Woollen Knickers: Ski Touring around Sutton Pass

One of the best kept secrets on the Island (oops, maybe I shouldn't be letting the cat out of the bag) is the ski touring around Sutton Pass between Port Alberni and Tofino. The area includes the Mackenzie and Maitland Ranges and is the ruggedest mountain area south of Strathcona Park. There is some fantastic summer mountaineering in the area, including Triple Peak, the Mackenzies, Steamboat, and Pogo. In the winter/spring, there is some great ski touring, including Adder Mountain, "Jack's Peak" and 5040 Peak, all off of Marion Creek. By Island standards, access is great making most peaks day trippable. Luckily (hopefully) the area is too rugged to be able to access by snowmoblile, and I have yet to see any other skiers while on trips up there. You can usually bet on having the place to yourself. Beware, it is a pretty wet place! The mountains probably get 5 to 6 meters of precipitation a year.