destination DW1 Copper Mine and then Deepwater Bay
Date 23 November, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Les Hand
Contact Info 285-2029.  Please contact the coordinator in advance of the trip.
Description We will be able to take 4-wheel drive vehicles to DW1 Road. It is about 4 km round trip hiking. If you would like to see some pictures of the mine check out prior trip report of Mar. 2, 2016.
We will then hike to Deepwater Bay, about 5 km round trip. It will be good to see this before the new logging starts to the south of the road.
These are both old roads but may have lots of water on them.
Meeting Place Heriot Bay Store parking lot for car pooling
Departure Time 9:00 10:00
Difficulty
 Moderate, but up and down
Costs none
Trip limits none
Dogs? O.K. Please keep them from running back and forth through the group.
Notes: Bring a lunch and hopefully we will eat by the ocean.
I will bring a rope for those who want to get down to the side shaft.