There has long been interest in climbs of the highest peaks on Vancouver Island. Since the early days of our website, a list was posted of “Island Peaks Over 6000’.” The first person to complete ascents of all these peaks was Charles Turner in August 2004, with his climb of Rambler Junior (Bushwhacker Vol 32 issue 4).
Over the following years the list has been refined, partly due to updated height measurements from more recent surveys, and partly reflecting discussions about the definition of a summit for these purposes.
Lindsay Elms has been the key person in developing this list, and his rationale for what is and is not included is well described in his website Beyond Nootka. Today, the accepted ACCVI list of Vancouver Island 6000’ers is the 53 peaks shown below.
Rank | Peak | Metres | Feet |
1 | The Golden Hinde | 2197 | 7208 |
2 | Elkhorn Mountain | 2166 | 7106 |
3 | Victoria Peak | 2163 | 7096 |
4 | Mount Colonel Foster | 2135 | 7005 |
5 | Rambler Peak | 2105 | 6906 |
6 | Mount Albert Edward | 2093 | 6867 |
7 | Mount McBride | 2081 | 6827 |
8 | The Comb* (GR 017055#) 92F/12 High point 1 km north of the Golden Hinde |
2069 | 6788 |
9 | Kings Peak | 2065 | 6775 |
10 | Rees Ridge (Mount Celeste*) | 2045 | 6709 |
11 | Mount Filberg | 2035 | 6676 |
12 | The Red Pillar | 2034 | 6673 |
13 | Mount Cobb | 2030 | 6660 |
14 | The Behinde | 2018 | 6621 |
15 | Rambler Junior | 2012 | 6601 |
16 | Mount Harmston | 2009 | 6591 |
17 | Argus Mountain | 1994 | 6542 |
18 | Elkhorn South | 1989 | 6526 |
19 | Iceberg Peak | 1987 | 6519 |
20 | Alexandra Peak | 1983 | 6506 |
21 | El Piveto Mountain | 1980 | 6496 |
22 | Mount Regan | 1975 | 6480 |
23 | Warden Peak | 1969 | 6460 |
24 | Mount Rosseau | 1968 | 6457 |
25 | Comox Glacier | 1963 | 6440 |
26 | Mount Frink | 1948 | 6391 |
27 | Mount Haig Brown | 1948 | 6391 |
28 | Mount Septimus | 1948 | 6391 |
29 | Shepherds Peak* (GR 219916#) 92F/11 Highest point on Shepherds Ridge |
1932 | 6339 |
30 | Peak 1931* (GR 253015#) 92F/11 High point .5 km south of Mount George V |
1931 | 6335 |
31 | Golden Hinde NW* (GR 013063#) 92F/12 High point 1 km northwest of The Comb |
1922 | 6305 |
32 | The Misthorns | 1917 | 6289 |
33 | Shepherds Horn* (GR 233905#) 92F/11 High point 1 km southeast of Shepherds Ridge |
1917 | 6289 |
34 | Peak 1909* (GR 251998#) 92F/11 High point 2.5 km south of Mount George V |
1909 | 6263 |
35 | Mount George V | 1884 | 6181 |
36 | Tzela Mountain* (GR 250912#) 92F/11 High point 2 km north of Tzela Lake |
1884 | 6181 |
37 | Margaret Peak* (GR 197828#) 92F/6 High peak southeast of the Misthorns |
1870 | 6135 |
38 | Mount Adrian | 1869 | 6132 |
39 | Mount Schoen | 1862 | 6109 |
40 | Sutton Peak | 1862 | 6109 |
41 | Rugged Mountain | 1862 | 6109 |
42 | Siokum Mountain* (GR251977#) 92F/11 High point 600m north of Ink Lake |
1860 | 6102 |
43 | Big Interior Mountain | 1857 | 6092 |
44 | Syd Watts Peak | 1856 | 6089 |
45 | Sid Williams Peak* (GR 209026#) 92F/11 High peak south of Syd Watts Peak |
1849 | 6066 |
46 | Nine Peaks | 1847 | 6060 |
47 | Crown Mountain | 1846 | 6056 |
48 | Mount Mitchell | 1842 | 6.043 |
49 | Slocomb Peak* (GR 944135#) 92F/12 High point between Elk Pass and Mount Colonel Foster |
1840 | 6037 |
50 | Augerpoint Mountain | 1839 | 6033 |
51 | Matchlee Mountain | 1834 | 6018 |
52 | Morrison Spire* (GR 075072#) 92F/12 High pointed spire above Marble Meadows |
1830 | 6004 |
53 | Jutland Mountain | 1830 | 6004 |
* Not an official name.
The Charles Turner Vancouver Island 6000’ers Award
Members may submit a dated list of successful ascents of each of the 53 peaks to . Qualified members are presented with a plaque: The Charles Turner Vancouver Island 6000’ers Award, which was established by the ACCVI Executive in 2018.
The award honours the memory of Charles Turner, not only as the first VI 6000’ er, but also as a very active and well-respected member of the section over several decades. Charles tragically lost his life in a float-plane crash in August 2013. For tributes to Charles, see the special edition of the newsletter in September 2013 here and the memorial page Memorial page.
At the 2018 AGM, the award was presented retro-actively to those who had already completed climbs of all the 6000’ peaks.
Recipients of the Charles Turner Award:
- Lindsay Elms 2014
- Valerie Wootton 2016
- Tak Ogasawara 2017
- Ken Wong 2019
- George Butcher 2019
- Barry Hansen 2022
- Rich Priebe 2022
- Eryn Tombu 2022
The individual records can be recorded here and sent to the current chair upon completion.