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 …
Jagged Mountain: Grovelling in the Gully
[insert snappy introduction] I love mountaineering in the Sutton Range because the peaks offer a sense of exploration I don’t always find in more popular regions. I attribute this feeling to the relative isolation of the peaks: they are a long way from the major population centres of Vancouver Island, …
Big Interior Mountain: A Failed Attempt of Nine Peaks
View PostMount Judson from Saunders Mainline
Strathcona Park is a jewel nestled among many of the island’s tallest peaks. In many places, the long mountain ridges are the natural boundaries that define the shape of the park. All around the park, and sometimes within it, is evidence of industry: logging and mining change the landscape, and …
Mount Heber: worth the squeeze?
View PostMount Spencer: Revenge on the Mountain
View PostA Spring Snowshoe in the Mackenzie Range
The day’s goal was Canoe Peak, but a series of pre-existing minor injuries and unfavourable route conditions in the Mackenzie Range conspired to stop us from reaching it. Despite our misfortune, we still enjoyed the day. The Mackenzie Range features some of Vancouver Island’s most dramatic-looking peaks, the type that …
A winter route up Big Den turns unseasonably warm
View PostWaring Peak: a snowshoe in the Sutton Range
It’s been a disappointing Spring for me. While I’m not normally a ‘glass-half-empty’ sort of guy, the last few soggy months have brought canceled multi-day trips, abortive summit attempts, and numerous other events that simply failed to launch. It’s been a trying season! I don’t intend to dwell on these facts, …