Vancouver Island Ranges

The Vancouver Island Ranges, formerly called the Vancouver Island Mountains, are a mountain range extending along the length of Vancouver Island which has an area of 31,788 km² (12,273 sq; mi). The Vancouver Island Ranges comprise the central and largest part of the island.[1] The Geological Survey of Canada refers to Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, and the Alaska Panhandle as the Insular Belt including the sea floor out to 100 km (62 mi) west of Vancouver Island.[2] The Vancouver Island Ranges are a sub-range of the Insular Mountains.

Vancouver Island Ranges
Golden Hinde, south aspect, August 2006.
Highest point
PeakGolden Hinde
Elevation2,195 m (7,201 ft)
Coordinates49°39′43.8″N 125°44′48.6″W
Dimensions
Area45,373 km2 (17,519 sq mi)
Geography
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Range coordinates49°40′N 125°49′W
Parent rangeInsular Mountains

Explorations

The first European sighting[3] of these ranges was likely Sir Francis Drake. A sighting of land on June 5, 1579 was recorded by his crew aboard the vessel Golden Hind at a latitude of 48 degrees north but not finding safe harbour, they moved on southward. The highest peak of the Vancouver Island Ranges, the Golden Hinde is named for his vessel.

The first European explorer likely to have observed any of the mountains of the Vancouver Island Ranges would have been Captain Juan José Pérez aboard the Spanish frigate Santiago. Although he anchored off Estevan Point, on August 8, 1774 he did not land. Captain James Cook entered Nootka Sound March 29, 1778 and spent about a month refitting his ships Discovery and Resolution. His logs contain the first recorded reference to the mountains of Vancouver Island. In 1788 British Captain John Meares began a small settlement at Nootka Sound and the following year, the Spanish built a permanent fort at Friendly Cove (Yuquot) in Nuu-chah-nulth territory. The Spanish claimed sovereignty and a dispute arose which was resolved with the Nootka Convention of the 1794. There was little further exploration until the Hudson's Bay Company was granted rights to Vancouver Island on January 13, 1849 leading to the first attempt, by Captain Hamilton Moffat in 1852 to ascend a major peak on the Island when he attempted Rugged Mountain.

Adam Grant Horne located a trail across the island from the Qualicum River to the Alberni Inlet in 1856 and Joseph Despard Pemberton, Surveyor General of the Colony of Vancouver Island explored much of the southern half of the Island in 1857. The southern Island was further explored by the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition in 1865. By the mid-1880s the southern half of the island had been explored and by 1890 the northern region had been explored as well. The central part of the island, the area now within Strathcona Provincial Park, was explored by Reverend William Washington Bolton, Headmaster of the Victoria School for Boys, in 1894 and 1896.

Ranges

Named Ranges of Vancouver Island

Only a few of the many subranges of the Vancouver Island Ranges have official names. These are:

  1. Refugium Range: On the Brooks Peninsula.
  2. Sophia Range: On Nootka Island, on the peninsula between Esperanza Inlet and Nuchatlitz Inlet.
  3. Genevieve Range: Nootka Island.
  4. Karmutzen Range: Between Nimpkish Lake, Tlakwa Creek and Karmuzten Creek.
  5. Hankin Range: Between Nimpkish Lake and Bonanza Lake.
  6. Franklin Range: Near Robson Bight on the Johnstone Strait between the Tsitika River and Kokish River.
  7. Bonanza Range: Between the Nimpkish River and the Tsitika River by Bonanza Lake.
  8. Sutton Range: Between Nimpkish River, White River, ktwanch River, Gold River.
  9. Newcastle Ridge: Johnstone Strait, west of Sayward-Kelsey Bay and east/north of Adams River
  10. Prince of Wales Range: East coast of Vancouver Island 40 km (25 mi) north of Campbell River.
  11. Halifax Range: Along Johnstone Strait between Amor de Cosmos Creek and Pye Creek.
  12. Beaufort Range: North of Port Alberni and west of Qualicum Beach.
  13. Pelham Range: Between the Sarita River and Alberni Inlet.
  14. Somerset Range: Between The Pacheena-Sarita River basins and the Klanawa River (between Nitinat Lake and Imperial Eagle channel)
  15. Seymour Range: Between the valley of Cowichan Lake, San Juan River and Gordon River.
  16. Gowlland Range: Near Victoria between Saanich Inlet and Brentwood Bay. Includes Mount Work Regional Park.
  17. Pierce Range: South of Gold River between the Jacklah River and the Burman River.
  18. Haihte Range: Between Tashsis River, the Nomash River, Zeballos Lake and Woss Lake.

