The Comox Glacier is a glacier

Glacier

A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...

 on Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...

, British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, located 30 km (18.6 mi) southwest of Courtenay

Courtenay, British Columbia

Courtenay is a city on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is the largest city in the area commonly known as the Comox Valley, and it is the seat of the Comox Valley Regional District which replaced the Comox-Strathcona Regional District...

 and 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) west of Argus Mountain

Argus Mountain

Argus Mountain is a mountain on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, located southwest of Courtenay and north of The Red Pillar.Argus Mountain is a member of the Vancouver Island Ranges which in turn form part of the Insular Mountains.-History:...

.

The highest elevation of the Comox Glacier, 1960 m (6,430.4 ft), refers to a rocky outcrop on the north side of the glacier. Lacking an official name, it is referred to as the Comox Glacier summit.

The Comox Glacier is a member of the Vancouver Island Ranges

Vancouver Island Ranges

The Vancouver Island Ranges, formerly called the Vancouver Island Mountains, is a mountain range extending along the length of Vancouver Island which has an area of 31,788 km² . The Vancouver Island Ranges comprise the central and largest part of the island...

 which in turn form part of the Insular Mountains

Insular Mountains

The Insular Mountains are a range of mountains in the Pacific Coast Ranges on the coast of British Columbia, Canada, comprising the Vancouver Island Ranges and Queen Charlotte Mountains. The Insular Mountains are rugged, particularly on Vancouver Island where peaks in Strathcona Provincial Park...

.

History

The name Comox Glacier comes from the name of the K'ómoks First Nation who inhabit the area. They refer to the mountain by the name Kwénis, which means "whale". This name comes from a traditional account of the Great Flood: a whale was said to be trapped up on the mountain when the flood receded. In the early 1900s, the glacier was known as Dome Glacier. The name Comox Glacier was officially adopted in 1939, at the suggestion of the Comox & District Mountaineering Club.

Access

There are two direct routes to the Comox Glacier:

1. Comox Glacier Trail (aka Frog's Pond Route) - the most direct route to the Comox Glacier. It begins where Datsio Creek meets Comox Creek. The route initially heads up the valley towards Century Sam Lake, but quickly gains the ridge to the west. The route follows the height of the ridge up to Lone Tree Pass, and on to the south flanks of the Comox Glacier.

2. Kookjai Route - this route starts at Cougar Lake, near the Comox Gap. It traverse over Kookjai Mountain and Black Cat Mountain before meeting up with the Comox Glacier Trail at Lone Tree Pass.

Alternatively, the Comox Glacier can be accessed by traversing fom Argus Mountain to the west, or climbing up from Milla Lake to the north.