Mount Tzouhalem
Located in Duncan, about 45 min south of Nanaimo
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Mt Tzouhalem ("zoo-hay-lum") is a fascinating place, with as much history as it has rocky nooks and crannies.
It's named after a fierce aboriginal chief who lived in the caves here, and who died in 1854. Before he moved to the mountain with his followers, he was a leader amongst the Cowichan people. It's documented that when a large party of northern tribes arrived in Cowichan Bay to raid for slaves, Tzouhalem helped to lead an unprecedented alliance of southern communities in response. They baited the attackers with canoes filled with warriors dressed as women, who led the raiding canoes to a bloody ambush on the shores, which no northerner escaped.
There is also a large Christian cross near the summit, originally placed (as a wooden cross) by local Catholic churches in the 1970's, and then replaced by the current welded version in the late 1980's by some Knights of Columbus.
- For info about the chief Tzouhalem - see Chris Arnett's "An introduction to First Nations' history in the Gulf Islands" (search the page for "Tzouhalem")
- About the 1870 Butter Church nearby
Many people believe the mountain to be haunted; we talked about it on our forum in the Nanaimo haunted places thread. Of course, "haunted" is only one way of looking at the kind of feeling you get from Tzouhalem. It is also tranquil.
Hiking / Biking
Today, the mountain is crisscrossed with trails that are used by mountain bikers and hikers. Access is via a parking lot beside a church on Tzouhalem Rd (see the map below), near Providence Farm. Or you can approach from near Genoa Bay (please let us know if you can give directions).
Concerning the trailhead near the Providence Farm: This is native reserve land, so please respect the band's space.
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