Vancouver Island Summer Outdoor Review

Photo Credit: Lorne Collicutt

As the summer comes to a close, I look back on all the great adventures we had. The weather is still great and there’s tons of time to get out in the sunshine while you still can but the temperature is dropping and the days getting shorter. The summer brings out the races on Vancouver Island almost every weekend and although there tend to be fewer during the colder months, there are still some good outdoor races to be had. If you don’t see something awesome that happened this summer, send me a link!

Vancouver Island Outdoor Event Recap

July 11 saw a bunch of SUP races out on the water in Victoria for the 3rd Vancouver Island SUP Series Race put on by Ocean River Sports. Check out the results.

The Mount Douglas Gutbuster trail run was also in Victoria July 11th. I can tell you it was a hot one that day! You can see the results for the short course and the long course and the photos.

A week after that on the 18th, the Fort Langley Half and 5k took place. Grab the Half Results and the 5k Results.

The Self-Transcendence Triathlon (Results) and Duathlon (Results) took place in Victoria.

On August 7th, a record number of gutbusters took to the hills of Mount Washington to see if they get could get to the top for the Final 2010 Gutbuster. Race info, results and Erik Peterson’s awesome photos.

August 8th was the Sooke Subaru Series Triathlon. Sprint Results, Olympic Results, and Half Iron Results.

The fourth Vancouver Island SUP Series Race took place in Ucluelet. Here’s the site, if anyone has any links to results let me know!

The end of August saw not one but TWO crazy groups run the Juan De Fuca Trail near Sooke. I was at the the PureOutside run on the 21st and it went swimmingly. Ryan and I ran the 47km as well as a bunch of great folk from Club Fat Ass.

September 5th was a busy day. The Campbell River 50k Mountain Bike Race went off without hitch, The Harbour City Half Marathon was a little windy but went well, and Carlos Lesser top the results for the Juan De Fuca Duathlon.

The Lands End Half Marathon and the final race the Vancouver Island SUP Series finished up September 12th.

The results from the Great Lake Walk and Ultra on September 18th are up. The Run for the Mountain in Nanaimo was this day as well. Does anyone have a link to the results?

And the last big race I was in, the Cumberland MOMAR results are up as well.

Vancouver Island Trip Reports

Lorne got out to Forbidden Plateau and Mount Becher

LKing was out at Bedwell Lake, Lorne shot some nice photos there too

Greyhound made it out to Mount Septimus and 9 Peaks

Juandefuca did the Castlecrag Circuit

More_cowbell had beautiful weather out at Cape Scott and joker had some good times out there too

dpatton found his way onto the Kludahk Trail

ryanmck did a paddling trip out to the Broken Group

Vancouver_Islander summited The Golden Hinde

Vancouver Island Outdoor News

Vancouver Island had some gnarly forest fires that blanketed some of the island in smoke. Even worse, they closed a lot of the gates that lead into popular areas in the backcountry because of fire risk. All for the best though.

A hang-glider was rescued from a cliff-face on Salt Spring Island.

The Globe and Mail publishes some beautiful photos from kayaking near Kyuquot Sound.

A North Vancouver couple win a $4000 trip to Nanaimo.

More and more White-Sided Dolphins are being sighted around Nanaimo.

Tourism Nanaimo ran a great little post about hiking in Nanaimo. We were featured in it!

A team of researchers are searching for monsters in Cameron Lake.

Vancouver Island Upcoming Events

October 6 and October 20: OVI Outdoor Meetups. Oct 6 will be in Nanaimo at the Longwood. Jan from Island Alpine Guides will be there to do an avalanche awareness presentation. Oct 20 will be in Victoria.

October 10: The Goodlife Fitness Victoria Half and Full Marathon (formerly the Royal Victoria) is finally here. All you runners that have been training for months, get out your racing shoes and good luck!

October 30: The Westwood Lake Relay is a fun relay run on the beautiful Westwood Lake trail.

October 31: Looking for a wicked trail run on Halloween? Check out the Perseverence 10k Trail Run and the Kinsol Half Marathon.

Almost Winter

The snow is right around the corner and I can’t wait personally. Unlimited possibilities for snow camping, snowboarding, skiing and snowshoeing are around every corner on the island. I intend to get out as much as I can this winter to enjoy them and you should too!