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 Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13445 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 12:21 AM
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Hello everyone.
This is my fourth trip up to this mountain; Prior hikes were made up during the months of July 05; Dec 05; and Jun 06. I was motivated to lead this hike following the Shadow's initiative, and sorry that he could not make this time. I had the great joy to share this trip with Shawn(Outdoors Guy); Roberto; Wally (Wildman), Swavik, and Chris.
We met at the Vedder Crossing Bridge at 8:00 a.m., and briefly waited for Scrambler to show up. Since we had no 4wd drivers, we too my car, Wilman's, and Chris' up to the site. We drove up the road past the gate, parked just below the active logging , Wildman's car made to the 3 km point but he was stopped by soft gravel in waterbar up a moderate grade.
Even with the 1 hour walk to the trailhead, we made to the first knoll within 2-1/4 hours from the cars. The day started out bright, sunny, and clear. Beautiful sunshine, clear views of the peaks, and great photo opportunities. However I noticed a bright white glint far below the valley, it was the fog rolling up Foley Creek from from the west. And as we hiked furthe up along the ridge, the fog lifted higher into low cloud. The further up we hiked, the higher the cloud lifted. We could see cloud (fog) pouring up across the valley of Pierce Lake and oozing down its east ridge like a slow cascading white waterfall of fluff. We had lunch within 15 minutes of the summit and by then the cloud had risen up to encroach on the first knoll. After a great lunch and view of the Cheam range, we got to the summit, and then the fog rolled up. We returned back via the ridge, deciding against the original plan to walk down and return via the lower plateau and meadows, so as not to get lost in what appeared to be impending fog.
At this point we were in between two cloud decks, one below, and one above, like a sandwich we were in the clear layer of air in between. Cool ! from the early warmth it sure cooled off in a hurry. We then had plenty of time left to enjoy feasting on blueberries and gathering bottles full of berries for friends and families back home.
A great hike with great company with a blueberry feast to end it. We had great views initially, and the cloud coming in made for some interesting effects.
However one glitch. The film did not advance in my camera properly, and it took opening up and closing to get the film to advance properly. All those great picture I took for the first half; they did not exist.... .. film of the remainder still in camera waiting to sent to LD for development.
To end the day, we stopped at the Jolly Miller, on my way in some fool backed up and put a dent into my front bumper. GRRRRR@! Because of the long wait we elected not to order a meal. Nice social to end the day .... Great hike. I rather forget the pictures which never were, ... and maybe if I wake up perhaps the front dent won't exist.
It will be a few days before my pictures will be ready of the latter part of the hike. I look forward to the many great shots taken our group posted onto this thread.
Regards,
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Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 12:47 AM
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Oh my goodness!!! What a bummer to end a great day. And that it was. It was like the clouds pushed us up the mountain and then gently nudged us down again. Never really being a problem except on some later good pics. I will post mine tomorrow Karl. Thanx for letting me come, I had a great time with everyone.
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Wildman |
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Mysterious, pop can stove stashin', gps totin', overnighter virgin, wannabe tentmaker and foul weather wuss who rides a thumper to the trailhead with wonderdog Max to hike the Chilliwack Valley
Chwk
Canada
4908 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 12:56 AM
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I've been waiting for the TR and pics...I guess a bit longer won't hurt.
Glad to hear everyone had a good time.
Do you still have the key Karl, or are you under strict orders to return it?
Just in case I manage to ditch work during a nice weekend...
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If Jimmy cracks corn and nobody cares...why write a song about it? |
Edited by - TheShadow on 10/02/2006 07:55 AM |
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Richmond, BC
Canada
959 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 09:55 AM
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You guys could have left the gate open  , we were greeted by the locked gate shortly before 9am. Lack of planning ... 
We made up for it on Lady peak, short enough day to win the race against the clouds . |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13445 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 12:54 PM
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The Shadow
I still have the key, and will return it if called for.
regards, |
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New Westminster
Canada
242 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 5:54 PM
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... and here they are, (let's start with some colors):
  
  
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Surrey, B.C.
Canada
207 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 6:22 PM
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Perfect day for a hike and nice fall colors too! I didn't much like the walk up the logging road to the trailhead or the 1/2 hour stretch of dense alder on the trail, or.. but the rest was amazing. Here are a few more pictures...
 zoom on Baby Munday
 mountain alder section of trail we had to force our way through
 through the alder and on our merry way
 Karl points out the way
 yummmmmmmm!!!
 some bear pooh (mostly consisting of blueberry leaves)
    amazing views!
If you haven't been up there, better go now before sections of the trail are completely grown over.... and bring a 4x4.  Thanks for organizing Karl. |
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bandana wearin', pole huckin', view lovin', dog herdin', 4x4 navigatin', lake huntin', butt-slidin' bridge crosser, who enjoys postholing with an overnighter pack
Surrey, BC
Canada
4646 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 6:27 PM
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| Wonderful! I miss that place . |
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New Westminster
Canada
242 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 6:48 PM
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and some more pics:
   
