How to get up Mt Benson

[BeneathTheHowlingStars]

I apologize if I was offensive. Although a few days ago, I had to deal with two Quads riding in the dark on off-limit trails, drinking beer and yelling loudly. That doesn't exactly garner them in any high image.

So anyways.. I was climbing Benson the other day and viewed these awesome mountains:


Does anyone know if the one on the right is considered Mt.De Cosmos and if there are trails or if I'd have to bushwack to get there?

[BigMac]

I appreciate your post, but as one of the long time city dwellers here, 50+ years, I tend to disagree with some of your thoughts. For years, through the 60's, 70's & 80's you could drive a car to the old "viewpoint". From there, it was a long hike to the top of Benson. Motorcycles, atv's etc all could access the mountain no problem. Hikers were more than welcome. Now,suddenly, it has become a "hikers only" area. I disagree with this. Anyone who uses the mountain responsibly should have access. There is now a gate off Nanaimo Lakes Road that stops cars etc from accessing the area.I would love to be able to take my kids up to the old view point area, but I can't, unless we want to walk for 5+ km. Too far for small children. I realize there are issues with garbage dumping etc. Let's try to find a way to access the mountain so all responsible can use it. End of rant!!!!!!!!!!!

Read more here

http://www.nalt.bc.ca/

I could tell you endless stories of the fun I used to have up the mountain as a teen, without dumping garbage etc. Ask Stan the Man, he will back me up!!

[rcthink]

BeneathTheHowlingStars, that is De Cosmos. You can access it from a gate off Nanaimo Lakes Road near the west end of First Lake. The gate is always closed and locked. It`s about 8-9k to the top from the gate following the road but you could always bushwack

De Cosmos gate on Google Maps

There is another 4x4 road on the west side of De Cosmos(even further up Nanaimo Lakes Road) but I`ve not been up that one yet.

[stanley strazza]

oh ya' those were the days cruising the mountain roads of Benson....I have been taken up to the look-out by Johhny Light bar (lawdogs) many a times...only to be forced to walk back to town....I suppose I was a bit of a rebel then allright.....I actually got to know the mountain roads well after these escapades with the lawdawgs and such....yuppers, you are so right BigMac, I myself have taken my whole family up to the many roads that one could travel at anytime we chose.....I remember how cool it was to find old car parts all over the woods in those days.....to-day we certainly are restricted in our movements in those same woods now and what a bummer that is.....I sure would like to know why all those gates and ditches that cut off our access are even there....I pick up a lot of metals on Benson roads and I see that the Reginal District has a couple fellas taking the garbage out too, so does that mean that we all have to suffer for a few bad guys doing this......I wish we the people had some stroke on this subject and we could open those gorgeous areas once more for all to enjoy.....BigMac, I appreciate your conversation on this post.....maybe we could just grab a back-hoe and clear those road barriers and ditches once more, maybe this would send a message to the responsible parties who block the roadways....I know the logging companies have welcomed me on my scrap hunt up there as long as I obey the present signs and warnings of logging going on.......thanx all......stan the man

[BigMac]

I remember the whole family packed in 1 vehicle, including grampa & grandma, & heading up to the viewpoint for a Sunday drive, to take in the sights!! I hear the view is no longer there at the viewpoint, as the trees have grown too tall! One day I will get back up there & check it out, gate or no gate!! Wanna go Stan? Who's drivin?!!

[TH2008]

I remember the whole family packed in 1 vehicle, including grampa & grandma, & heading up to the viewpoint for a Sunday drive, to take in the sights!! I hear the view is no longer there at the viewpoint, as the trees have grown too tall! One day I will get back up there & check it out, gate or no gate!! Wanna go Stan? Who's drivin?!!

Yes, that is correct. The trees are way too high to see the view of the city now. But yeah, that was a cool place to hang out after dark. 'specially with a cute girl beside you

Oh, and the gate you can (or could) get around. But only in an ATV or good 4x4. But the logging companies could have blocked it all off by now.

--
TH

[stanley strazza]

BigMac........let's go, rock n' roll....I'll drive.........anytime.............stan the man

I remember the whole family packed in 1 vehicle, including grampa & grandma, & heading up to the viewpoint for a Sunday drive, to take in the sights!! I hear the view is no longer there at the viewpoint, as the trees have grown too tall! One day I will get back up there & check it out, gate or no gate!! Wanna go Stan? Who's drivin?!!

[riverrat]

I sympathize with BeneathTheHowlingStars in the sentiment that it is nice to be able to get out into the nature and to appreciate it as a place without all the stinky, noisy motors of the city. I also agree with the others that not all quad-ders are bad people. There DOES seem to be a high ratio, though, of selfish quadders to non-selfish quadders. I'm not going to back that up. It's just an opinion.

Anyway - I think quads should be welcome on the mountain, if their only effect is some noise while they overtake you, and slow down when they pass you, with a respectful nod. AND it would be nice if their drivers were highly conscious of their effect on the trail/foliage. Sometimes there are disgraceful amounts of erosion caused by careless/lazy people.

I think it's also a mark of pride for many that they can access the top of the mountain through sheer stamina - it's like a great reward. Then some fatso cruises by on a machine and the effect is somewhat ruined.

But anyway, the mountain should be for everyone. But as HowlingStars said, it's a romantic experience up there and "romantic" hikes in nature are definitely affected when there are a lot of motorized vehicles cruising past.

[mrraulduke]

there seems to be a very high proportion on jerk quadders to non-jerk quadders in nanaimo.
the amount of damage a quad can do to a singletrack trail is amazing, and if they can't fit, well next time they'll pack in a chainsaw and buck down a few trees. Garbage gets strewn further into the bush, along with beer cans, lunch wrappers, ect. Now i know all trail users litter, but you can carry so much more on a quad then you can on a bike, or on foot or on a dirtbike. It seems like a lazy mans' adventure sport....sit down and throttle it ..
at least with a dirtbike you have to have a certain level of fitness and balance to keep it upright..........

[rcthink]

I would have to agree in part with that. I own a dirtbike and cruise around the trails all the time. I realize that many hikers don't like this but many areas are forest land open to anyone. Unfortunately it seems that there are more quad'ers that think they run the place and leave they're junk everywhere.

Some 4x4's have the same affliction as well. It's too bad the dirty ones are giving a bad name to the majority of them that are good at packing their junk out and leave the trails the way they found them.