Living the best adventure life, since 1958
April 5, 2026
~ submitted by Nick Fisch
Snowshoes on, then off, then on, then off again…. and again.. and again. It was one of those days.
Four of us set out on Easter Sunday to tackle Heather Mountain from the little Shaw gate. It was a bluebird 20 degree spring day. We began at around 9:30am from the locked gate for a very long slog of an approach up the logging road. We hit snow at around 3100ft and dawned the snowshoes. The going was slow.
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.
Continue reading “Green Mountain — On Being That Guy”
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.
Continue reading “Winter kilometres on Mount Benson now, coastal kilometres later”
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.
Continue reading “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
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.
June 8, 2025
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
Three club members gathered at Piper’s Lagoon on Saturday for a hands-on introduction to rappelling—an essential skill in the mountaineer’s toolkit.
Continue reading “Workshop: Learn to Rappel”
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!
Continue reading “Marmot Mountain via the South Ridge – again”
May 24, 2025
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
Gemini Mountain is a consistent family favourite! While Mount Green may hold the top spot in our hearts, Gemini is a close second. With spring in the air and snow finally retreating from the backroads, access to these far-flung areas is getting a little easier.