   
   
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Terrace, BC
957 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 7:00 PM
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| What an Awesome day! I always liked the lower mainland low fog, makes the elevation seem that much higher. |
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canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6773 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 7:27 PM
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Good stuff 
Was that mess cleaned up that I encountered ? (downed trees)
How about that smaller slide that covered the road on New Years? |
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Langley, BC
Canada
1688 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 7:32 PM
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Gorgeous pics!
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Chaos, Panic & Disorder----my work here is done. |
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Peak scrambling, camera dodgin', knife toting gal who hikes with panties on pack & hangs clothes in trees
Port Coquitlam, BC
Canada
412 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 7:55 PM
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Now I'm kicking myself!
Gorgeous colors --- have to put this one on my list for sure. |
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Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 9:51 PM
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It was a great hike guys and much thanx to Karvitk for organizing it and getting the key.
So as promised I will add my two cents.
To get to the trailhead going to Chilliwack Lake you can't miss the Ford Mountain Correctional Center .....
 
... and just after it the bridge over the Chilliwack River.
Once over it there is a immediate left turn going up the Foley Lake FSR.
 
Very soon there is another bridge, I guess going over Foley Creek. I used to see lots off running salmon below the left side of this bridge years ago.
The road forks and you go right at this fork. Left goes up Chipmunk Creek and Cheam.
A few kilometers further and you will cross this bridge.
Just after it is the road to Laughington. Turn left here ....
.... and meet the dreaded gate.
 
Cross the bridge, (no you are not going in circles and crossing the same bridge), and carry on up the road.
After another few kilometers the road forks again and I never got a picture of this fork. Stay to the right.
Just past this fork is where they are actively logging and we parked there, (I tried to go up further but only got less than half a kilometer if that far).
From where we parked it was abit of a stiff hike going up the road because this is where it is the steepest.
In short time though we got to this old road going to the right.
Karvitk said he thought it meet be the way to Knight Peak but not the way we have to go, so we continued up the road until we got to where you can't drive any further with a 4X4.
 
AT this place we took the right fork ....
... finally we got to the almost trail head. (Old overgrown road straight ahead.) Don't follow the main road to the right.
 
We had a quick snack and a drink and into the jungle we went. At least it was shadey and cool in there.
   
And like all good things it came to an end. I spotted this other old road on the way down and never noticed it going up. Don't cross over that small old log or you will go the wrong way.
Within a few minutes we got to this bit of a landing where the road takes a sharp left.
All of the sudden out came the cameras, holly-cow everybody had one.
Hey Roberto, are you sure you are high enough up that bank for a good shot. Outdoors Guy, get out of the way you are spoiling my panorama pic. Karvitk, could you please stand up I don't want any butt shots, ah, on second thought maybe there's some nice Ladies out there that might like it, so here goes. Oh no Chris not me or your camera will break. Say Swavik, I think you took a picture of everything except that rock on the road.
     
This is basically what we all got excited about.
       
Karl said our next stop would be on that rocky hill, (Butte, Bluff, Rock OutCrop or ..... ?), and then we would carry on to the ridge.
 
Soon we were back at 'er and first came to this fork and stayed right then this one and stayed left.
 
Not far ahead and we came to the trail. There were blueberries on both sides of the road.
Karvitk took the lead and soon we were on the hill.
Nice little green lake.
 
A few pix ....
 
... and then, what the heck, where did that white stuff come from.
       
Like good Boy Scouts we had to plan our strategy in case we got engulfed in fog. Don't think anyone knew I had a compass, even me.
Best strategy was to stay above it and get up on the ridge as soon as possible and hope we beat it ....
 
... and so off we went.
 
Just in time. The fog was hitting the rocky hill now and starting to cover the lake. Lake can be seen in right pic and center left between the trees.
 
Oh no, what's Karl doing? Ah, conjuring up some magic spell to make the fog go away. Or, could it be he is trying to hide from it.
Alas, Karl's old faithful camera is giving him trouble and he made a make shift dark robe to fix it and not destroy the film. Very ingenious. Hopefully fixed now.
 
And just in time. Here comes the fog.
Tsunami In The Sky.
 
Picture of Karvitk.
Knight Peak on his right shoulder and Baby Munday on his left shoulder.
Keeping a cautious eye on the fog bank.
Survey Marker.
Then we made a bee-line for higher ground.
        
