Volume 42, Issue 8
ACC VANCOUVER ISLAND
SECTION
Social Events
The club has a monthly slide-show
presentation at the Swan Lake Nature
House, 3873 Swan Lake Road, Victoria,
BC on the second Thursday of each
month, except in July and August. The
doors open at 7:00pm, and the show
starts at 7:30pm.
Web Information
Web site: www.accvi.ca
Webmaster: [email protected]
Executive Meeting Minutes
Available on our meeting archives.
National ACC Office
For new memberships and renewals,
changes of address or other details, and
booking huts, contact the ACC National
office directly.
www.alpineclubofcanada.ca
[email protected]
403 678 3200, or P.O. Box 8040
Canmore, AB, T1W 2T8
Annual Membership Dues
Single $ 53
Family $ 75
Youth (19 and under) $ 38
The Island Bushwhacker Newsletter
A monthly (except for July and August)
publication of the Vancouver Island
Section.
Newsletter Editor:
Mary Sanseverino, 250 592 4677,
[email protected]
We encourage submissions of items of
interest to our membership, including
news items, announcements, and short
articles, along with photos. Email your
submission by the 25th day of the previous
month.
Advertising shall be accepted at the
discretion of the editor. All advertising
shall be for products or services of direct
interest to our membership.
Our Motto
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
COME BACK ALIVE
COME BACK FRIENDS
RESPECT THE LAND
HAVE FUN
GET TO THE TOP
(IN THAT ORDER!)
Oct 2014
ACC-VI Summer Camp 2014: Moon set reflection
EXECUTIVE
Chair: Mike Hubbard,
250 370 1096, [email protected]
Secretary: Russ Moir,
250 477 0070, [email protected]
Treasurer: Colleen Kasting,
250 920 5278, [email protected]
Members-at-Large:
Geoff Bennett, 250 853 7515,
[email protected]
Chris Jensen, 250 516 3932,
[email protected]
Access and Environment
Barb Baker, 250 724 2985,
[email protected]
BMFF Coordinator
Krista Zala, 250 857 8643,
[email protected]
Bushwhacker Annual
Cedric Zala, 250 652 5841,
[email protected]
Education
Harry Steiner, 250 652 6647,
[email protected]
Equipment
Mike Hubbard (lower Island), 250
370 1096, [email protected]
Tim Turay (upper Island), 250 334
5259, [email protected]
Evening Events
Brenda O’Sullivan, 250 658 3526,
[email protected]
FMCBC Rep
Rob Macdonald, 250 727 6734,
[email protected]
Library/Archives/History
Tom Hall (Library/Archives),
250 592 2518, [email protected]
Lindsay Elms (History), 250 792
3384, [email protected]
Membership
Janelle Curtis, [email protected]
National Rep
Christine Fordham, [email protected]
Safety
Dave McDowell, 250 220 5028
[email protected]
Schedule
Russ Moir, 250 477 0070,
[email protected]
Webmaster
Martin Hofmann, 250 920 7432,
[email protected]
Webmaster Committee
Dave McDowell, 250 220 5028,
[email protected]
COMING EVENTS AT A GLANCE
Slideshow: Thur Oct 9: Mt Ursus
2014 Summer Camp Slide Show a look at this year's adventures in
the South Chilcotins.
Upcoming: Thur Oct 23: ACC-VI
Photo Competition Show.
GREAT TIMES TO BE HAD AND
TROPHIES TO BE WON!! Mark
your calendar for this fall
favourite.
Inside
2
Upcoming Events
2
Upcoming Trips
3
Helmet Safety
3
ACC-VI Opportunities
4
Trip Report and photos:
Climbing at Breton Island
5
Hiking in the Haihte Range
6
Elk River Traverse
8
e-Trails
8
Views from Rambler Peak
Reminder to Members:
Keep your membership up-to-date,
so to as to be covered by the ACC’s
liability insurance.
Keep your contact information
current on ACC National’s site, as
it’s from this master list that we
download our email addresses for
mailouts.
Register on our ACC-VI site to make
your contact information available to
other ACC-VI members.
