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MT Porter - November 4th hike. |
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Written by Roy Gunter-Smith
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Oct 17, 2006 at 02:47 AM |
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The hike planned for November 4th is Mt Porter. Photographs and maps have been posted.
The following is an article describing the trip up Mt Porter in August 2005.
Breathtaking panoramic vistas of snow-capped mountains, views over Sproat Lake and Great Central Lake reward those who take the long drive and moderately difficult hike up to the summit of Mt. Porter, one of the peaks on the ridge between the Alberni Valley’s two largest lakes.
It’s about a 40-minute drive west from Port Alberni, up a logging road off of HWY 4, past Doran Lake, which deadends at the trailhead, which was marked, the last time we hiked it, by large piles of log debris. The trail is fairly clear, straightforward, and straight up, for about an hour to an hour and a half. The trail is steep in parts but generally quite accessible to the average reasonably-fit hiker. In late August you will be delayed by large patches of ripe huckleberries and blueberries, and you may be distracted by grouse hens and little chicks.
The trail winds up through an area of small tarns to a high ridge near the summit, where, looking north over Great Central lake; you can see the Comox Glacier and the Red Pillar, as well as Lowry Lake.
From this ridge the trail dips and then rises again, going through a stand of beautiful old hemlocks.
From the summit of Mt. Porter there is a fantastic 380 degree view of the mountains all around. And on the day we visited, lots and lots of little flies that were annoying but didn’t seem to be biting. Wandering around the summit and along that ridge, you can actually see both Great Central and Sproat Lakes.
On the way back past the tarns, watch for a short trail heading off to the left. It offers a really nice lookout over Sproat Lake, where the end of Taylor Arm is clearly visible, along with the road leading up to Sutton Pass. Mt. Klitsa is up close and personal directly opposite the viewpoint, and off to the west there are clear views of the Three Sisters and the Seven Sisters. A little further down the trail, again to the left, there is another viewpoint.
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Last Updated ( Oct 29, 2006 at 11:17 PM )
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