Route: Mount Erskine, Salt Spring Island
Area: British Columbia, Canada
Date of walk: 28th September 2024
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, James and Anna
Distance: 2.7 miles
Ascent: 700 feet
Weather: Overcast
Mount Erskine is located in the Mount Erskine Provincial Park on Salt Spring Island in the South Gulf Islands, off the east coast of Vancouver Island. It is about 1,500 feet above sea level. From our base in Chemainus, Vancouver Island, we drove over to Crofton and caught the car ferry to Salt Spring Island, a 20 minute ride. We then drove over to the start of the walk, where there is ample roadside parking at the end of a winding road known as Trustee’s Trail. The walk starts at 750 feet above sea level, so the ascent is a very modest one
We entered into the woodland and followed a path through the trees, which include some magnificent old douglas fir and red listed arbutus. As we gained height the gradient steepened, but there were no difficulties. If the route is tackled anti-clockwise, as we did, the steeper sections are taken on the ascent
It wasn’t long before we arrived on the summit area from which we could view Vancouver Island, north towards Mount Arrowsmith, Chemainus and Nanaimo as well as east across Trincomali Channel to Galiano Island and the Lower Mainland. The grey skies overhead did nothing to enhance the view, but it was a superb one nevertheless
We set off along the gentle descent which was a very easy affair and near the bottom this connected with our original approach path. From here we retraced our steps back to the end of a very enjoyable short walk
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A promising start to the day as we awoke to dawn skies at our base in Chemainus
On board the ferry from Crofton to Salt Spring Island, we look across to today’s objective, Mount Erskine
From the car park we follow the obvious sign pointing to the Mount Erskine Access Trail
We pass through a plantation of birch trees
We enter into Mount Erskine Provincial Park
James and Anna setting the pace as we pass by some magnificent old trees
We turn left at this junction and head uphill
An Arbutus tree, also known as the Madrona or Madrone. The tree is native to the western coastal areas of North America and is considered to be at risk
We continue uphill through the ancient woodland...
Squirrel - a Douglas squirrel I think
Looking back down the path
We emerge from the trees onto the summit of Mount Erskine. The conditions are rather uninspiring sadly. Crofton on Vancouver Island is left of picture
Vesuvius and northern part of Salt Spring Island below
Panorama from the summit of Mount Erskine
We set off on the easy descent...
Another arbutus tree, recognisable by its red bark
Mushroom, one of hundreds
Lichen festooning the old trees....
A little further down we complete the circuit and retrace our steps back to the start...
