Category: Nanaimo Regional District

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Green Mountain — On Being That Guy

March 7, 2026

~ submitted by Matthew Lettington

I was lucky enough to join the fun on the club’s March 7 ski tour to Green Mountain. While this winter has fizzled more than it has popped, the lack of snow has given us unusually good opportunities to drive high into the mountains and start our recreation much farther up than we typically can. Earlier this year we attempted the same trip but had to start skiing around 400 m. This time we were able to drive to nearly 800 m before stepping out of the vehicles.

But I don’t want to start this story on the mountain. This is really a story about how I dropped the ball.

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Winter kilometres on Mount Benson now, coastal kilometres later

February 15, 2026

~ submitted by Matthew Lettington

Getting the family outdoors can be a real challenge. Between busy schedules and competing priorities, it’s often a matter of simply deciding to make it happen. This summer we have big ambitions: hiking the North Coast Trail together as a family. After my experience hiking the West Coast Trail with my son last year, I learned that success comes from putting in the hours ahead of time. Time on our feet matters. That’s what inspired this recent trip up Mount Benson.

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Green Mountain

February 15, 2026

~ submitted by Evan Martin

Four of us headed up Green Mountain for a look.  We arrived at the first gate just as it was being opened and proceeded to the mountain.  We drove to the snowline at the bend just before the parking area.  The road is in great shape up to the first trail, and littered with drainage ditches after that.  There’s also a washout that is navigable with a higher clearance 4×4.

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Green Mountain

~November 30, 2025

~ submitted by Su Castle

Beautiful late fall weather day for this trip up Green Mountain. We drove up logging spur K15 until the creek crossing. (approx 49.04447 124.34843), snow started 1100m.

We hiked steadily upwards, using micro spikes near the summit. There was more of a crust on the snow the higher up we got. Ice formations on the foliage were beautiful!

The last 100m of elevation gave us the adventure we were seeking, as the snow wasn’t consistent enough to create good steps, and there was just enough ice on the rocks with a bit of a drop off below us to make it a super sketchy choice!

We descended the summit a slightly different way. We were back at the vehicle and out of the last Nanaimo Lakes gates by 3:00. 

Trip length: 7.5 km Total elevation: 450 Total Hike: 4 hours  

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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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Marmot Mountain via the South Ridge – again

May 25, 2025

~ submitted by Matthew Lettington

Just a few weeks ago, I led a club trip to Marmot Mountain. Thanks to a recommendation from one of the participants, we took a chance and approached via the south ridge. The gamble paid off — we were treated to a lovely ridge walk and even spotted a marmot sunning itself!

With my wife and daughter away at a weekend-long Scout camp, I had the perfect opportunity to head out hiking with my son. We decided to do a double-feature: Gemini and Marmot — doubling his chances of seeing a marmot in the wild!

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Marmot Mountain from the South: Easier, Quicker, Better?

May 10, 2025

~ submitted by Matthew Lettington

Our Marmot Mountain adventure turned out quite different from what we expected.

In past visits, I’ve always approached the summit from the Nanaimo Lakes side — a route that plunges into steep, brush-choked terrain. That was our original plan again this time, but when fewer than five people expressed interest, I reconsidered. It didn’t seem worth dragging a group through that notoriously rough route unless it was absolutely necessary.

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