April 8, 2025
~ submitted by Robin Camley
Great day hiking in the rain showers – Just under 10 KM and 370 meters of elevation gain viewing the 50 wood carvings of Richard on the trail.
Thanks ladies.
Sooke Hills Ridge Ramble
March 22, 2025
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating—when there’s too much snow in the mountains, the Sooke Hills offer a fantastic alternative for logging kilometres and racking up elevation gain! With their dense, mossy hills, beautiful glades, and a network of trails ranging from well-maintained paths to forgotten routes, these hills are a playground for adventurous hikers looking to stay conditioned through the shoulder season.
Ball Lake Snowshoe
March 29, 2025
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
Throughout Paradise Meadows, signs of winter’s slow demise are everywhere. Though over two meters of snow still blankets much of the landscape, evidence of the coming summer is undeniable. Patches of open water are appearing along the edges of the lakes, and in some places, we could see water nearly twelve inches below the snow’s surface.
This was my first time tackling this route in winter. Typically, snowshoers take a direct path across the frozen lakes, but with the increasing melt, we opted to follow the shoreline instead. It was the safer choice.
Westwood Ridges Ridge Ramble
March 30, 2025
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
It’s been many years since I last visited the Westwood Ridges—probably before COVID-19. This time, I had the pleasure of hosting a relaxed ramble and brought my family along for the adventure. The day could not have been more perfect: cool, crisp air with just the lightest breeze, making for an ideal hiking atmosphere.
Continue reading “Westwood Ridges Ridge Ramble”Mount Cokely Winter Mountaineering
March 15, 2025
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
Well, at the very least, we can say it was a day in the mountains.
One common issue when planning a day of learning is that the weather doesn’t really care about your plans. While we had hoped for a multiday steep-angle adventure, the forecast had us adjusting our expectations, turning the trip into a single-day learning experience.
Continue reading “Mount Cokely Winter Mountaineering”Mount Becher Novice Ski Trip
March 30, 2025
~ submitted by Evan Martin
This winter, Evan W is stepping into the world of backcountry skiing with big ambitions—he’s eager to take on longer ski tours as his skills grow. While I’ve done my fair share of backcountry skiing, my experience has been limited to the mainland, making this my first year exploring the island’s terrain. Motivated by the opportunity to ski with Evan, I brought my gear over and planned a trip to Mount Becher, hoping to invite other Ramblers and share the experience while rebuilding the backcountry ski culture within the Ramblers. After our previous attempt to organize a trip to Mount Cokely fell flat, we were pleasantly surprised by the high level of interest this time. In the end, we had six people in the group, with a range of experience from first-timers to seasoned skiers, which made for an exciting and diverse adventure.
Mount Provost
March 30, 2025
~ submitted by Mary Hof
Today I led hikers from three different groups on Mt. Prevost, some never having been there. Outdoor Club of Victoria, the Ramblers and Cowichan Hikers. 10 strong hikers. I even took them to a hidden waterfall, none had been there.
Good hiking weather, wind a little strong at times, but a beautiful day to enjoy the beauty around us, visit with friends, and learn all about what these awesome hikers are up too.Â
Mt. Tzouhalem – from a different way
March 2, 2025
~ submitted by Mary Hof
It was a beautiful day to do a hike, meeting new Ramblers. The group kept a good pace. Parts of this hike are seldom used so it was nice to show people the huge rocks that are along the trail.
The hike was 4.5 hours with an elevation gain of 650m. Thanks for the opportunity to lead.
Mount Arrowsmith – Main Gully
March 2, 2025
~ submitted by Pete Hrkac
Four of us headed up the Main Gully of Mt Arrowsmith on March 2, 2025. Conditions were quite good. The snow was relatively firm and compact after a few days of drier and warmer temperatures.
Wesley Ridge Traverse
February 16, 2025
~ submitted by Erin O’Hagen
Great trip! It was slower going then we thought. As we passed the benches (overlooking Cameron Lake) a collection of snow on the trail started to accumulate.