Join the ACC-VI listserv to keep in
touch and share information with
other ACC-VI members.
Join the ACC-VI’s Facebook group.
Upcoming Events
Thur, Oct 9, Slideshow: Mt Ursus 2014 Summer Camp Slide Show. Outstanding images, great stories,
amazing country – it’s time for the Summer Camp Slide Show! Join some of the 2014 Summer Camp
participants for a look back at this year's adventures in the Dickson Range of the South Chilcotins on the
mainland. The area is stunning – this slide show will be a real treat.
Thur, Oct 23, ACC-VI Annual Photo Competition. GREAT TIMES TO BE HAD AND TROPHIES TO BE WON!!
If you are an ACC-VI club member, please submit your photos soon. Bring your friends and family for this
fun event. Swan Lake Nature House, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Select your best shots and check out the ACC-VI
Photo Competition page for info on how to get them in the show. This is one of the not-to-be-missed
events of the fall season.
Slideshows are at Swan Lake Nature House. Doors open at 7:00pm, and the show starts at 7:30pm.
Upcoming Trips
Oct 4. Trail Rider trek: Elk Lake. Trail Rider trek with the disabled - as volunteer porters for powering the
adapted wheelchair. We will meet at the Brookleigh Rd Parking Lot of Elk Lake for a 2-3 hour hike. The
summit of Bear Hill may be attempted depending on conditions and the ability level of the group.
Contact: Caroline Tansley 250-886-8038 if you are interested in volunteering for these or other outings.
Oct 5. Mt Whymper: B2. Climb Canada's highest peak south of the 49, near Chemainus, fire closure permitting.
Note: change of date from 12th.
Contact: Rick Hudson [email protected].
Oct 19. Minna's Ridge, Mt Arrowsmith massif. Lovely, open ridge overlooking Arrowsmith, Maquillan, etc. with
inviting rock tarns (for the brave). A special treat kept under wraps by the local aficionados.
Contact: Russ Moir [email protected].
Oct 25. Gowlland Range traverse: B2. Hike from Rowntree Rd to Mckenzie Bight. Car shuttle.
Contact: Brian Parsons [email protected] or Rachel Treloar [email protected].
Oct 25. Maple Mountain - Children/Family friendly hike: A1. My wife (Tanya Binette) and I will lead this (kids)
family hike on October 25th Saturday. It is suitable for all ages (walking or carried in backpack).
Contact: Markus Kellerhals [email protected], 778 430 5011.
Dec 31 – Jan 3. Wendy Thompson Hut ski touring. Winter trip to Wendy Thompson hut for New Year's Eve!!
Travel to Whistler area on Dec. 30th from island, ski into hut on 31st, and ski out, travel back to island on
Jan. 2nd. Limited time offer open to 10 participants with AST and avi gear etc.
Contact: Scott Collins [email protected]. With respect to this trip Scott reports the following: “…the
Whistler section is graciously holding 10 spots aside for the nights of Dec. 31st and Jan. 1 for a trip from
our section. However, they cannot hold this reservation indefinitely as under normal circumstances this
slot would be fully booked (and in fact it was until their generous offer to our section - brought about by a
happy coincidence). So, if you are interested in a winter trip to this area over New Year’s please let me
know at your earliest convenience – i.e. within the next couple of weeks. Otherwise, I shall have to
release all or some these spots as agreed to with ACC Whistler.”
Be sure to check our on-line web schedule periodically for updates!
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Love your head, love your helmet
This is ACC-VI's safety message of the season
Whether climbing, mountaineering or skiing, helmets protect your valuable
noggins while playing. Simple, if you love your head, love your helmet!
Check out an excellent factual article on the "no-brainers" of helmet use and
consequences of not wearing one, at http://www.climbing.com/news/no-brainerhelmet/
The stickers you received this summer from attending various trips, camps,
slideshows, training courses, BBQ etc. will help pass on this message. If you
haven't yet received a sticker, come to a slideshow, or club trip, and we will try to
match you up with a "cool" helmet sticker, to help spread the word.
