Hiking Trails 3 |
Central & Northern Vancouver Island & Quadra Island
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Updates since the publication of Hiking Trails 3, 10th Edition in 2008
A new, completely revised edition came off the press in October 2008. Click "Buy a Book" to purchase directly from the Society, or inquire at local bookstores.
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Re page 14: Jim Spowart, Area Supervisor, BC Parks has advised us that there are some parks where hunting is allowed, including some areas of Strathcona Park. Hiker should be aware that this might be a hazard in certain areas and at certain times. (Posted May 2009)
Re Rees Ridge, maps M6 page 41 and M7 pages 46/47 - new Mirren Lake access information provided by Lindsay Elms (in Hiking Trails 3, we did not have an access up Kweishun Creek - note that this is more of a mountaineers' route):
In June (2009), a logging road was pushed to the Strathcona Park boundary up Kweishun Creek just north of the Comox Glacier. From Comox Lake, take the logging road up the Cruikshank River to the T-junction. Turn right and follow the Cruikshank Main up to the West Fork Main just over Rees Creek. Turn left and follow the logging road up Rees Creek for 3-4 km then swing left over Rees Creek and up Kweishun Creek. About 2 km in the road crosses Kweishun Creek below a dried lake then continues up the valley another 600 metres to where it crosses back to the north side of the creek. It is then 2.3km to the end of the road. A 4x4 vehicle is required from the dried lake to the end of the road. It is not known exactly when they will be logging at the head of the valley but it will most likely be this summer and then access will be denied until they have finished.
From the end of the road, pick up a flagged route through the steep old growth timber for about 40 minutes to another dried lake. The flagged route was established by Island Alpine Guides who have been using this access for several months to promote their mountaineering courses in the spectacular alpine arena around Mirren Lake. Check their web site at http://www.islandalpineguides.com/ to see photos. From the dried lake stay to the right (north) of the valley under the steep headwall avoiding thick bush in the middle. Scramble across scree and talus slopes back around to the river where it cascades down from above. Cross the creek and then ascend a snow/sparsely vegetated slope to get under the headwall on the south side. Above the cascade the U-shaped valley narrows considerably and is choked full of snow from winter avalanches. Several larges crevasses have become exposed and the possibility of others still hidden is a concern therefore mountaineering experience is essential to successfully climb the slope to Gordon Wood Lake. From Gordon Wood Lake continue around the south side to Mirren Lake. Camp on the rock bluff near the outlet of the lake or continue around the lake to a gravel flat half way around the south side. The total time to Mirren Lake from the end of the road is around 3 hours.
From the lake there is easy access up onto the ridge between the Comox Glacier and the Aureole Snowfield. This route avoids at least 2 days to get to the Aureole via the traditional Comox Glacier route. Access can be made to the Comox Glacier via the North Gully by going half way around the lake. At the gravel flat on the lake ascend up the wide snow/scree slopes aiming for the treed bluffs to the lookers right of the seracs. Easy travel through the bluffs will take you to the edge of the glacier. From there travel (to the left) is straightforward under the headwall but through crevassed regions which will take you to the base of the Comox Glacier's North Gully. The crux of the gully will be negotiating the bergshrund and in low snow years it could be tricky to by-pass. Ascend snow/ice up to 45 degrees. From the top of the gully head northeast across the flats to the main summit of the Comox Glacier.
Alternatively once beside the glacier continue heading on the upper lateral moraines above Milla Lake to the head of the cirque where an exposed 4th class section will pop you onto the Comox/Argus Col putting you in a perfect position for Argus Mountain. Take care here if it's wet! Early season there are large cornices above both these features to content with. (Posted June 2009)
Updates to Hiking Trails III, 9th Edition published in 2002
ERRATUM: page 72, footnote--Ralph Rosseau died from a fall into a crevasse on Mount Septimus, not Mount Arrowsmith. We thank Peter Rothermel for this correction.
ADDENDUM: footnote re: Col. William Foster--When Foster and Albert McCarthy completed the first ascent of Mount Robson, "Conrad Kain did the route-finding, chopped hundreds of steps in difficult conditions and then made sure both men were safe on the arduous descent. The full story is available in Bruce Fairley's recent Canadian alpine anthology." We thank Paul Walton for this addendum.
