Canoe Peak is a thorn in my side! It’s approaching comical how many times I’ve set this peak as our objective for a trip and then had to change the plan. Be it weather forecast, avalanche conditions, a blizzard through Sutton Pass, or zero visibility, for one reason or another …
Canoe Peak: Go Slow to Go Fast
View PostTyee Mountain
View PostA Spring Summit of Mount Flannigan
Mount Flannigan is a 1550-metre peak located on the east edge of Strathcona Park. You’ll easily find it on the map because the park border sticks out like a sore thumb. The summit overlooks the Tools Creek Valley. If you love backcountry skiing, then you’re probably already familiar with this …
A winter trip to Adder Mountain
Phil and I have come to the consensus that, although we have accomplished a lot on our Island Alpine Quest, we have merely begun to scratch the surface. In the past two years, we’ve partnered on more than 60 summits, but the truth is that most of these peaks are …
Snowshoeing Mount Elliot: Fun in the Sun
View PostMount Elliot: To Ski Or Not To Ski
When it comes to winter travel, I’ve always been motivated by finance over fancy; as such, I’ve found my adventures by boot or snowshoe. But in December 2016, I bought a used set of ski touring gear, which has opened up a variety of options for travel. Although I’m familiar …
Genesis Mountain: An Easy Ridge Ramble
Located in the Genesis Range on the northeast edge of Schoen Lake Provincial Park, Genesis Mountain is far from a well-known mountain. It’s out of the way, and surrounded by more impressive objectives, but if your mountaineering interests include easy rambles along alpine ridges, then add Genesis Mountain to your …
Maitland Range Exploration: a day in the bush
I often wonder how my blog posts are perceived by those who read them. While the website is a vanity site, it’s never been my intent to brag; rather, I’ve always been interested in sharing first-hand experiences gained in Vancouver Island’s diverse backcountry. However, over the past few months, I’ve come to …
Waring Peak: Striking Back
Have you ever struggled to achieve an objective, and been turned back? I have–a lot! Waring Peak in the Sutton Range is among several peaks that we failed to summit last winter. My first attempt came to a premature end, with the group looking longingly at the base of the …