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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
723 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2008 : 8:55 PM
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Not wanting to hit the highway on the long weekend, I thought a hike up Sumas Mountain, although pretty mundane, would at least get me some exercise. It's only a 20-minute drive from home to the trail head, a 90-minute easy hike to Chadsey Lake and another 60 minutes up some steep switchbacks to the top. For a change, the smog from Metro Vancouver did not totally obscure the views. There was a bit of a haze but I did enjoy the mountain views all around, including the Cheam Range and Mt. Baker. Some neat wildlife at the summit - an American Kestrel (too fast for my camera) and a beautiful butterfly with almost translucent wings. Lush ferns and lots of Indian Pipe on the trail.
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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
13474 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2008 : 8:58 PM
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Nice one there, with some neat shots.
I have not been up there since highschool although I have tried to last year. How long did you take for the round trip, and was your starting point from near the pump station?
K |
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Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2008 : 9:20 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by greyowl
Beautiful butterfly with almost translucent wings. Lush ferns and lots of Indian Pipe on the trail.
Really like these excellent pictures. The others were good too considering the haze.
Always wanted to know what those white plants were called. Thanx 
Do they turn pink - red when mature? |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
723 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2008 : 9:47 PM
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K, the eastern approach from the Barrowtown Pump Station has for the last year or so become too unreliable with the quarrying operation right at the trail head. They also do some blasting from time to time and you're supposed to call them before you go. Therefore, I always start from the west side. Round trip is 5-6 hours including a relaxing stop at the summit.
W, Indian pipes are saprophytes, meaning they have no chlorophyll. They remain white until they turn black and die - no pretty pink stage in between. My wealth of knowledge (yeah right!) comes from "Plants of Coastal British Columbia" by Pojar and MacKinnon. |
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Chilliwack
1271 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2008 : 9:59 PM
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| Beautiful shot of the butterfly. Friend and I were talking about hiking Sumas Mnt. next week. We were going to begin at the Barrowtown Pump Station and now I've just read what you've written about calling before you go...hmmm. So maybe we will have to begin where you did. Thanks for the tip. Also, excuse my ignorance but what is an American Kestral? Is that the same as an American Marten? I saw one of those on the Eaton Lake Trail in Hope. Really cool. |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
723 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2008 : 10:23 PM
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An American Kestrel, also called a sparrow hawk, is a small falcon the size of a jay. It is generally uncommon except during migration and this was the first one I was able to positively identify with the help of "Western Birds" by Roger Tory Peterson and "Birds of Southwestern British Columbia" by Richard Canning et al.
I hope you'll see one, too. It was flying around the summit when I was there. |
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Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2008 : 11:39 PM
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Oh, I thought they grew into these.
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Edited by - Wildman on 08/07/2008 11:40 PM |
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Chilliwack
1271 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2008 : 08:02 AM
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| Thanks greyowl. I would be looking for something on the ground instead of up in the sky lol. I'll keep my eyes open and I may purchase that book you mentioned. Sounds good. |
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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
4910 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2008 : 08:06 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Wildman
Oh, I thought they grew into these.
Wally, I believe that stuff is called Western Coral root. I found some on the way to Lindeman Lake last year:
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Sumas Mtn. Aug 4/08
