OUR PURPOSE

MICA is a non-profit with the mission to protect and assist in managing rock climbing areas on Vancouver Island in the area bounded by the Chemainus River to the south, Horne Lake to the north, and Sutton Pass to the east.

This includes:

  • Representing the climbing community to governments, indigenous communities, land owners, and other interested parties.

  • Promoting sustainable and responsible climbing.

  • Building, maintaining and restoring climbs, trails, and other needed facilities.

  • Participating in planning for and management of climbing areas.

  • Supporting data collection and research related to climbing.

  • Educating climbers and others with regard to safety and environmental impacts.

  • Creating and promoting a climbing community that is inclusive and equal for all.

  • Minimizing, managing, and mitigating user conflicts and environmental impacts.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Whelm King

Whelm King

Kent Krauza

Ryan Kurytnik

Allison Krauza

LIFETIME MEMBERS

Duc Bui
Kellie Callender
Andreas Hinkkala
David Morgantini
Whelm King
Gord McInnes

HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERS

Climbing in the mid Island has largely been developed and maintained by a small dedicated group. Preceding MICA by more than 20 years, these individuals have, often at their own expense, spent countless hours finding, developing and maintaining crags. These are the true founders of climbing in the mid Island and we honor them, with the deepest gratitude, for their generous service to our community.

Jody Bernst

One of the original route developers in Nanaimo. Along with Tony Fitzsimmons, he also wrote the original guidebook for Nanaimo climbing that was published in 1996.

Ray Hawkes

Ray Hawkes

One of the original outdoor route developers in Nanaimo, Ray started bolting sport routes in Nanaimo in the late eighties. He continues to guide rock climbing in BC with his company Solstice Alpine Guides.

Nathaniel Burgess

Nathaniel Burgess

Nathaniel has contributed countless hours of work putting up routes and building trails, mostly at the Dawg Wall and Wakesiah Wall. He continues to be active in climbing area development in Nanaimo.

Kent Krauza

Kent has been actively climbing for more than 25 years. He is an active mentor in the community and since 2015 he has been the developing and maintaining the Sunny Side and Dark Side crags.

Chris Gill

Chris established many routes at various crags in the early years of outdoor climbing in Nanaimo.

Ryan Kurytnik

Ryan started putting up new routes in Nanaimo in the late 90’s. His passion for route discovery evolved into writing the guidebook for Nanaimo. He continues to be very active in new route creation around Nanaimo.

Jonathan Hamilton

Jonathan Hamilton

Jonathan is one of the original developers and advocates for climbing in the mid Island area, which continues to this day. He is also the owner of Nanaimo’s original and largest climbing gym, Romper Room.

Greg Sorenson

Greg has been an active climber for the past 45 years. He began developing trails and routes at the Sunny Side in 1995 and the Dark Side in 1996, as well as multiple other climbing crags in the mid Island area.