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Chilliwack, BC
561 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 11:38 AM
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On Tuesday I got an invite from Flowing-Brook to hike Sumas Mountain the following day, I was 90% sure I'd have to say no as my knee is still not healed and tends to lock up. Wednesday I woke to a beautiful morning - it was too much - had to go. We get to the TH approx 9am and started up-steep right away.
Flowing on the first flat spot- We found this lil guy guarding the trail- Two old giants, fire scared but still majestic
   
We finaly crest a ridge, sporting some reminders of nettles and Devils Club and soaked in sweat but both happy to be exploring a new mountain, I had never been on this trail and Flowing only part way up last December so we were both in new territory.
Looking down at the muddy Fraser from the ridge-A little while later we find this marker, not sure what it signifies-a boundary maybe? - and Flowing finds her first party balloon. Further along the trail it widens out for awhile and I love the way the sun dapples through the trees.
   
The trail is well marked but we came to a "T" junction- which way to go?- after some discussion we decide to go right, but is it the right direction and where is this lake? We climb and climb and then Flowing says "Is that water through there?" It is! A few minutes later we reach the lake- it's like finding a hidden jewell- the sun is shining, two young eagles are soaring in circles around the lake, nothing could be more beautiful. Although we had fed some mosquitoes and black flies along the way there were none here and we enjoyed our lunch beside the lake.
Our lunch spot and still at the lake Flowing finds her second party balloon
  
We pack up and head for the peak-oops, another "T" junction, I remembered reading something about taking the right hand fork at the lake to go to the summit so thats what we did. After awhile when the trail was still following along the water edge Flowing suggested we back track and go the other way- good decision- we start to climb. It was really steep here and we began to wonder again if it was the right way- well, it's going up, so it must be lol. We finaly break out of the forest at the tower and meet some Korean people who had driven up on the other side. We asked if there was another way back to the lake other then the way we had come but were greeted by polite grins and nods so realized that english was not an option although one of them spoke a little. We said goodbye and headed for the East Valley Lookout.
Looking back down at the lake climbing to the summit- View from the EVL with good old Cheam in the background- Eagles soaring over the valley and Mount Baker to the south
   
After enjoying the view we headed back, as Flowing was nursing a bad tendon in her foot and my knee was acting up there was lots of jokes and laughs about getting old and falling apart. We make it back to the car with that feeling only a hiker would understand after a great hike and Flowing coined a new word--- pooped-da-phoric--- |
Edited by - seeking on 06/22/2007 09:53 AM
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150 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 12:11 PM
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Cool TR. Great pics.
From the top, head down the road a KM or so and there's another trail down to Chadsey - Marked with a FVRD Parks sign. Alternately, you could hike down KnobGobbler (bike trail), but describing where to kick out for the Chadsey trail is difficult.
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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
13440 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 12:15 PM
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Great and well written report, those pictures of the lake make it soft and quite inviting. Good for you both to enjoy the day and get some sun and exercise together with a view.
Regards, |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
159 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 12:44 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by seeking
Aha, so that's what the view looks like. We were up there on Saturday and our views were, well, not like that... 
We were discussing what the `legs' were and came to the conclusion that Sasquatch had pulled the body off a giant insect. |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 12:47 PM
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Thanks Ed for your great report, I'll add a little because I'm interested in finding out how many km we went and where exactly the peak is. After reading my notes I'm still not sure.
Our hike was long but good and there was no blasting yesterday. I forgot my 103 hikes notes at home so we ended up hiking for 10 full hours including breaks not realizing we could head West at the lake to Quadling Road. We saw the tree that had Quadling Road pasted about 10 feet up but thought to ourselves, that's heading west so we best go back the way we came.
I wonder how many km that was. We started up the trailhead that is beside the quary and at the first fork we went right and eventually ended up at the lake, then we went towards the sign that said summit but the directions weren't clear so at the first fork we went right and walked along the lake for 1/2 hour, thinking this must be wrong coz we aren't going up, we turned back and took the left fork up to the east viewing area and the cablevision towers. Then we took the same way back down to the lake and then back down to the trailhead at the quary. It made for a very long hike and by the time we reached the car it was 7:00 pm. There was blowdown here and there but we're used to a lot of blowdown these days. Lots of stinging nettle and devils club at the first part of the trail that managed to sting us through long sleeves and pants.
It was a fantastic hike and we were poopdaphoric (you spelled my new word wrong Ed)...in Flowing-Brook's dictionary of created words poopdaphoria is when you've hiked so long and become so tired that everything seems funny. I'm still poopdaphoric today, lol.
Group shot at East View point:
Along the way:
     