ACC-VI Opportunities
Schedule a Trip
At the end of an awesome summer, the Trip Schedule becomes somewhat thin. We rest our whole activities on the
trips that we put on for the benefit of members. Any member who would like to post a trip over the next few months
is encouraged to contact Russ or Karun to get those blank spaces filled in.
Please consider a trip that you would want to share with others, of whatever skill demands you are comfortable with.
So … please contact Russ at [email protected] or Karun at [email protected]
Needed – Summer Camp Committee Members
Are you a project and action-oriented person who’d like to be part of organizing our wonderful, world class,
wilderness summer camps? If so, the Summer Camp Committee is looking for you! We need up to three new
members, starting in September/Oct 2014.
Please take a look at information in the Terms of Reference, and send your expression of interest to Liz Williams at
[email protected].
PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING, OR GIVE LIZ SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHO
MIGHT BE A GOOD CANDIDATE!!
Looking for slideshow participants
The 2nd Thursday of every month is slideshow and story time, so if you have done a hiking, backpacking, trekking,
climbing, mountaineering trip or might have something of interest to ACC members then please come present your
photos and tell us about it. It’s fun to present and often spurs lots of conversation and ideas amongst the audience.
We are looking to fill spots on Dec. 11th, Feb. 12, Mar. 12, and into the spring.
If you can help contact Peggy Taylor: [email protected]
Or perhaps you know someone else that has been off on an adventure that you feel would be of interest to the rest
of the club. If so, contact Peggy at the above email and give her your suggestion.
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"GOOD CLEAN SUMMER FUN" ~ Climbing at Breton Island
By Christine Fordham
Breton Island Climbing Area. Photo by Denise Hook
It is always exciting to stumble upon a new climbing area, with a kayak approach to top off the adventure.
Uninhabited Breton Island, easily accessed from Quadra Island, sports a rocky tidal ledge with enough
short, "pleasurable" climbs above to make the trip worthwhile. In the last week of August we had this area
all to ourselves, with the exception of a few curious seals - the total opposite of the line-ups at Squamish's
"Burger and Fries" on a sunny Sunday.
Once on Quadra Island, a 20 minute drive leads to Moulds Bay, where there is a rocky beach to launch
kayaks for the short paddle to the outside of Breton Island. A sheltered cove around the corner provides a
place to beach the kayaks for the day.
The approach along some granite blocks and driftwood, leads to a tidal platform ledge. Above is a series
of 15' - 50' climbs, ranging from 5.3 - 5.10c, as well as some bouldering opportunities. At the top of the
crag are some sturdy trees and a few bolts for anchoring. These can be accessed via scrambling up
either end of the crag. On top of the main granite wall, called "Faulty Towers", are some bolted anchors to
climb some granite blocks, "January Edge" and "West Pine Edge", which are nicely set amongst the
arbutus trees and soft mossy staging spots. These higher climbs have a bit of dried, black, crumbly lichen
on otherwise naturally clean granite.
When the tide rises over the ledge it makes for a warm swimming spot, before the paddle back to
Quadra, where a surprising number of other climbing areas await. These climbing areas are featured in
Phillip Stone’s newer release "Quadra Island Rock Climbing", available at www.wildisle.ca.
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The Hike Through Hell to get to Heaven: Hiking in the Haihte Range.
by Matthew Lettington (excerpts from his blog: Boring Art, Boring Life)
http://nolofacereinsipida.blogspot.ca/2014/09/the-hike-through-hell-to-get-to-heaven.html
Aug 11 – 15, 2014
Total Horizontal Distance:
26.3 km
Starting Elevation: 246 m
Max Elevation: 1,872 m
Elevation Gain: 3,461m
Haihte Range Area
Summits:
Merlon Peaks
The Triplets
Rugged Mountain
In mid-August 2014 Matthew Lettington, along with several friends, headed out for an adventure in the
Haihte Range. As Matthew says “The Haihte Range on Vancouver Island has the nickname, Little
Patagonia. My friend Ryan B. often comments on how this is one of his favourite mountain ranges of
Vancouver Island because it has ample opportunities for glacial exploration as well as general
mountaineering and opportunities for setting gear for trad climbing.”
