Tag: Matthew Lettington

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The Mystery of the Upper Cowichan River Trail

–submitted by Matthew Lettington

The Island Mountain Ramblers has been my home for hiking since sometime in 2011. In that time, I’ve had the joy of exploring many far-flung places. Some are tucked away on the outer edges of the coast, some high in the hills, and others are places that simply can’t be shared. Over the years, I’ve also had plenty of time to consider the club’s various hiking and climbing objectives.

a walk in the woods

I’ve answered many questions from members about who chose these objectives and why. Some choices are obvious, while others leave us scratching our heads. The reality is that access has changed considerably over the years. What once took several days of trekking to reach might now be a two-hour jaunt. A route that was once the standard approach might now take you well out of your way. Even the best routes and trails change as time marches on, whether through windfall, erosion, or other natural forces.

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A Fishing Trip to McKenzie Lake

 

–submitted by Matthew Lettington. Originally posted on his blog

Hemingway has been in Scouting since he was five. Now that he’s turned 13, it’s fair to say he’s committed to the many goals and achievements that Scouting encourages.

Last summer, he attended a five-day angling school in Tahsis. Since then, he’s headed out to the local lake a few times to fish on his own. More recently, he started working on his Hobby Badge, setting five goals, several of which involved fishing.

 

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Steamboat Mountain Ruminations

–submitted by Matthew Lettington

Steamboat Mountain falls inside the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks. A donation was made to the Tribal Park Guardians as a Responsible Users Fee.

I approached this trail with some trepidation. Recent online trail reports described the route as being in horrible condition, with several reports mentioning extensive windfall and a trail that was nearly impossible to follow. But I’m stubborn, and I had a few friends who had yet to make it to the summit of this gorgeous mountain. Seven of us, including Hemingway, set our intention: summit or bust!

Is this the crux?

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Nahmint Mountain from North East Ridge

May 9th, 2026

~ submitted by Matthew Lettington

For years, Nahmint Mountain was one of those peaks lingering on my bucket list that I never quite got around to climbing. It’s not even an especially long drive — just over two hours from home. Maybe it was the horror stories people share about the heinous bushwhack. Truthfully, though, it had more to do with my hiking partners. My usual partners had already climbed it, and I never seemed able to find people brazen enough to face down the bush.

And yet, this trip marked my fourth ascent of the peak in just two years.

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Sutton Peak via Harrison Lake: A Long Day Done Right

April 11, 2026

~ submitted by Matthew Lettington

It had been a long time since a 3 a.m. alarm dictated the start of my day. There’s something nostalgic about that kind of alpine start—the quiet house, the groggy coffee, the slow realization that you’re about to commit to something big. It felt good to be back in that rhythm.

Our objective was Sutton Peak, this time opting for the Harrison Lake approach rather than the long ridge. It’s a trade-off: less ridge travel, but a nearly five-hour drive each way. The kind of day where the effort begins well before you lace up your boots.

The logging road in was mostly cooperative, though one small washout forced us to stop, fill it in, and coax the vehicle through. We parked at around 800 metres and continued on foot, quickly encountering the first patches of snow near the end of the road. With a big day ahead, we didn’t waste time. As soon as we were sinking more than about eight inches, the snowshoes went on.

That decision came with some entertainment value—most notably a short, awkward scramble down with snowshoes still attached. Not graceful, but effective.

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Mount Adder – A Different Kind of Winter Day

March 22, 2026

~ submitted by Matthew Lettington

It’s been a strange winter. Every time I plan a day out, the weather seems to turn, and my hopes for skiing have been repeatedly dashed. I’ll admit, there’s also a growing unease about what this lack of snow might mean for the summer ahead.

But if there’s a silver lining, it’s this: the poor snowshoe and ski conditions have opened the door to some incredible early spring travel—conditions we usually don’t see until much later in the season.

Our recent trip to Mount Adder was a perfect example. We left the snowshoes at home.

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Winter kilometres on Mount Benson now, coastal kilometres later

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.

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