Category: Activity

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Sooke Hills – Black Bear & Trafalgar Mountains

November 29, 2025

~ submitted by Evan Martin

Winter is coming, which for me means ski trips and gulley climbs.  However, after coming off the summer high and dipping into the fall low, I needed to start getting out again to build the necessary fitness.  The Sooke Hills are a convenient place to train and keep up the fitness for those of us on the South Island.  I had spent a lot of time exploring the area a few years ago, but the North West corner of the park was closed due to the Old Man Lake fire of 2024.  Hence, this trip gave me an opportunity to get out into one of the last parts of the park that I haven’t yet explored.

I was joined by three other Ramblers and a special guest from UVic. It was a good mix of participants – some seeking fitness, others checking off the Sooke Hills challenge.  Our guest was gathering data on risk in outdoor activities as part of an Anthropology course, which led to some interesting discussions during the trip.

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Mount Cokely

October 25, 2025

~ submitted by Matthew Lettington

On October 25, only four members were brave enough to face the forecast. Although the trip was originally quite popular, a half-dozen people backed out in the final hours—and honestly, who could blame them? The weather looked downright grim.

Still, the four of us met at the head of the logging road, determined to take on the predicted 50 km/h winds, driving rain, and fresh snow. Our plan was to climb Mount Cokely via the Saddle Route and return along Rosseau Ridge.

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Run Ragged in the Sooke Foothills!

November 8, 2025

~ submitted by Jaime Crucil

Seven Island Mountain Ramblers met at the Sooke Hills parking area for a rolling stroll through the foothills. For those who know the area, the Sooke Foothills host a maze of intersecting and sometimes faint trails—so naturally, I managed to lose the route within the first 100 feet on a very wide and obvious trail. Fortunately, a quick correction had us back on track in no time. Continue reading “Run Ragged in the Sooke Foothills!”

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Mount Service

November 15, 2025

~ submitted by Sarah Duncan

7 of us met at a reasonable time at a park and ride to convoy to Cottonwood main where we used gate keys to let us onto the main extinguishing the need for the long haul walk up the logging road.

We were lucky to have two gate key holders on this trip so we were able to pack more folks in than just one vehicle would allow. 

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Tzouhalem — Another Day of the Weathers

November 1, 2025

~ submitted by Matthew Lettington

While we didn’t have all the weather, we definitely experienced multiple seasons. We went up in the fall and came down in the spring!

Driving to the trailhead, I could barely get my vehicle up to the speed limit — it was hydroplaning so badly. Fortunately, by the time we regrouped at the trailhead, the deluge had settled into a steady drizzle.

The three of us took our time gaining the ridge, pausing often to enjoy the misty views and admire the towering trees.

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Argus Mountain, Mount Harmston, and the Red Pillar

–sbumitted by Jain Alcock-White

A fire on the Malahat on Friday evening delayed our South Island participant’s arrival in Nanaimo, where we had planned to transfer gear and the canoe from my vehicle to his. This also meant we picked up our third participant slightly later than hoped on Saturday morning. Fortunately, the drive from Nanaimo to Port Alberni went smoothly. We picked up the Mosaic gate key without issue and made it to the beach at Oshinow Lake in good time – though it did take all three of us to figure out how to get the key to open the gate.

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