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.
Our first stop was the summit of Manuel Quimper, where we enjoyed our initial viewpoint of the day. The weather turned out far better than expected; while I anticipated some moisture, we were treated to a mix of sun breaks and pleasantly mild conditions.
Sections of the route that see little traffic have become even more overgrown since my last visit, while the popular stretches continue to be well-worn and easy to follow. The flowline section remains a highlight for me, but this time it came with an unexpected challenge: a small creek crossing that was anything but small. On previous trips, I’d crossed it without getting wet, but this time most of us had to step into the water—nearly up to our knees—to reach the other side. The final two kilometres were completed with decidedly soaked feet.
Despite the detours, overgrowth, and wet boots, it was a great day out with a solid group. The foothills were beautiful, the pace was steady, and the shared laughs made the kilometres go by quickly. Looking forward to the next adventure!