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| Vancouver Island Alpine Guide |
Vancouver Island's second highest peak is located on the east side of the Elk River Valley between Kings Peak and Rambler Mountain.
Accessing the summit block
From a camp on the Elk River at the start of the gravel flats that lead to Landslide Creek; hike down the trail past the first avalanche gully. During the summer this is an open area with a water fall beside the trail. Continue into the woods about 10m to where an old trail goes to the left and away from the river, at this junction leave the trail and angle down to the river. The river will be going over the first big boulders after the gravel flats, and across the river will be the bottom of a narrow gully.
Cross the river and ascend this gully. Higher up the gully will broaden and start heading slightly to the right. When it is apparent that the gully leads into the rock wall guarding the top of the ridge, traverse right under a large detached block. Ascend the minor gully on the right side of the block. From the top of the block an old tree trunk can be walked on to reach a crevice in the rock wall, which gives access to the top of the ridge, north west of the summit block. It is important to mark the location of the crevice since it is almost impossible to see from the top.
Hike east passing under the gendarme on scree or snow slopes on the west side of the ridge. In the corner of the summit block formed by the NW and SW ridges climb into the base of the second gully system. Ascend a steep chimney, then head left using cracks to reach easier ground. Lastly scramble to the summit. Class 4. DGB
FA: J.Bajan, P.Busch; June 18, 1977
FA: J.Bajan, T.Muirhead, D.Smith, S.Wazny; 1972
FA: A.Harrison; June 1975
No details are known
Last Updated: Sept 7, 1997