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40 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2010 : 6:49 PM
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Woke up pretty late in the morning and was surprised to see the forecast had changed from rain to mostly sunny. I though it might be a little late to start a big hike but I have missed a few opportunities this week due to forecasts so figured the hell with it I don't care if I get home at 8pm just as long as I don't get stuck on the trail in the dark.
Hit the Pierce Lake trailhead at around 0920. It was easy enough to find, just a few meters in off of Chilliwack lake Road and there is a fair sized parking lot right before the trail.
For the first 2 hours to Pierce Lake the trail stays in the bushes for the most part and is in very good shape, It' felt a lot steeper than the stats say it is though. And I had just done Williams Peak a few days earlier so I swear they felt similar on my poor legs. Before the creek you do pass one rockslide that you have to navigate through but the footbed was nice and stable and route was easy enough to see.
There is a few creek crossings throughout the trip as well Maybe if the creek was higher they'd be a problem but it's easy to just hop on logs or rocks and get by without getting wet at all.
Roughly 2 hours into the hike you hit a steep open meadow overlooking Pierce Lake.
Lots of flowers around here too so here are a bunch of shots.
    
After this the trail drops to lake level and it gets really swampy and muddy. For the most part there are rocks and pieces of wood tossed into the mud to try and keep you from sinking but some times you just cant make the step. I sunk in 2-4 inches in a few spots. On the way back I made sure to pick up some dead fall and try to make some more foot steps but it could use a lot more.
This muddy section only lasts for around 5- 10 mins then you start approaching a big cliff wall with waterfalls and then you switch back up to gain the top of the waterfall.
    
This section of the trail isn't quite as nice to walk on as the section up to the first lake. It's a bit overgrown in spots switchbacks over a few rockslides, it's narrow, and the slope its on is pretty steep. But all in all it's still decent to hike over, and it doesn't last long at all.. it only took about an hour from Pierce Lake to Upper Pierce Lake. And I have to say wow... Upper Pierce is beautiful. I have yet to do many hikes to lakes since I'm still trying to cross off summits from my list, but from the ones I've seen this one is spectacular. Not treed in like the first lake, its in a crescent bowl surrounded by peaks and looking back towards the falls if it wasn't so hazy the view would be ridiculous of the entire Cheam range I think. I'll definitely be doing this hike again when the haze is gone and it's a clear sunny blue sky day.
From the Upper Lake it was only 35-40mins to the peak. The ridge is easy to follow, it's a bit steep in places but nothing I felt uncomfortable with since the footings are all pretty good. Here's some shots from along the ridge to the peak.
   
The views the whole trip up the ridge just hinted at how amazing they'd be if it wasn't so hazy. Slesse Rexford Baker Cheam and many more were taunting me through the haze :( Anyway here's some summit shot's.
  
And another foot dangler.
After 4h15min to hike up I spent a good 15-20 mins up on the peak and then after a quick protein bar and energy drink I was off back down the trail to my car. 2h30min later I was in my car and heading home. So it took 6h45min round trip car to peak to car. |
Edited by - JohnQuake on 08/07/2010 7:07 PM
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
301 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2010 : 7:11 PM
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It was easy enough to find,
Yeah, it's hard to miss now after the clearing they've done. |
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
44 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 01:43 AM
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This looks like an awesome spot, nice pics! I actually have this one and Williams to cross off my list this year too, but after reading both of your TR's I think I'll be doing this one first  |
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40 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 06:44 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by NVS
This looks like an awesome spot, nice pics! I actually have this one and Williams to cross off my list this year too, but after reading both of your TR's I think I'll be doing this one first
That would be my suggestion too, definitely a more enjoyable hike, more varied terrain, similar elevation gains and time, can't say which has better views from the top though since both of them were hazy when I went up, but from what little I could make out through the haze I think MacFarlane might have nicer views. This and MacDonald Peak from Radium are 2 of my favorite hikes so far, those and the Chief only because of how unique it was compared to all of the other hikes i've done. |
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Coquitlam, BC
Canada
342 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 07:15 AM
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What's up with all of the Danny Epp plaques? Is this guy some forgotten mountaineering legend or environmentalist that seems to have passed away on just about every peak in SW BC?
Good job on bagging another one through. Just had to rant about those plaques.
C |
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Sunnyvale Trailer Park
Canada
1089 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 08:43 AM
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| How do you find time for all these mid-week hikes, are you a school teacher or something ? |
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Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
1762 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 11:02 AM
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| Wow, the upper lake is thawed out already. Not so at this time last year... the only open spot was the outflow. Also, that snow chute on the right extended down to the lake - it was an epic glissade. I very much enjoyed it. Hmmm... I'll have to perhaps get up there soon. Thanks for the report. |
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1073 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 11:09 AM
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What's up with all of the Danny Epp plaques? Is this guy some forgotten mountaineering legend or environmentalist that seems to have passed away on just about every peak in SW BC?
You'd think so, eh? He was some kid who died on Cypress skiing out of bounds. I know how hard it can be to lose someone so young, but I think putting so many of those little plaques all over the place is completely inappropriate and sort of dilutes the meaning of such a memorial. |
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 Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 11:10 AM
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Wow! The hills are alive.... Those peaks are daydream evoking. Great pictures!
All the pretty wildflowers and the stream choked with growth is just the ticket. I would walk the stream. ahhhhhh thanks |
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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
13478 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2010 : 8:48 PM
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You have some fine rich colours in your photos; this is one of my favourites. Love the two lakes and the high mountain views from both MacFarlane and Pierce Peak.
K |
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40 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2010 : 4:02 PM
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Originally posted by Elkaholic
How do you find time for all these mid-week hikes, are you a school teacher or something ?
Not a school teacher just a shift worker. There are some advantages to not working the Monday to Friday grind :) |
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Sunnyvale Trailer Park
Canada
1089 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2010 : 4:23 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by JohnQuake
quote:
Originally posted by Elkaholic
How do you find time for all these mid-week hikes, are you a school teacher or something ?
Not a school teacher just a shift worker. There are some advantages to not working the Monday to Friday grind :)
That's cool, as long as you get some good days for hiking. My sister is a teacher and has the summer off, not that I'm jealous or anything... |
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Mount MacFarlane Aug 06 2010
