Mt. Apodaca & Mt. Collins, Bowen Island, BC

Originally, Mt. Apodaca and Mt. Collins were going to be hiked on the same day. However, due to poor time management, by the time we finished Apodaca, it was too late in the day for Collins. This turned out to be a blessing as the scenery was so diverse and interesting, it would have been a shame to rush through it all and miss the beauty.

From 2012-04-(28-29) - Mt. Apodaca, Mt. Collins, Bowen Island

After perusing Peakery, Richard and I decided to do some peaks on the Vancouver North Shore Peaks. A couple of easy and snow-clear peaks were Mt. Collins and Mt. Apodaca on Bowen Island. Neither of these peaks have defined trails leading to the top so we had to bushwhack. After some searching on Google, I came across This site which had GPS coordinates (bottom of the page) outlining a successful bushwhack to and from both peaks. Richard loaded up his GPS and away we went. Below, a picture of Mt. Collins from Horseshoe Bay.

From 2012-04-(28-29) - Mt. Apodaca, Mt. Collins, Bowen Island

We decided to bring our bikes on the ferry to make the trip to the base of the mountains a little quicker and easier. If you plan on visiting the Islands with any frequency, here's a tip: Buy a preloaded Explore Card from BC Ferries. You have to buy a minimum of $55 on the card, but it cut the cost of the ride to Bowen Island by exactly 50%. We plan to do several more trips to the Island for exploring and kayaking, so it made sense for us.

Anway, we found the road that led up Apodaca started up. It looked like a driveway, but it doesn't really lead anywhere. Follow the switch-backs long enough and you'll come to a dead-end. If you follow the same route as us, leave your bikes about half way up because the loop exits lower than when you first enter the woods and you'll have to climb back up to get your bikes. This is what the road looks like.

From 2012-04-(28-29) - Mt. Apodaca, Mt. Collins, Bowen Island

When we reached the dead end, we consulted the GPS for a direction to head and we just started going. There is no defined trail through the woods but you can tell where people may have travelled before. We just continued to consult the compass and GPS as we wandered through the woods, upwards to the summit. We saw deer and a whole lot of slugs among the ferns, mossy trees and protruding rocks. Really beautiful hike. This was my first bushwhack and I definitely see the appeal.

From 2012-04-(28-29) - Mt. Apodaca, Mt. Collins, Bowen Island

We reached the summit after only a couple of hours from leaving the ferry at Snug Cove. At the very edge of the high point, a view across the valley would have been visible, but the fog was so dense, we couldn't make anything out except a thin outline of Mt. Gardner. It was a little disappointing, but the fog was enjoyable in its own way.

From 2012-04-(28-29) - Mt. Apodaca, Mt. Collins, Bowen Island

We made pretty good time on the way down as we chose the same route as outlined on Club Fatass, which was VERY steep. Before too long were were back on our bikes heading for the ferry. The next day were up back at Horseshoe bay to take on Mt. Collins.

This hike was similar. Follow a driveway until it ends and start bushwhacking. If you are going to do this hike, PLEASE RESPECT THE SIGNS. There is a water shed lake for drinking water that has to be respected. We skirted around the lake and found the remnants of what could have been an old logging trail. We started up and before too long, we were once again off the beaten path.

From 2012-04-(28-29) - Mt. Apodaca, Mt. Collins, Bowen Island

This hike seemed to go much quicker. We started later in the day and were finished in about 4 hours. We didn't rush at all and stopped several times to enjoy the landscapes and all the critters we encountered along the way. We knew we had reached the summit when we saw the chicken wire and gallon jug that marked the high point. Why such a tacky marker, I don't know, but at least there's something to note our accomplishment. The view was highly obstructed so we could see very little. Just hints of snow covered peaks with little reference. We ate, watched some peculiar bugs in a pond and then started our descent. This time, we decided to just head dead east where our bikes were stashed instead of following the GPS route. This led us to a really ferny area. Can you spot richard?

From 2012-04-(28-29) - Mt. Apodaca, Mt. Collins, Bowen Island

Upon our return to the bikes, we headed for Snug Cove. We decided to have a leisurely bite to eat at Doc Morgan's before taking the ferry back to Horseshoe Bay. Good food. A bit pricey, but the ambiance was great. The waiter let the resident Irish Wolfhound seat us.

These hikes were great fun and quite easy to do in spite of the lack of defined trail. If you're looking for some quick hikes off the beaten path, definitely check these out.