The Elk River Mountains, located in Strathcona Provincial Park, are considered a range by some sources.[4]

Peaks of the Vancouver Island Ranges

Mountain/PeakLocationHeight (metres)Prominence (metres)Range
Golden Hinde 49°39′46″N 125°44′49″W 2,201 2,195 Elk River
Elkhorn Mountain 49°47.4′N 125°49.7′W 2,195 996 Elk River
Victoria Peak 50°03.3′N 126°06.0′W 2,163 1,849 Sutton
Mount Colonel Foster 49°45.0′N 125°52.1′W 2,135 864 Elk River
Mount Albert Edward 49°40.7′N 125°25.9′W 2,093 1,203 ?
Rambler Peak 49°44.0′N 125°44.8′W 2,092 647 Elk River
Mount McBride 49°43.3′N 125°39.0′W 2,083 918 ?
Kings Peak 49°48.7′N 125°50.2′W 2,065 328 Elk River
Mount Celeste 49°34′N 125°24′W 2,041 369 ?
The Comb 2,040 0 ?
Mount Filberg 49°48′28.1″N 125°43′39.0″W 2,035 0 ?
The Red Pillar 49°31′32.2″N 125°23′21.1″W 2,035 0 ?
Mount Cobb 49°47′23.0″N 125°44′51.0″W 2,031 0 ?
The Behinde49°39′51.1″N 125°46′14.2″W1,9890
Mount Colwell1,9890
Alexandra Peak49°44′17.2″N 125°29′31.9″W1,9830
Argus Mountain49°32′19.0″N 125°23′11.0″W1,9820
Mount Harmston49°32′56.0″N 125°23′53.9″W1,9820
Mount Regan49°41′06.0″N 125°25′55.0″W1,9820
Iceberg Peak49°34′N 125°24′W1,9770
Warden Peak50°03′44.0″N 126°05′46.0″W1,9700
El Piveto Mountain49°43.3′N 125°47.2′W1,969500
Mount Rosseau49°28′44.0″N 125°30′22.0″W1,9620
Comox Glacier1,9600
Mount Haig-Brown49°46′23.0″N 125°44′19.0″W1,9470
Mount Frink49°39′48.0″N 125°24′31.0″W1,9210
Shepherd Ridge1,9210
Peak 19201,9200
Peak 19091,9090
Mount George V49°41.6′N 125°25.9′W1,8840
The Misthorns1,8800
Tzela Mountain49°32.0′N 125°25.0′W1,8800
Rugged Mountain50°01′31″N 126°40′40″W1,8750Haihte
Mount Adrian49°45′23.0″N 125°31′45.9″W1,8700
Mount Shoen1,8620
Big Interior Mountain49°27′38.2″N 125°34′26.0″W1,8630
Sutton Peak50°02′28.0″N 126°14′07.0″W1,8620
Mount Septimus49°28′50.0″N 125°30′49.0″W1,8500
Crown Mountain49°56.7′N 125°48.8′W1,8461339
Nine Peaks49°25′55.0″N 125°32′57.0″W1,8420
Syd Watts Peak1,8400
Siokum Mountain1,8400
Siocomb Peak1,8400
Mount Mitchell49°41′17.2″N 125°27′47.9″W1,8380
Jutland Mountain49°42′06.8″N 125°24′51.8″W1,8380
Puzzle Mountain49°47′26.2″N 125°54′56.2″W1,8280
Maquilla Peak50°06′42.1″N 126°20′20.4″W1,8210
Mount Arrowsmith49°13.4′N 124°35.7′W1,8171,429
Mount Donner49°41′24.0″N 125°53′31.9″W1,8120
Mount Kent-Urquhart49°40′35.0″N 125°53′48.8″W1,8110
Mount Myra49°32′39.8″N 125°36′22.0″W1,8100
Matchlee Mountain49°37′54.8″N 125°58′00.9″W1,8060
Moyeha Mountain49°31′00.8″N 125°44′20.0″W1,8040
Mount Cain50°13.7′N 126°19.6′W1,8040
Mount Abel50°12.714′N 126°19.218′W1,8000
Ptarmigan Pinnacles1,8000
Morrison Spire1,8000
Merlon Mountain50°02.0′N 126°41.8′W1,7980
Mount Laing49°49′27.1″N 125°42′24.1″W1,7980
Mount Tom Taylor49°28′39.0″N 125°38′16.0″W1,7780
Mariner Mountain49°27.600′N 125°45.783′W1,7780
Big Den Mountain49°53.1′N 125°48.8′W1,7760
Peak 58001,7680
Bonanza Peak50°19.8′N 126°37.8′W1,7670
Hapush Mountain50°14.6′N 126°20.0′W1,7670
Marble Peak49°41.7′N 125°36.5′W1,7670
Splendour Mountain1,7660
