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

Charles Turner Garibaldi Traverse – April 2013. Photo by Catrin Brown

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.