Mt.
Prevost
CN88
(Courtesy of VE7DXG)
Last update April 11, 2002
General. A must see if you are
vacationing on Vancouver Island - the wife and kids will love it. There is a white cairn
on the top which is clearly visible from the highway on sunny days. Often
accessible even in the winter, or one can just drive to the first switchback and
operate from there. Lots of tourists and local kids partying. Gravel road, but
even a BMW can make it.
Driving Instructions.
- North on the TCH from Victoria. You can see the double summit from the town
of Mill Bay, as you approach Duncan on the TCH.
- Go through Duncan. Just North of
town turn left to Hwy 18 towards Lake Cowichan at the Esso Gas Station.
- Go West
about 1 km, just after the railroad tracks turn right (North) to Somenos Road.
After about 500m turn left to Mt. Prevost Road. There is a sign that says
"Mt. Prevost Memorial Park, 7.1 km". It will turn into a gravel road
at the Municipal Gate. Gate is rarely closed, only in summer high fire season.
- Follow climbing road. After about 2km there is a switchback with a beautiful
view. Elevation about 1000'. Keep going.
- After about another 2km, just past a
little gravel quarry there is Satellite Road. It is marked by a sign on a tree,
easy to miss. Road goes on the boundary of a clear cut and climbs quite steeply.
Follow Satellite Road for about another 2km as it winds through the forest.
You'll get to a clearing covered with black shale/sand. Can't miss it. It's just
under the summit. There are a few trees, but I think K7CW/VE7 worked into Tacoma
on 1296 from there.
- The summit is not accessible from this location, but if you
do not take the right turn onto Satellite Road and follow Mt. Prevost Road
instead, it will take you to the summit. The road ends between the twin summits,
you have to hike to the top. From the summit parking lot there is too much rock
in the way, so I don't recommend operating from there. But if you take the 2 minute
hike to either summit the view is breathtaking.
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