Explore Some of Our Past Trips

What does each trip blog consist of?

Each blog has:

A Google Earth image which highlights the trip route as a red track. The image also includes an elevation profile and an assortment of statistics.
A brief description and summary statistics on the accompanying tabs.
A link to Gaia GPS for an interactive full-screen topographical map and the ability to download a GPX file for your gps device.
Some trips also include a virtual fly-over video of the hike (more to come!).

What does elevation gain/loss mean?

Numbers are given as +meters ascent/-meters descent. So, for example, if you started at 100 meters above sea level, climbed 100 m, descended 50 m, climbed another 200 m and descended another 50, you would end up at 300 m above level. Your elevation gain/losss would be expressed as 300 m/-100 m.

What are +/- and Max/Avg slope statistics?

Slopes are expressed as +X %/-Y %. The positive number is the slope on the ascent and the negative number is the slope on the descent. A 10% slope means a gain of 10 meters in elevation over 100 meters in distance. Both maximum and average slopes are given. If you climbed and descended on the same route the positives and negatives should be the same (within the error tolerance of your gps tracker).

What determines the degree of difficulty of any trip?

Perceived degree of difficulty is, of course, dependent upon your own personal level of physical fitness. Relative difficulty is a combination of distance (and how quickly one travels over that distance), elevation gain/loss and the maximum and average slopes as well as trail conditions (smooth, rocky, heavy bushes etc.) Our club is currently working on establishing a diffulty rating for our trips trying to take as many of these factors into account as possible.

Cumberland Trails – Allen Lake Loop

A Fall Day Hike

Dec. 9, 2017

A day hike starting from Coal Creek Historic Park on Comox Lake Rd. in Cumberland. The hike follows a number of named trails ascending to Allen Lake and looping around to return via a different route.

Topographical map and gpx file download at Gaia GPS.

Distance	9.3 km
Elev. Gain/Loss	362 m, -363 m
Max Slope	49%, -27%
Avg. Slope	7%, -7%
Difficulty Rating

Video fly-over pending.

Photo Album and Trip Report on Meetup [Login required] →

Trip Catalogue

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Raven Lodge to Cruickshank Canyon Lookout

A Summer Day Hike

Sep. 16, 2017

A day hike from Raven Lodge at Mt. Washington Nordic Center to Cruickshank Canyon Lookout and return.

Topographical map and gpx file download at Gaia GPS.

Distance	21.4 km
Elev. Gain/Loss	756 m, -756 m
Max Slope	25%, -26%
Avg. Slope	6%, -6%
Difficulty Rating

Virtual fly-over video pending.

Photo Album and Trip Report on Meetup [Login required] →

Trip Catalogue

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Beech’s, N. Chinese & S. Chinese Mtns.

A Summer Day Hike

Sep. 14, 2017

A day trip to Quadra Island including ferry from Campbell River to Quathiaski Cove. Three peaks summited, Beech’s Mtn., North Chinese Mtn., and South Chinese Mtn. Peaks are moderate in elevation but offer super panoramic views of the Coast Range and numerous peaks on Vancouver Island.

Topographical map and gpx file download at Gaia GPS.

Distance	7.7 km
Elev. Gain/Loss	643 m, -643 m
Max Slope	50%, -48%
Avg. Slope	15%, -15%
Difficulty Rating

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Raven Lodge to Buttle Lake

A Five-Day Summer Backpacking Trip

Aug. 31 to Sep. 4, 2017

A five-day backpacking trip from Raven Lodge at Mt. Washington Nordic Center to Westmin Rd. at Buttle Lake. The trip requires a pick-up at Buttle Lake. Various shuttle services are available and should be booked ahead of time. This may limit the number of hikers in the group.

Day 1: From Raven Lodge to campground at Circlet Lake.

Topographical map and gpx file download at Gaia GPS.

Day 2: From Circlet Lake climb to the top of the ridge, drop backpacks and ascend Mt. Jutland with day packs and return to pick up backpacks. Hike to camp at base of Mt. Albert Edward.

Topographical map and gpx file download at Gaia GPS.

Day 3: Summit Mt. Albert Edward and continue on to Ruth Masters lake to camp.

Topographical map and gpx file download at Gaia GPS.

Day 4: Climb out of valley to saddle below Augerpoint Mtn. Switch to daypacks to summit Augerpoint. Return to saddle, retrive backpacks and continue to camp at one of the tarns below NW Peak.

Topographical map and gpx file download at Gaia GPS.

Day 5: Summit NW Peak with daypacks. Descend and retrieve backpacks and complete final descent to Buttle Lake.

Topographical map and gpx file download at Gaia GPS.

Distance	10.6 km
Elev. Gain/Loss	480 m, -373 m
Max Slope	33%, -26%
Avg. Slope	8%, -6%
Difficulty Rating


Distance	9.8 km
Elev. Gain/Loss	1043 m, -356 m
Max Slope	52%, -40%
Avg. Slope	15%, -11%
Difficulty Rating


Distance	7.3 km
Elev. Gain/Loss	483 m, -931 m
Max Slope	60%, -60%
Avg. Slope	15%, -20%
Difficulty Rating


Distance	6.2 km
Elev. Gain/Loss	724 m, -605 m
Max Slope	60%, -63%
Avg. Slope	20%, -19%
Difficulty Rating


Distance	8.5 km
Elev. Gain/Loss	361 m, -1682 m
Max Slope	41%, -70%
Avg. Slope	13%, -24%
Difficulty Rating

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5040 Peak

A Summer Day Hike

Aug. 26, 2017

A day hike to the summit following the same route on ascent and descent. A strenuous hike averaging 26% slope (see Statistics). Rewarding 360° view at summit includes Trip Peak, Nahmint and many more peaks. Requires 4×4 or comparable high clearance vehicle to access trail head.

Topographical map and gpx file download at Gaia GPS.

Distance	7.1 km
Elev. Gain/Loss	995 m, -995 m
Max Slope	62%, -62%
Avg. Slope	26%, -26%
Difficulty Rating

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Comox Glacier (One Night)

An Overnight Summer Backpacking Trip

Jul. 29 – 30, 2017

A one night camp on the summit snowfield or rock island. This trip included full backpacks to the south summit where camp was set up. Two forays with day packs – for a couple of hours on the evening of day 1 to the backside of the glacier and a trip the following morning to the north summit and back to camp. Then pack up and descend to trailhead.

Topographical map and gpx file download at Gaia GPS.

Distance	17.6 km
Elev. Gain/Loss	2152 m, -2152 m
Max Slope	65%, -65%
Avg. Slope	22%, 22%
Difficulty Rating

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Ash Pond Loop (from Wood Mtn. Ski Area)

A Summer Day Hike

Jul. 13, 2017

A day hike from abandoned Wood Mtn. Ski area (top of Forbidden Plateau Rd.) to the Wood Mtn. traverse trail to Slingshot Meadows. Then an ascent to Ash Pond and return along the base of Mt. Becher back to the traverse trail and the ski area.

Topographical map and gpx file download at Gaia GPS.

Distance	15.3 km
Elev. Gain/Loss	1015 m, -1015 m
Max Slope	42%, -43%
Avg. Slope	12%, -12%
Difficulty Rating

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Trip Catalogue

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