UPDATES TO THE 9TH EDITION
Pages 40-41 and map D4: Cliff Umpleby of Island Alpine Guides reports on the current access (August 2008) from Cumberland via Timberwest roads around Comox Lake to the Cougar Lake trailhead for the Kookjai Mountain region, including Tatsno Lakes, Black Cat Mountain and access to the Comox Glacier. He states that, "If you are not in past the security by 6am they will not let you in again until 4pm currently. If you have a VHF radio they will let you up." But security restrictions are changing, almost daily, so check ahead if possible."
Page 39, Comox Glacier Trail: Ken Rodonets advises that TimberWest has improved their road: one can now drive right up to the trail head. Use caution going in there due to logging trucks ... access only from 6 pm to 6 am Monday to Friday. (April, 2005)
Page 48, Della Falls - Drinkwater Creek trail: We have received a report that due to heavy snowpack last winter, the is a lot of blowdown and snow pack still in some parts of the valleys. In fact, the Drinkwater trail to Della Falls is apparently not recommended by BC Parks - blowdown and a bridge out. A ford is required, but the word is that the bridge might be replaced soon. (July, 2008)
Pages 103,179 & 183, Nisnak Lake, Gem Lake, Upper Adam Road, Paradise Meadows, Mt. Schoen: Don Leard, an active hiker in the Campbell River area, passes on the following information.
He tried to reach Nisnak Lake, accessing by Upper Adam Road (Page 183). He was only able to go about 1 km to the "gravel bar and fine view of Mt Schoen and falls" where the trail became completely impassable and he gave up trying to go there. There were side trails that led nowhere.
He has hiked to Gem Lake (page 102) in the past and now found the access along Oyster River Main closed off by a logging company. They will not let anyone use the road even on weekends. Gem Lake is in Strathcona Park but now no one is able to get in to this area. He says it is beautiful there. (August, 2005)
Page 156, Bill's Trail (Mount H'Kusam): Amend text as follows: Accessed from the corner of Sabre Road in Sayward, Bill's Trail climbs up Mount H'Kusam to an elevation of 1670 m. There are plenty of breath-taking vistas, so don't forget your camera. The highlight is an expansive view over Salmon Bay and the Salmon River estuary and views of Johnstone Strait. This is a steep climb in a wilderness environment, so carry adequate mountain hiking gear. A round trip takes about six hours.... A trail map is available at the White River Court and the tourist information centre near the Sayward Junction. Stowe Creek Trail (Mount H'Kusam) ascends the other side of the mountain from a rough access road (four-by-four vehicles only.) Bill adds that there are "even better loops and views to be enjoyed, plus water, and real climbing challenges, if desired. Connects to Bill's Trail via a steep but safe pass." The route is shown on the back of the Bill's Trail map. (March, 2003)
Page 213, Cape Scott Provincial Park and the proposed North Coast Trail: The trail should be completed in the fall, 2007. It will be constructed with a new "hut to hut" system and include boardwalks, campsites, outhouses and bear caches. However, the trail in not yet complete. Hikers are requested to avoid using any part of the route until after construction is finished. Also see http://www.northcoasttrail.com/ for additional information.
According to a recent article in British Columbia Magazine (summer 2007 issue), the North Coast Trail may be completed as early as September 2007. "It will give backpackers the option of walking a 61 kilometre circuit: 15 kilometres from the main parking lot to Nissen Bight, then eastward along the new 46 kilometre trail to Shushartie Bay, with a water taxi pick-up at the end."
In an article in the Victoria Times Colonist of July 3, 2007, it was noted that a recent grant of almost $250,000 from the Island Coastal Economic Trust should help ensure that the North Coast Trail can be finished by this fall. The trail will extend the existing route from Nissen Bight to Shushartie Bay, providing another 46 km of trails, it said. The addition will see about 2,000 metres of boardwalk, 240 metres of stairs and 250 meters of retaining walls, as well as six new campsites and two cable cars, according to the Times Colonist.
Update May 11, 2008: The Victoria Times Colonist newspaper reports that the 43km North Coast Trail was formally opened yesterday. "The new trail links with the existing Cape Scott trail, forming a 58-kilometre stretch west from Port Hardy... Unlike the West Coast Trail, the new trail won't require advance bookings, at least for the first year." There may be a reservation system in the future.
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