Ascent to Paradise

“In more ways than one, you get an entirely different view of the world from a mountaintop” say scientists Richard and Sydney Cannings in British Columbia, A Natural History. Rugged valleys, icy streams, and sloping meadows of wildflowers undulating in the subalpine wind: these are what catch the eye when hiking Vancouver Island’s mountains.

Like lower elevations, the Island’s ranges have vistas enough for photographs, but they also have geological oddities, unique plant and animal communities, and trees so determined to survive that they bend themselves into all manner of contortions. Since this is one of the snowiest places on earth, hiking the Island’s mountains means being prepared. Temperatures fluctuate rapidly, reminding hikers to pack insulating layers that can be easily donned or shed. Covered by snowpack until late July or even August, the alpine landscape emerges for a brief season before diving back into winter.

Thankfully, there is still time to take in some of that short-lived brilliance. Late summer is one of the best times to visit Vancouver Island’s mountains, and on mid-Island peaks like Mount Arrowsmith and Mount Cokely, wildflowers still paint the hillsides along with a bumper crop of black huckleberries and blueberries and their stunning red leavesKeep to the trails to avoid trampling sensitive plant and don’t forget to bring your camera. With careful preparation, a day in the alpine could be your peak experience.

Located off Highway 4 west of Qualicum Beach and east of Port Alberni, the mountain known as Arrowsmith is actually comprised of multiple peaks, the most prominent being Arrowsmith and Cokely. A network of logging roads provide good access to a series of trails in the vicinity, some ascending gradually to the mountains’ slopes, with others climbing sharply to their summits. A decommissioned ski resort located on the south side of the peaks marks the start of a historic trail that once saw guests of the Canadian Pacific Railway carried on horseback from the Cameron Lake Chalet.

To get to the alpine today, hikers commonly take the saddle route that ascends the slope between Arrowsmith and Cokely gaining 450 metres in elevation. Highlights of this hike include alpine and subalpine wildflowers—aster, harebells and pink monkey flower are currently blooming—huckleberries and lowbush blueberries and view of an alpine lake. View aficionados will appreciate vistas of the Gulf Islands, the Strait of Georgia, and neighbouring peaks. Commonly known as the most accessible alpine area on Southern Vancouver Island (1,819 m), Mount Arrowsmith is currently the focus of a park proposal encompassing the massif’s peaks and lakes.

Submitted by: Patrick Walshe Patrick Walshe is a Vancouver Island nature tour guide and biologist. http://www.coastalrevelations.comPatrick Walshe, R. P. Biologist, 1-866-954-0110Coastal Revelations Nature Tours