This hike was billed as an exploratory to check out trail conditions on the mountain, not to explore a new route. The plan was to hike in Paradise Meadows, perhaps up to the lakes if possible, with the south facing slopes above Ramparts as a backup plan. The snow in the meadows wasn't too bad to walk on, but we soon came to large patches of very soft wet ground. So off to plan B. The logging roads that head north above Ramparts were bare and dry or snow covered depending on the exposure. All were manageable for hiking. We hiked about 3 kilometers, climbing steeply about 270 meters with views of the Comox Valley, the ocean and mainland mountains along the way. We stopped for lunch with views of the nearby mountains to the west before returning on the same roads.
Photos by Tannis, Lindsay, Steve and Bill. Steve Ray's aerial video.
Photos by Tannis, Lindsay, Steve and Bill. Steve Ray's aerial video.