That mountain sure seemed a lot bigger then it looks
Happy trails,
Lynn |
Edited by - Flowing-Brook on 06/21/2007 1:12 PM |
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150 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 1:19 PM
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Same viewpoint, different group; different angle.
My son on the right, a Japanese guest beside him. I asked him what he wanted to do on that day. He said exercise...... So I hiked him up Sumas.
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Chilliwack, BC
561 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 1:49 PM
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quote-
"It was a fantastic hike and we were poopdaphoric (you spelled my new word wrong Ed)...in Flowing-Brook's dictionary of created words poopdaphoria is when you've hiked so long and become so tired that everything seems funny. I'm still poopdaphoric today, lol."
Sorry about the spelling Lynn, my spelling is not the greatest at the best of times but when I'm poopdaphoric it's really bad lol |
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Fungi Filmin', Wine Drinkin', 'Shroom Eatin', Early Risin', Deer Whisperin', Curry Cookin', Macro Maniac
Chilliwack + Osoyoos
3618 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 1:59 PM
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Ed, man...
Next time you go, take your chainsaw and clear out the top of the Taggart trail (a little bit to the West of where you were)...
Great TR and pics...
C'Jack... |
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in the valley, BC
Canada
1456 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 2:30 PM
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Nice report and pics. Makes me want to explore Sumas Mountain - which I'll have to do soon since it's almost at my back door!
Cheers! |
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Chilliwack, BC
561 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 3:08 PM
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Thanks for the comments everyone.
stillgoing-Thanks for the info, I intend to take a drive up to the tower, I'll see if I can find that other TH. Please dont tell me your son hiked up from the east TH lol if he did I'll have to admit I'm getting old LOL.
C'Jack- I'll see if I can find the Taggert Trail but I've really screwed up my knee so will have to stop hiking for a couple of weeks- I probably wont be able to stop lol but gotta try, it starts getting better then I start hiking again and screw it up worse. Do u know where I can trade it in for a new one lol. Have you been clearing on the Laughington trail yet? |
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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 - 06/21/2007 : 5:30 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Flowing-Brook
I don't know what that first marker was, but if you look DOWN (in this shot), you would have seen another one at your feet...the SUMMIT marker!
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Edited by - TheShadow on 06/21/2007 5:30 PM |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
719 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 5:38 PM
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| Great report and pictures, seeking and Flowing-Brook. I'm glad to see that you made it to the summit despite a bum knee and a sore tendon! You couldn't have picked a nicer day for this hike weatherwise. Thanks for posting this report, it will be useful for when I try again - soon, I hope. |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 6:11 PM
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Thanks Shadow for letting me know if we made it to the summit.
Blucruisin and greyowl:
I'd love to explore with you sometime after a recovery period, LOL...I found this hike even more challenging then going to the propeller up Slessee. Maybe it was the tendonitis but I think more then likely this trail is a real grind. |
Edited by - Flowing-Brook on 06/22/2007 07:55 AM |
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Fungi Filmin', Wine Drinkin', 'Shroom Eatin', Early Risin', Deer Whisperin', Curry Cookin', Macro Maniac
Chilliwack + Osoyoos
3618 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 6:46 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by seeking
C'Jack- I'll see if I can find the Taggert Trail but I've really screwed up my knee so will have to stop hiking for a couple of weeks- I probably wont be able to stop lol but gotta try, it starts getting better then I start hiking again and screw it up worse.
Take it easy Big Fella, you only have one body, and two knees (this time round anyways)...
quote:
Have you been clearing on the Laughington trail yet?
No mate... My sights are set on doing things slowly up at Elk Creek... One trail at a time...
C'Jack...
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Chilliwack, BC
