| Elkhorn Mountain Mountain/Rock |
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Geography
| Elkhorn Mountain   | 
| Page Type: Mountain/Rock Location: Vancouver Island/BC, Canada, North America Lat/Lon: 49.79000°N / 125.828°W Activities: Mountaineering Elevation: 7106 ft / 2166 m | Page By: vancouver islander Created/Edited: Mar 29, 2006 / Sep 9, 2009 Object ID: 184545 Hits: 2827 Loading... Page Score: 86.7% - 25 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview
Elkhorn NW Ridge |
Elkhorn Mountain is a dramatic summit rising out of the Elk River Valley in the northern sector of Strathcona Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
The mountain is of considerable historic significance to Island climbers. Shortly after the inception of Strathcona Provincial Park in 1911, an Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) expedition led by its first president A. O. Wheeler chose the “Strathcona Matterhorn" as it was then known as the objective of the clubs first trip to the fledgling park. Their 1912 first ascent by the NW Ridge, shown above, is still the classic route on the peak, and was hugely instrumental in consolidating the status of the park as a wilderness area of sublime beauty that should be protected for future generations in perpetuity. It was not until September 1949 that Elkhorn received its second ascent.
In the early days of the ACC the status of Senior Member was awarded to those members who had scaled any three summits over 11,000 feet. Unfortunately for Vancouver Island members, there is nothing here much over 7,000 feet. For this reason a special criterion was set up for Island members; a list of nine summits of sufficient difficulty as to ensure that any mountaineer who scaled any three had attained a degree of climbing expertise deserving of Senior Membership. These nine summits became known as the “Island Qualifiers” and, although Senior Member status has long since become redundant, Island climbers still aspire to "do their IQ’s”. Elkhorn is one the nine qualifiers. At 2,166m it is also the second highest peak on the Island after The Golden Hinde. An ascent of Elkhorn is a committing 2-3 day trip involving steep bush, snow and ice, depending on route and season, and technical, sometimes loose, rock. For all these reasons and many others, Elkhorn is a prized asset on any Island climbers CV.
Getting There/ApproachVancouver Island can be reached by air from Vancouver to Victoria, Nanaimo or Campbell River and by ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria on The Coho and on BC Ferries from Vancouver to Victoria or Nanaimo. Public transport on the Island is relatively poor and anyone arriving by air would be advised to rent a car. Access in this case is all on paved roads and, therefore, fine with a normal sedan. From Campbell River, at the end of the Island Highway 19, take highway 28 west towards Gold River. After approximately 30km the road meets Upper Campbell Lake with the first views over the mountains and after 47km you will enter Strathcona Park at Elk Portal. Stop and admire the large wooden elk statue. Exactly 1km further on highway 28 makes a right turn over the bridge at Buttle Narrows. Take this turn in the direction of Gold River. Drive approximately 20km passing the Kings Peak (left) and Crest Mountain (right) trailheads before arriving at the Elk River Trail (ERT). You will be camping outside the Strathcona Park core area so that are no formalities to complete. Gear up and head off south down the ERT.  Climb up the tree roots. Then...  ...climb down the tree roots
Enjoy the first 45-50 mins or so on the more or less level and engineered trail. At the point where you can see the steep gorge of Elkhorn Creek rising to your left, it is time to leave the ERT and begin to earn your mountain. Cross the Elk River as best you can. At the time of writing there is a log crossing in place. Thereafter, pick up a flagged route that rises at an unrelentingly steep angle for the next four hours if you are carrying a full pack. Although booted-in in many places, the trail does sometimes disappear into blow-downs or climbs gullies and draws on no discernable path. The 5th Class tree root pitch is an Island classic. On the positive side, flagging is almost always visible and, although you may not see how you have to go, at least you can see where you have to go.
Shortly after climbing a steep gully, usually wet, and about 4 hours from the river crossing, you will arrive at a level forested col on the northwest ridge of Elkhorn. There is a possible campsite here – see the Camping section below. From the far (west) side of the forested col pick up more flagging which takes you south east and finally out of the trees on to the open north west ridge. Approximately an hour up from the col you will find an obvious camping area with tarns for water and spectacular views all around.
Overview of Summit Routes North Ridge, 400m, 5.8
North Face, 300m, 5.8
North West Ridge, 400m, low 5th. The original and still classic route.
West Gullies, 250m, low 5th. The standard route on Elkhorn.
South Ridge, 600m, low 5th.
Into The Sadistic, 500m, 5.10b
North East Face, 400m, 5.7. First ascent solo in 1985!
Refer to the Island Alpine guidebook – see “Suggested Reading” below.Red TapeYou are now outside the core area of Strathcona in which you started and there are no fees to pay. BC Parks does not operate an intentions system, so there is no book to fill in. Make sure, therefore, that you have left a detailed trip plan with someone responsible. Parks and the appropriate SAR agency will respond in an emergency but it is up to you to have the mechanism in place that will initiate the process if it becomes necesary.
Camping As indicated above, there are two options for camping at the end of the first day.
About 200m above and to the right (north) of the forested col is a rocky knoll with a seasonal tarn. If water is available I highly recommend this option. It saves an extra hour up and down with a full pack, offers excellent views of the upper NW ridge of Elkhorn (but not the summit), north across the Elk River Valley to Puzzle Mountain and Volcano Peak and south to Kings Peak and even comes equipped with an ideally placed rock bench for a ready-made split level kitchen. Bear and cougar sign is often in evidence here, so proper back country methods – hanging food bags out of reach, cleaning up all cooking scraps, good toilet practise etc – is essential.
The upper camping area on the open ridge offers even more impressive views as well as the almost 100% guarantee of water.
In both places, as is the norm in Strathcona, giardia is well documented, so boil or treat all water. Pack a small stove for cooking and don’t light campfires.
External LinksUseful links:
Strathcona Provincial Park
ERT sketch map
Gold River weather forecast
Additional Information/Suggested ReadingBeyond Nootka – A Historical Perspective of Vancouver Island Mountains, Lindsay Elms, Misthorn Press, 1996,ISBN 0-919537-29-4 and/or visit Beyond Nootka
Island Alpine – A Guide to The Mountains of Strathcona Park and Vancouver Island, Philip Stone, Wild Isle Publications, 2003, ISBN 0-9680766-5-3 and/or visit Island Alpine Climbing Guide
Elkhorn Summit view south. Photo by hsmacmath |
Strathcona Provincial Park and Government NeglectAs too often in the past, Strathcona's integrity is currently under attack once more by private industry and a government whose prime interest is in currying favour with those wealthy elements that it sees as key to re-election.
If you want to learn more about the BC Liberal Government's intention to make unilateral changes to the 1993 Strathcona Park Master Plan that, completely contrary to public opinion, will allow for-profit horse trekking operations in the Park visit the The Friends of Strathcona Park website.
Better still, join the Friends as they gear up to fight this unwanted, unapproved and immoral development.
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