Mount Palmerston50°24′27.0″N 126°20′13.9″W1,7630
Mount Burman49°37′26.0″N 125°43′52.0″W1,7560
Mount Judson49°56′24.0″N 125°55′18.8″W1,7470
Mount Beadnell1,7460
Mount Ashwood50°18′34.9″N 126°36′13.0″W1,7440
Mount Con Reid49°44′44.2″N 125°44′12.8″W1,7440
Mount Alston50°01′00.8″N 126°13′31.1″W1,7430
Watchtower Peak50°05′13.9″N 126°13′37.9″W1,7400
Mount Russell50°23′04.9″N 126°21′47.9″W1,7400
Elk Mountain1,7370
Ya'ai Peak50°02.4′N 126°41.3′W1,7360
Trio Mountain49°52′45.8″N 126°00′11.9″W1,7320
Phillips Ridge49°35′48.8″N 125°40′50.2″W1,7320
Mount Thelwood49°32.3′N 125°44.0′W1,7310
Mount Phillips49°37′13.1″N 125°34′44.1″W1,7230
Mount Adam50°07′14.2″N 126°13′22.1″W1,7290
Mount DeVoe49°41′33.0″N 125°48′24.0″W1,7100
Haihte Spire50°02′58″N 126°42′0″W1,7060
Jagged Mountain50°16′01.9″N 126°17′28.0″W1,7010
Whiltilla Mountain50°21′59.0″N 126°42′20.9″W1,6930Bonanza Range
Popsicle Peak49°37′27.9″N 125°54′51.8″W1,6820
Mount Bate49°53′24.0″N 126°28′24.0″W1,6800
Volcano Peak1,6760
Mount Abraham1,6760
South Blades1,6760
Scimitar Peak1,6760
Tyee Mountain49°58′45.8″N 125°53′39.1″W1,6720
Hkusam Mountain50°20′05.0″N 125°50′27.0″W1,6700Prince of Wales
Mount Heber49°53′48.8″N 125°55′00.8″W1,6660
Crest Mountain49°52′18.8″N 125°52′34.0″W1,6610
Tsitika Mountain50°25′36.1″N 126°39′06.1″W1,6570
Mount Juliet50°15′29.2″N 126°10′15.9″W1,6370
Ms. Mountain49°39′08″N 125°53′23″W1,6550
Mount Nora50°09′15.1″N 126°06′50″W1,6480
Mount Sarai1,6460
Mount Derby50°26′17.2″N 126°32′21.8″W1,6460
Klitsa Mountain49°15′14.0″N 125°13′53.0″W1,6420
Queen Peak50°02′55.0″N 126°03′14.0″W1,6400
Mount Romeo50°15′33.8″N 126°12′29.2″W1,6370
Mount McKelvie49°59′17.2″N 126°34′50.9″W1,6300
Hyro Peak1,6280
Eden Mountain50°14′11.0″N 126°14′52.1″W1,6250
Mount Cokely49°14′21.8″N 124°35′12.1″W1,6160
Kokummi Mountain50°05′55.0″N 126°08′22.9″W1,6150Sutton
Thumb Peak1,6150
Mount Moriarty49°08.3′N 124°27.1′W1,6100
Big Baldy Mountain49°45.6′N 126°08.0′W1,6100
Bancroft Peak1605?0
Waring Peak1,6010
The Scissors1,5970
Woss Mountain50°03′34.9″N 126°33′37.1″W1,5940
Mount Washington49°45′N 125°18′W1,585510
Mount Elliott50°17′26.9″N 126°29′39.1″W1,5810
Zeballos Peak50°05′48.0″N 126°46′08.0″W1,5760
Mount McQuillan49°06′33.8″N 124°36′18.0″W1,5750
Malaspina Peak49°51.9′N 126°32.1′W1,5730
Peak 51501,5700
Nahmint Mountain49°12.5′N 125°12.8′W1,5680
Mount Peel1,5640
Mount Joan49°24.9′N 124°55.2′W1,5570Beaufort
Mount Grattan49°54.4′N 126°29.2′W1,5500
Mount Flannigan49°55.2′N 125°43.9′W1,5500
Mount Alava49°53.4′N 126°29.8′W1,5500
Pinder Peak50°11.7′N 126°55.8′W1,5420
Mount Whymper48°57.1′N 124°09.7′W1,5410
Abco Mountain49°25.5′N 125°51.3′W1,5260
Peak 50051,5250
Stevens Peak49°51.4′N 126°27.4′W1,5090
Barad-dur1,5050
Mook Peak50°09.2′N 126°51.7′W1,5050
El Capitan Mountain48°57.3′N 124°13.2′W1,4920
Mount Service48°57.8′N 124°15.1′W1,4900
Douglas Peak49°07.7′N 124°38.6′W1,4900
Genesis Mountain1,4860
Mount Titus1,4810
Conuma Peak49°49.7′N 126°18.6′W1,4810
Limestone Mountain49°05.7′N 124°38.7′W1,4800
Adder Peak49°14.9′N 125°19.0′W1,4800