561 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 7:01 PM
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quote:
Have you been clearing on the Laughington trail yet?
No mate... My sights are set on doing things slowly up at Elk Creek... One trail at a time...
C'Jack...
As soon as I'm mobile again I'll let you know and if you'd like an extra pair of hands I'll gladly help out. Take care, Ed |
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
309 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 7:02 PM
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Poopedaphoric! Gorgeous day and you two used it well. Nice description of the lake and I love that shot of Baker.
The first time gs and I did the east trail to Sumas we took the wrong fork more than once and explored more than we really wanted to before reaching the summit. Glad to hear you two made it up without bushwhacking! |
Edited by - hb on 06/21/2007 7:11 PM |
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Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 8:13 PM
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Great trip you two. Nicely written and very good detail Ed.
Wish I had the time off to guide you around up there.
That is a good grunt for one day. Good going on making the summit.
The actual highest point on the mountain is a little higher than where you went. There is a radio transmitter there.
Where you went has always been refered to as the summit though.
The trail goes right around the lake and four trails branch from it. Two down and two up.
The two down go west and east the way you approached.
The two up, one goes the way you went and one goes to the road.
You can make a loop to the summit from the lake if you wish or take the same trail back from the summit that you did or the road/trail.
I had trouble last year getting to the lake the way you went so decided to add more red flagging and cut out the overgrown parts of the trail during a week of my holidays. I also cut a very short access route to a stream below the final hill approach to the lake for a water stop.
My TR from last year has all the routes explained. I did a lot of research, hiking, and work during that week to try and put the most up to date information on my TR that I could so that the name Chadsey Lake would persevere over a common name that is used because many people got lost or could not find Lost Lake, it's pseudo name.
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17640&whichpage=1 |
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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
13440 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 8:33 PM
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Well done, Ed and Lynn. Hope your knee clears up sooner than you expect, would be great to see you on the trails again soon.
Regards, |
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Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 8:57 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by KARVITK
Well done, Ed and Lynn. Hope your knee clears up sooner than you expect, would be great to see you on the trails again soon.
Regards,
That's for sure. We all gotta get up Lady Peak very soon and Ed you have to take me all the way to the Slesse Memorial yet.  |
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Chilliwack, BC
561 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 9:09 PM
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Wildman---Thanks Wally- we where about 50 feet from the radio tower while talking to the Korean folks- I had the misconception that they had driven right up to the tower but I just finished reading your earlier TR. I've heard of Lost Lake somewhere along the way, I had no idea that Lynn and I found it lol.
No, I havent forgotten about Slesse , it's going to be a strange feeling leading someone so knowledgeable as yourself but I'm looking forward to it, take care, Ed
ps-I just had to add this Wally- in your earlier TR there is a pic-you called it "fungi gone wild"- I wonder if it is the same bunch that I took a pic of yesterday--
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Edited by - seeking on 06/21/2007 9:38 PM |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 9:12 PM
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Wildman:
Thanks for all your information, we also went to the cable vision towers which seemed higher then the East Valley Lookout. I can understand why they might call it lost lake, lol, it seemed we hiked a long time before having a glimpse of it.
I'm sure Ed won't be able to stay away from the trails for too long, hopefully he'll invest in a good knee brace. I'm planning on making it to the propeller this summer even if there is an additional 8 rock slides to traverse and 5 more km added on the trail. |
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Exploring Sumas Mountain 20 Jun o7
