Date: Jul 24, 2026 to Jul 25, 2026
Time: All Day
Category: Scramble
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Title: MarmotBlitz
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Location: Mt Arrowsmith
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Date(s): July 24-25, 2026
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Objective: Ever wanted the chance to spot Canada’s most endangered mammal on one of Vancouver Island’s iconic mountains? Join the Marmot Recovery Foundation (MRF) and ACCVI section in this joint event and be a “marmoteer” for the day during our MarmotBlitz! The objective is to count as many individual marmots as we can across different sections of Mt. Arrowsmith. Hopefully, we will spot some newborn pups as well! Up to 6 small groups will spread out over the mountain and survey a specific area for marmots. MRF will provide group leaders for each section of the mountain. Come have fun with us and contribute to the recovery of one of the rarest mammals in the world!
There are two options to join this event: an overnight and a day trip.
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Route access: Lost Gully, Main Gully, and Saddle routes will be used to access the site areas. Approximately. 600m elevation gain.
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Trip Rating: B2/3 (steep hiking, off-trail hiking, side-hilling, possible Class 3 scrambling)
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Timing: The overnight group will go in on Friday afternoon (time TBD) and come out Saturday late afternoon. The daytrip group will go in very early Saturday morning (time TBD but be prepared for a 4am start) and come out Saturday late afternoon.
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Meeting location: TBD (possibly Nanaimo and/or Coombs)
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Age requirement:18+ years
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Experience level: intermediate to advanced (some hiking experience necessary)
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Technical skill required: none
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Cost: potential gas money for those carpooling in personal vehicles.
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Gear provided: Limited binoculars and helmets may be available for use.
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Gear required: Personal day bag with 10 essentials. For those participating in the overnight, there will be a detailed gear list provided. Personal binoculars, if you have them. Personal cameras, if wanted.
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This trip is weather-dependent: If there is heavy rain or substantial smoke, the trip will be post-postponed/cancelled.
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Hazards likely encountered: Slips/trips/falls, scree/talus slopes, steep slopes, holes/depressions, possible rockfall (mitigation-helmets).
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Maximum participants: TBD depending on interest level.
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Trip leader contact: Heather Heim (236-489-1825) heather@marmots.org
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Sign up: please e-mail heather@marmots.org and state if you are interested in the overnight or daytrip option, which part of the island you reside in, a quick note on your experience level, your ACC membership number (if applicable) and if you require a helmet or binoculars.