Mt. Washington PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 11 August 2004 00:00
We decided that today we would venture to Mount Washington, the island alpine destination to take in the scenery. The weather is still spectacular and we were hoping we could have a clear view of the surrounding area. Unfortunately, last night a forest fire started near Courtney and there is a faint haze, which has settled everywhere. The fire is a serious concern up here on the central island, which is very dry and heavily forested and we can only hope that it is soon contained.

The road going up to Mt. Washington is great, though we learned that in it's early years it consisted of not much more than a dirt logging trail. Once we arrived at the mountain base we ventured to the lodge where we bought tickets for the Eagle Chairlift, which would take us to the top. The resort is a hub of activity offering mountain biking, disc-golfing, horseback riding, ATV Guided tours, hiking, dining and sightseeing as well as being a full scale winter resort. From the top, we could see the Comox Glacier, Campbell River and Powell River as well as where the forest fire was currently burning.

We met a lovely couple, Fred and Bernice from Victoria, owners of one of the many accommodations on the mountain who were enjoying the facilities. They have been coming to Mt. Washington from Victoria pretty much weekly for almost 20 years enjoying the different seasons and the sports that go with them. We followed them along a trail that led to the base as they filled us in on some of the changes that have taken place over the years. We would stop occasionally on the hike down to admire the wild, purple lupins and violet fireweed and pick some of the abundant blueberries and huckleberries that covered the terrain. Our new friends were very kind and helpful, leaving us with the knowledge that BC is truly a very special place!