"It's not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves..." - Sir Edmund Hillary ( first to reach Mt. Everest in 1953)
These are the mountains I see, every day, from our hill. From Campbell River, B.C.And this is from the other side, in summer. On the trails scaling the mountain slopes. Drive from Campbell River, B. C. on Hwy 19 , takes about 45 minutes to the Strathcona parkway up to the Alpine Resort. It's about 50 kilometres from our house. Give or take.We've also driven the Oceanside Route, Hwy 19A. By car, return, is easiest( If you opt for a taxi , it can run you anywhere from 120-150$ CAD.) BUT, there are also shuttle buses running. Great choice!So this is the big mountain I see from my front window. In winter it's dripping with snow.From the Lookout on the other side, ( the Chimney) , it looks like this.In summer the scenery just stretches away to infinity. You forget you're on an Island."Mountain top: the place where life finds the purest meaning of freedom.." -Vinivius Montgomery
From the top, looking down as the ski lift goes up and down and down and up...You can hike up to the top and take the lift down, or ride it up and down both ways.Looking down at the valley below with the ski village/resort to the left."Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery..." - Ruskin
Smokey haze from the B.C.fires raging in the interior. The smoke drifts down into Vancouver Island and curls around the range."Don't pay attention to the size of the mountain in front of you. Rather, think about the view from the summit will be like..." -Craig D. Lounsbrough
From the top of the trail up from the valley, near the lift.The Village below. Seen from the Ski Lift chairs.There is also Ziplining by appt, Mountain biking all summer long. Skiing all winter, snow tubing, snow shoeing, snow everything......and everything snow...."Snow was falling, so much like stars, filling the dark trees, that one could easily imagine, its reason for being was nothing more than prettiness..." - Mary Oliver
Zip line tour, called the "Eagle's Flight" , rips here and there at about 100km, 275 ft above ground with a 132 metre vertical drop. Snow shoeing over 25 Kms, Cross country 55 km, plus Full Nordic , Outback, Bike trail maps available. Some trails are dog friendly as well. 
Paradise Valley
You might even see an endangered Vancouver Island Marmot, on these 1700 acres. Supposedly , there are 303 living at 30 sites. I've never seen one. They're quite elusive. But I read that during the past few weeks more have been released .Keep your eyes peeled , while climbing those 505 vertical metres, and look up, look way, way up to the top.....
"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds..." -Edward Abbey
Photographs 2024 Mt. Washington, Courtenay B.C. Canada ( all seasons/ winter,spring, summer,fall)
Paradise Valley
