The Hordelski – Mt Benson
–submitted by Ken Warren
The forecast was quite grim for New Year’s Day. It called for overnight snow, light snow in the morning, and wind increasing throughout the day. Well there was no overnight snow which made access to the trailhead possible, it wasn’t snowing when we set out, and the wind and temperature were reasonable.
Camas Ridge, Old Thistle Mine, Christie Falls
November 27, 2021
~ submitted by Ken Warren
Although the weather and other factors kept enthusiasm down, Maggie and I headed into the rain. Camas Ridge was socked in which concentrated our focus on the trees and rock formations reminding us of why we hike.

Tangle Mountain — A Fall Fantasy!
–submitted by Matthew Lettington
Tangle Mountain turned out to be a fantastic day in the low alpine of Vancouver Island, September 26, 2021. Though we probably didn’t take the easiest route to get to the mountain’s base, we were all in awe of the surrounding landscape. Fall colours are spreading their drama in the hills: purples, reds, yellows, greens.
A Mt. Benson Ramble–November 21, 2021
Cragging at Darkside
August 22, 2021
~ submitted by Quinn Park
Quick trip cragging, 5 of us playing on some of the classic routes at Darkside, and trying some new ones!
It was fun to get out and play on the ropes. Even in the hot August weather, it was good conditions thanks to the shade and being so close to the river.
Photos by Jes Garceau
Mount Apps
–submitted by Matthew Lettington; originally posted on explorington.com
Most folks will agree that it’s more enjoyable to hike under clear skies than cloudy, but sometimes it rains. Let me make a case for the dreary day adventure. Though the views from the top of a mountain may be vast on sunny days, those sunbathed landscapes lack the drama and character that appear –like fitful apparitions– when the clouds descend. The wind ripping through the trees goes unseen unless clouds and fog come with it. And the sea of hills blends into each other unless cloud pours through the valleys, billowing around features allowing only the top of the peak to emerge from the top. And even in a whiteout, one must marvel at our own insignificance in the scope of the situation.
On September 26, we all had a chance to witness these unique –but otherwise dreary– characteristics on our short hike to the marked summit at Mount Apps.
Marmot Mountain
–SUBMITTED BY MATTHEW LETTINGTON; ORIGINALLY POSTED ON EXPLORINGTON.COM
When I posted Marmot Mountain to the club schedule, I enticed members with the promise, “Participants should be willing to participate in moderate bushwhacking to get through the lower areas of this route, and a few of the upper areas… and why not some more in the middle too?”. The trip lived up to my promise.
Heather Mountain
September 11th, 2021
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
Heather Mountain is one of the many Vancouver Island hikes where the logging road approach far exceeds the distance on the trail proper. It’s a trip I do when nasty weather turns us away from more challenging objectives, and therefore one I do in the rain.
Continue reading “Heather Mountain”Golly-Gee-ology
August 1, 2021
~ submitted by John Robertson
It was promising to be a hot day when 5 of us met at the trailhead at 9. We kept a good pace for the 2 or 3 kilometres to the point at which we entered the ravine via a steep and dusty descent.