Outdoors Guy showing us how to climb down a shoot. 
We lied, it's flat.
Hummm! That hole comes out some where around here.
 
Swavik says, "I think we are near the peak".
Yep, got to be somewhere this way.
    
Came to a great spot and stopped for lunch.
 
Karl (Karvitk)
Shawn (Outdoors Guy)
Roberto (Leader)? Pointing the way.
Chris (BikinHikin)?
Swavik (CameraKrazy)? or (CameraMan)?
Three Hiking Buddies.
... and all great company.
Now all fed up and rested, time to tackle the peak.
      
Finally making Laughington Peak.
  
Karl taking a picture with all of us around the rock cairn on the peak.
Wait a minute. If we are on the peak, how come he looks higher than us? And how come those peaks look higher?
Ah, I get it now. I heard about this strange peak. It's an illusion.
One of those strange places on earth that plays tricks on the eyes.
Mystery solved.
Hummm. Pretty steep to get to the next peak.
 
Heading back.
  
My Favourite Pictures of this trip.
 
When we got to the top of the road everyone wanted to pick berries so I went ahead to do my thing and explore. Karl said that we could have bushwacked from the lake and meet the first logging road mon the way back, so I went up the road to have a look.
 
Then I realized my mistake. Did they pass me well I was off exploring or were they still behind me. I know Karl would not have been happy waiting for hours until I came down to let me through the gate. So I hiked down the road at a fairly steady pass and stopped to take pictures now and again in case they were still behind me but not to slow in case they were ahead of me. I scratched the dirt on the road with a stick, my initial and scatched a arrow in the direction I was going. It worked out fine because I got to the cars ahead of them by about 10 minutes. For goodness sakes. If you leave a group leave some sign of where you have been and which direction you are going so the rest don't get worried about you.
A fool hen on the road. There was a pile of feathers not far from this one. If it doesn't smarten up it will become feathers also.
  
Anyway, some how the clouds never engulfed us all day and now it was slowly descending upon us. Coming down everything was reverse from going up. Clear below now and cloudy above and dropping.
     
It's been many years since I have hiked with more than one other person. I thoroughly enjoyed it and Karl was a great guide. This could get habit forming and maybe, just maybe, I might break my bad habits. Thanks guys, it was fun. 
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Wildman |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
3996 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 10:03 PM
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| Wildman, some great pictures there. I really like the ones you guys took of the cloud filled valleys with majestic peaks above. Good fall colours too. |
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Mysterious, pop can stove stashin', gps totin', overnighter virgin, wannabe tentmaker and foul weather wuss who rides a thumper to the trailhead with wonderdog Max to hike the Chilliwack Valley
Chwk
Canada
4908 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 10:24 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Wildman
Survey Marker.
Doggone it Wildman! How do you keep finding these things so easily???
While on Elk/Thurston, I wasn't able to find ONE of the three!
Nice pics, now I'm really pi$$ed that I couldn't make it. Looks like it was a great hike with great colours!
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If Jimmy cracks corn and nobody cares...why write a song about it? |
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Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2006 : 10:50 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by TheShadow
Nice pics, now I'm really pi$$ed that I couldn't make it. Looks like it was a great hike with great colours!
TheShadow, sure would like to go back up there some time again. Hope it's with you good buddy.
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Wildman |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13445 Posts |
Posted - 10/03/2006 : 12:07 AM
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Roberto, Outdoorsguy, and Wildman. All stunning and awesome photos showing the beauty that surrounded us on this day. The cloud sure added to the beauty of the blue sky, mountains, and the autumn colours.
Thank you all very much. Will post my pictures in a few days, first roll I found turned out to be empty. 2nd roll not in yet.
Regards, |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2847 Posts |
Posted - 10/03/2006 : 10:57 AM
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| Ooh, great photos and great trip, everyone. I slept in and took the day off. Went and purchased a much needed file cabinet and spent the day filing papers. Shoulda been with you guys but I was also nursing a foot strain. Glad you didn't wait too long for me. I'll be out for sure, this coming weekend! |
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surrey, bc
Canada
1389 Posts |
Posted - 10/03/2006 : 11:37 AM
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wow.. beauty!! too bad 'bout that dent tho Karl..
but man, that scenery!
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yeh baby!! |
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South Surrey, BC
Canada
626 Posts |
Posted - 10/03/2006 : 4:23 PM
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Wildman>
Holy *#$@ I have never seen someone post that many pictures in any post on here.
Wow... intense. I kept scrolling down and scrolling down... |
Edited by - idealistic74 on 10/03/2006 4:23 PM |
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Laughington ahead of the cloud Sat Sep.30.06
