Mount Washington (British Columbia)
Mount Washington is a mountain on the eastern edge of the Vancouver Island Ranges of British Columbia and the site of Mount Washington Alpine Resort, popular for skiing and many other activities. It is located approximately 25 km (16 mi) from the Comox Valley.
Mount Washington | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 1,588[1] m (5,210 ft) |
Prominence | 510 m (1,670 ft) |
Isolation | 13 km (8.1 mi) |
Coordinates | 49°45′11″N 125°17′47″W |
Geography | |
Mount Washington Location on Vancouver Island, BC | |
Location | Vancouver Island, BC, Canada |
District | Comox Land District |
Parent range | Vancouver Island Ranges |
Topo map | NTS 92F14 Oyster River |
The mountain was named after Rear Admiral John Washington, official Hydrographer, British Royal Navy, by Captain George Richards while charting the West Coast in the 1860s.[2]: 291
In addition to winter skiing, in the summer Mount Washington has many trails for mountain bikers, and offers scenic chair lifts and hiking trails to visitors.
Mount Washington is home to the Vancouver Island marmot, one of the planet's most endangered mammals. Found in the wild only on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, the marmot differs significantly from other marmot species.[3] In an effort to increase Vancouver Island marmot populations, the Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation has established captive breeding facilities across Canada.[4] The largest of these is the Tony Barrett Marmot Recovery Centre located on Mount Washington.[5]
The following broadcasting stations have their transmitter sites on the east face of Mount Washington, facing out over the Comox Valley and Campbell River:
Several amateur radio repeaters are also located on Mount Washington.
References
- Mount Washington Alpine Resort - Alpine Statistics
- Akrigg, G.P.V.; Akrigg, Helen B. (1986), British Columbia Place Names (3rd, 1997 ed.), Vancouver: UBC Press, ISBN 0-7748-0636-2
- Vancouver Island marmot
- Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation
- Tony Barrett Marmot Recovery Centre
External links
- Mount Washington at Bivouac.com
- Mount Washington Homepage
- The Vancouver Island Marmot
- Tourism Mount Washington