The team had all the pleasures and challenges that Van Isle mountains can deliver: epic bushwhacking,
stunning views, interesting route-finding, solid climbing and scrambling, weather, critters, and wonderful
mountain camaraderie. The full story in Matthew’s blog is a fine read – pictures and GPS tracks available
too.
Gendarmes, Merlon and Ya'ai peaks
View of Tahsis Inlet, from one of the
South Blades' bumps
Upper Rugged Glacier,
Rugged Mountain in the background
5
Vancouver Island Peaks over 2000 metres
Excerpted from Dave Suttill’s post on the ACC-VI Facebook Group
Congratulations to Ken Wong and George Butcher,
two ACC-VI members who this past month completed
the goal of climbing all of the Vancouver Island peaks
over 2000 metres! They, along with Dave Suttill, did
the Elk River Traverse in early September. The
weather was outstanding, as Dave’s photos will attest.
Dave reports “The original plan was to go in and out of
the west side of the Golden Hinde area via Elk River
Pass. The objective was for Ken and George to finish
off their 2,000 metre peaks per Lindsay's list with
Rambler Jr, The Behinde and The Comb. That much
was accomplished. But halfway down the south side of
Elk River Pass we decided we did not want to
bushwhack back up that slope, or any other of the ups
and downs between there and the Behinde – Golden
Hind Col, so we decided to complete the traverse and
come out at Westmin Mines and one of us (George) would hitch back to the Elk River Trailhead for his
car.”
Heading for Elk River Pass, the low
point in the middle.
Dave and Ken on summit of Mt DeVoe, the Comb
mid left, Golden Hinde middle and Behinde on
right. Photo: George Butcher
The Behinde from the ridge to west. Going up the
scree to the shoulder on the right was a lot easier
than it looked from here.
View from the top of The Comb.
The Behinde on right.
6
A last look back at the Golden Hinde from Phillips Ridge, Carter Lake in middle distance.
The Vancouver Island Peaks over 2000 metres
Rank
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Peak
The Golden Hinde
Elkhorn Mountain
Victoria Peak
Mount Colonel Foster
Rambler Peak
Mount Albert Edward
Mount McBride
The Comb* (Golden Hinde North)
Kings Peak
Rees Ridge (Mount Celeste*)
Mount Filberg
The Red Pillar
Mount Cobb
The Behinde
Rambler Junior
Mount Harmston
Metres
2,200
2,166
2,163
2,135
2,105
2,093
2,081
2,069
2,065
2,045
2,035
2,034
2,030
2,018
2,012
2,009
Feet
7,218
7,106
7,096
7,005
6,906
6,867
6,827
6,788
6,775
6,709
6,676
6,673
6,660
6,621
6,601
6,591
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e-Trails: Online articles, stories, reviews, how-tos about mountain activities
(If you have a link that you feel others would enjoy, send it to Mary Sanseverino,
[email protected], for inclusion in the next Island Bushwhacker Newsletter.)
Maplets – a map app for iOS and Android devices. This tool allows the use of maps in an
offline environment. It also lets you register and overlay one map on top of the other. The
map on page 6 (Elk River Traverse) was created with this technique. It is the Strathcona
Provincial Park map, produced by BC Parks, registered and overlaid on Google Maps.
The Strathcona map could also be overlaid on Google Earth with this tool.
Strathcona map example: http://www.mobilemaplets.com/contribute/mapgps/5178
Barry Blanchard’s memoir, “The Calling: A Life Rocked by Mountains” will be out on
Oct 7. An excellent write up to it can be found on Actionhub. It looks to be a compelling
and exciting read.
ACC-VI member Brandon Hopkins reports that he has been getting excellent service
from a commercial group setup to support those who are active leaders in the
mountaineering community. This includes very good prices on gear, clothing, support,
etc. The group is http://www.promotive.com/ and you can get more information on how
this might work to support trips you are leading or educational activities you might want to
provide by contacting Brandon Hopkins: [email protected]
Looking towards the SW corner of Strathcona Park from the shoulder of Rambler Peak
Photo: Valerie Wootton
8