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| Vancouver Island Snow Skiing |
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30 minutes from Courtenay, Strathcona Provincial Park, covering 626,819
acres, boasts six of the seven highest peaks on Vancouver Island as well
as the Island's last remaining ice field, the Comox Glacier. There are
over 100 kilometres (62 miles) of hiking trails with hiking highlights
such as the 444-metre (1,443-foot) Della Falls. Walk into subalpine Paradise
Meadows on the loop trail to Battleship Lake and Lake Helen Mackenzie,
go for a swim in a pristine mountain top lake, or camp out for a few
nights exploring the farther reaches of Strathcona. Rub elbows with island
deer and Roosevelt elk, feed a Whiskey Jack (Canadian Jay), walk along
the ridge and follow the trails all the way down again.
Mt. Washington ski resort is accessible via the Strathcona
Parkway and served during the ski season by scheduled shuttle bus. Ski
Season is from December to early April with an average snowfall of 8 meters
(over 26 feet). Alpine skiers and snowboarders have a choice of 50 trails
and eight chair-lifts including the Hawk 6-person Express. Other winter
activities include snowshoeing, snow-tubing, tobogganing and luge. Cross-country
skiers, both novice and expert, enjoy 55 kilometres (34 miles) of well-marked
trails that lead along high alpine lakes and forests; trail circuits offer
challenges to novice, intermediate, and expert skiers. Summer activities
include ATV tours, horseback riding and hiking. |
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