Megin Mountain49°32.3′N 126°03.2′W1,4800
Lone Wolf Mountain49°27′58.0″N 125°54′46.1″W1,479734
The Stone Trolls1,4780
Ursus Mountain49°24.2′N 125°42.9′W1,4710
Mount Milner50°19.3′N 125°46.9′W1,4700Prince of Wales
Steamboat Peak49°13.2′N 125°25.3′W1,4650
Mount Roberts50°18.8′N 125°43.5′W1,4630Prince of Wales
Mount Leiner49°57.7′N 126°34.5′W1,4580
Mount Kitchener50°17.8′N 125°42.1′W1,4570
Tlakwa Mountain50°18.7′N 127°03.1′W1,4570
Mount Sir John50°28.2′N 126°38.7′W1,4290Franklin
Karmutzen Mountain50°21.22′N 127°42.8′W1,4260Karmutzen
Leighton Peak49°51.8′N 126°20.1′W1,4110
Merry Widow Mountain50°20.4′N 127°17.1′W1,4020
Snowsaddle Mountain50°14.5′N 127°12.5′W1,4000Refugium
Jacklah Mountain49°36.4′N 126°10.4′W1,4000
Mount Cederstedt1,3790
Half Dome50°03.2′N 126°41.7′W1,3650Haihte
Mount De Cosmos49°07.1′N 124°12.9′W1,3550
Peak 44001,3410
Peak 43301,3190
Kaouk Mountain50°02.1′N 126°52.1′W1,3090
Peak 42251,2870
Kwois Peak1,2740
Mount Wolfenden50°25.6′N 127°34.0′W12730
Garibaldi Peaks50°11.2′N 127°13.5′W1,2350
Hannah Mountain49°04.2′N 124°57.5′W1,2500
Twin Peaks1,208953
Shelbert Mountain1,2070
Mount Brenton48°54.1′N 123°50.8′W1,2000
Mamat Mountain50°00.3′N 126°54.2′W1,1610
Lukwa Mountain50°00.2′N 126°46.3′W1,1420
Mount Renwick1,1390
Mount Gore49°36.6′N 126°22.7′W1,1200
Grayback Peak49°59.7′N 126°44.3′W1,1190
Carter Peak1,0970
Comestock Peak1,0970
Mount Rufus49°35.8′N 126°21.6′W1,0800
False Ears50°07.5′N 127°08.6′W1,0630
Mount Albemarie49°34.7′N 126°27.7′W1,0400
Mount Clark50°21.7′N 127°31.5′W1,0360
Mount Benson49.14972°N 124.05111°W / 49.14972; -124.05111 (Mount Benson)1,023668
Pretty Girl Peak49°31.0′N 126°15.0′W1,0200
Mount Pickering 50°22.4′N 127°34′W 1,006 0 ?
Sydney Cone 49°31.2′N 126°19.2′W 996 0 ?
Mount Seaton 957 0 ?
Mount Crespi 49°36.1′N 126°27.9′W 920 0 ?
Mount Lombard 49°34.5′N 126°30.5′W 920 0 ?
Unnamed peak 48°38′N 123°56′W 920 (est.) ? ?
Nunatak Mountain 50°11.8′N 127°42.1′W 909 0 Refugium
Saxifrage Mountain 800 0 ?
Doom Mountain 50°10.3′N 127°46.1′W 762 0 Refugium
Mount Finlayson 48°28′58.1″N 123°32′18.9″W 419 249 Gowlland

    See also

    Sources

    • Philip Stone (2003). Island Alpine, A Guide to the Mountains of Strathcona Park and Vancouver Island. Wild Isle Publications: Heriot Bay, BC. ISBN 0-9680766-5-3.
    • Lindsay Elms (1996). Beyond Nootka, A Historical Perspective of Vancouver Island Mountains. Misthorn Press: Courtenay, BC. ISBN 0-9680159-0-5.

    References

    1. Guthrie, R.H. 2005. Geomorthology of Vancouver Island (electronic resource); mass wasting potential. BC Ministry of Environment, Victoria BC Report No RR01. PDF p 1 (and see map at p 2 for area of Vancouver Island Ranges) ISBN 0-7726-5468-9
    2. "Geodetic Survey of Canada, Cordilleran Geoscience Island mountains and sea floor". Archived from the original on 2006-10-20. Retrieved 2006-10-16.
    3. see Elms, p 17-29 for the sources of this section
    4. Stone
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