Description:

http://www.vanisleboulder.ca/south-coast-topos.html

Site currently down for a while

https://web.archive.org/web/20200728172838/http://www.vanisleboulder.ca/mid-isle.html


This stunning sector of river boulders has a short approach and an obscene amount of rock. The rock is river polished basalt which makes for some very cool holds. Many of the boulders are completely above the river and need to have wooden platforms built underneath them to be climbed. These platforms are seasonally washed away by the river rising and so need to be rebuilt regularly. This area was discovered and developed primarily by Matt Pierson, Claire (?) and Sharka. The information here is mostly from Sharka Zdeninsyn, Sasha Kubicek and my few excursions to the area. Sharka’s website is the best resource available for this area you can find it here: http://www.vanisleboulder.ca/south-coast-topos.html
Some important things to note about the area: in the 1960’s Jordan River was part of a horrible mining accident which fouled the river. Remediation continues to this day. The approach trail and parking area are in fact a giant pile of mine tailings from the copper mine. More information can be found here. The dam upriver was deemed by BC hydro to be seismically unsafe, and a significant enough tremor could cause the dam to burst. Relatively unlikely but something to be aware of. Finally, Do not poop in or near the river!!! If you’ve gotta go hike up into the forest. (Aidan Nickel's Guide)

Directions / Travel Info:

Directions: Driving towards Jordan River from Victoria just after signs for sandcut beach watch for a road on your right called Fore Bay Rd. Pass it and take the next dirt road on your right. Follow it staying right at the fork and it will take you directly above the Babylon sector. Parking lot coordinates: (48.432291, -124.051380). Look for a little trail going through the trees for the easiest way down.


There are multiple other sectors but no surviving public info on access/topos from available sources. Please update if you have this knowledge!