November 5th, 2022
~ submitted by Mary Hof
It was a beautiful day for a hike today (Saturday) that I led for Island Mountain Ramblers on Maple Mountain. For the hikers that showed up, we had an awesome day.
Maple Mountain Ramble
Crest Mountain Sunday Stroll
October 23, 2022
~ submitted by Ken Warren
As we approached the trailhead on Sunday the temperature dropped, frost formed in the slash, and wearing shorts was obviously a mistake – but onward and upward. With only four we kept a good pace up to the first tarn which was still liquid, although frost was forming around the edge.
Forbidden Plateau Traverse
September 17th, 2022
~ Submitted by Julianna Wells
After much participant-list shuffling, in the few days before the trip we went from 8 participants and 12 on the waitlist to a new trip leader and only 4 other participants arriving for the hike.
The group met at the old Forbidden Plateau ski hill parking area, switched into one vehicle, and made the drive together to the Raven Lodge parking lot where we started off at a good pace for our long hike across the park.
Wesley Ridge Traverse including Mt Wesley/Mt Horne 
–submitted by Dean Beaulac
📍 Wesley Ridge Traverse Loop
~Mt Wesley
~Mt Horne
~Echo Mtn
Had an awesome day leading my first hike with the Ramblers yesterday. Waking up with it being dark and 2 degrees, I spent way too much time trying to dress myself haha. An equal mix of being ready for the cold start, and the hot day I knew would show up once we started. I’d hoped for a bigger group, but in the end..the 3 joined was perfect. Much easier to surprise only 3 people with cheesecake haha:p
Continue reading “Wesley Ridge Traverse including Mt Wesley/Mt Horne ”
Forbidden Plateau – Ball Lake
October 8th, 2022
~ submitted by John Robertson
A group of 5 people gathered at the Paradise Meadows trailhead. Paper maps were pulled out (guess our median age!) and possible routes were discussed. We sketched out a plan, and headed up past Battleship Lake. The air was cool, but we shed layers of clothing fairly soon, as the hike warmed us. The fall colours glowed in the sun.
Mount Pogo
October 2nd, 2022
~submitted by Dean Beaulac
Often looked at, but much more overlooked is the infamous Pogo Mtn. After many years of looking at it, and being smart enough to not head up there solo without tracks….I lucked out and joined an Island Mountain Ramblers hosted trip on October 2!Â
One of the first things that needs to be addressed, is that Pogo falls within the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks. The group had addressed this with an online donation to the Trail Guardians, and I will suggest the same.
Continue reading “Mount Pogo”Augerpoint Mountain Daytrip (Lifetime Hiking Objective)
On August 20, 2022, five Ramblers made the herculean effort to complete one of the club’s Lifetime Hiking Objects as a Daytrip. Though Augeropint Mountain is usually summited on the thru-hike to Mount Washington, we planned to do it in a day!
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Mt. Cokely via CPR Trail (Lifetime Objective)
—submitted by Joseph Mckenna
On a not so typical Wednesday, (August 24, 2022) four Ramblers trusted me enough to lead an inaugural trip. The selection was a lifetime objective, Mt. Cokely via the CPR trail. We were blessed with fine weather (although a little warm) and no smoke of any significance. We had a very experienced crew and exchanged some safety information, introductions and started our walk.
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Buffalo Hump and Whiskey Jack Creek
–submitted by John Robertson
The weather was perfect for a day’s hiking. We made swift work if the 5 kms on roads to the base of Buffalo Hump mountain. A slightly novel approach at the start led to heavier-than-expected bushwhacking, some extemporized scrambling, and a bit of profanity. After a steep climb and a bit more scrambling, the sub-alpine was reached, and the going was much easier. Views were viewed, and lunch was eaten. The descent was done quickly. From that point, the second objective was the falls on Whiskey Jack creek. Falls were easily found. We assessed the possibility of descent into the ravine and plunge pool, but decided that, despite the temptation of the creek below, there was no safe means of reaching it at that point. We had our creek time at a more accessible point upstream from the falls, and then, refreshed, headed back to the cars.
East Sooke Trail return inland route (Lifetime Hiking Objective)
February 12, 2022
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
On Saturday, February 12, 2022, four of us hit the trail on what turned out to be one of the finest February days we could have hoped for.
The East Sooke Coast trail is one of the club’s lifetime hiking objectives. Along with its incredible west coast character, it has a lot of ups and downs. My first time on the trail was in my first year with the club, 2011. At the time I was surprised about the elevation gain on the trail. I remember being amazed at how remote the hike felt.
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