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Langley, BC
Canada
12 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2010 : 7:12 PM
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This trip started off like any other hiking adventure I've ever planned....by gazing at Google earth and finding mysterious lakes and peaks hard to reach in areas rarely visited by the average folk, haha.
I convinced both of my brothers and a friend to come along on this adventure to conquer Radium lake, Mt. MacDonald, Mt Lindeman, and Upper Hanging lake.
The following is our eventual route, one way... (I'll explain)
We left early Saturday morning a drove up the familiar Chilliwack lake road until our driver my youngest brother flew past the entrance into the Provincial Park campground onto the insanely potholeish hell of a gravel road past the entrance doing around 70km. After the car bumped to a stop, we turned around, found the day use area parked and were on our way.
The hike to Radium was largely uneventful and only served as a reminder of how unfit we actually were. The trail was in good condition which allowed us to make it to Radium for an early lunch in 2.5 hours after stopping briefly to do some Geo-caching just before the suspension bridge on the way up.  
After lunch at Radium we continued up to the col between Mt. Webb and Mt Macdonald, taking us around 1-1.5 hours. The views even from this point are amazing. The hiking was hard considering we were fully loaded with packs, not as fit as we had envisioned and two of us...(myself and my brother) were wearing our steel toed work boots as hiking boots, great in some circumstances, but not to the point were they are weighing down your legs making it nearly impossible to lift them another step.
 
From the col a group of day hikers passed us and charged onto Mt Macdonald as we slowly made it to the summit, opting to head to the right of the summit first, then deposit our packs and hike up the last 100 meters or so to the summit. Once again the views were great, which also allowed us to see where we were going from there...the ridgeline to Mt. Lindeman.  
We hiked back down to our bags and were re-arranging some packs when my brothers sleeping bag came loose and started roling down the side of MacDonald! it ended up only going 200m or so, which still is a long way to hike down and up again. Once the bag was all back in place we started off on the easiest part of our trek, the ridgeline, which we basically followed all the way from Macdonald to the lowest part of the ridge, just before it starts going up again towards Lindeman. The clouds came is wisps and blocked our view of our route which we had to refer to digital pictures of the area I had taken earlier on in the day to make sure we were avoiding the cliffs to get by Mt Lindeman in order to camp at the col between Lindeman and Hanging Lake Peak, which I had read about in another trip report from earlier this year, something about camping on a large flat boulder.
 
Once we passed the lowest part of the cliffs, about 1800m, we continued back up to the col, passing over one patch of snow and up a slippery slope to the heather meadow type col, where we found the large flat boulder. We decided not to camp on the boulder because the winds were pretty gusty and cold right then and instead opted for camping near a smaller but still gigantic boulder which had room for a fire underneath an overhang. This was a perfect camping and cooking spot. The views of Upper hanging lake were great too as well as Mt. Lindeman in the setting sun. This is where we decided to change our plans...based on our extremely long day of hiking already (it was 5 by the time we set up camp for the night) we figured we were closer to getting out to the south end of Chilliwack lake and trying to hitch a ride to our car at the campground than to hike back the same way in the rain that was foretasted on Monday. Now I know that changing plans half way through a trip is not the best idea, especially when we had told other people of our planned trip etc. But there were four of us together and we decided to hike on to Hanging lake and camp at the south beach of Chilliwack Lake instead. Plus, I had read so much about the elusive Hanging lake on Club Tread that I just had to see it and the weather just wasn't co-operating enough to let me see it.   
The next morning we woke to find an inch of snow covering everything, which didn't stop my friend and I from summiting Mt. Lindeman in 1.5 hours complete with the boot skiing downhill experience afterward. My brothers opted to explore Upper hanging lake and take some pictures as well as scout out a route to Hanging lake. We returned to our camp and packed up leaving some firewood behind for the next group of hikers. As we were walking alongside Upper hanging lake on our way towards Hanging lake we ran into a group of Club Treaders coming up from Hanging lake hoping to summit Lindeman, Macdonald and Hanging Lake Peaks in the afternoon once the weather cleared. We talked about the route to Hanging lake and the cliffs in the way and the best route to take as well as the warning about getting competely soaked, which was very true and expected. Their advice was great and well worth it and helped us avoid hiking back up to get around cliffs. We told them of our fire pit and wood we left so they could warm up at the col.
   
We continued on to the boulder field, following it as far down as we could and then ducked into the forest where we were completely soaked in 1-2 min and soon came upon our first cliff face which we hiked lower and passed and then continued the process of hiking down at an angle to the lake in the forest until we came to a cliff which we would hike around and continue the same. Eventually we made it to Hanging lake (about 2hours from Upper Hanging lake), a sight to be seen with its waterfalls and cirche. We found the camp across the logjam and warmed up by the fire another club treader had been keeping alive in the rain. We had lunch, talked about the trail down the valley to Chilliwack lake and soon continued on.
   
The trail down to chilliwack lake was relatively easy to follow, the top section was the only part in which a route needed to be followed by the flags. Once past the bush bowl we got onto an old trail and soon realized it so we hiked down until we came across another trail. We met up with yet another Club Treader, hiking up the trail to meet up with the gang already camped at the lake. We made it down to Chilliwack lake in 2.5 hours, crossing over a small log jam to camp near the southwest corner of the lake on the beach. We set up camp and talked with a guy fishing from a boat nearby who agreed to drive my brother back to the campground so we could bring our car over the the depot creek bridge and leave the next morning instead of hiking and hoping to get picked up along the road. He returned after about 1.5 hours and crossed the river by wading across because he couldn't or didn't want to look for the real crossing farther up river. We had a great bonfire that night and a great meal of scalloped potatoes, ground beef, pudding and some weird bean dish. Despite the many bear tracks around us, we slept great and never saw a bear.     
The next morning we had some pink pancakes (pink from the red smarties I had mixed in with the batter), cleaned and packed up to wade across the river flowing into Chilliwack lake...probably not the best idea, but we were just too lazy to hike back up the river and find the proper crossing...if there is one. Plus the wading made for some good pictures and laughs as my bag dipped into the water, soaking my sleeping bag. It started pouring just as we walked down the road, 20 min or so to our car, jumped in and took off down pothole drive, another great adventure in the Chilliwack valley.
-Chaz     |
Edited by - Chaz on 09/07/2010 8:32 PM
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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
4647 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2010 : 7:29 PM
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That's awesome! Way to go you guys.  
The Hanging Lakes sure are getting lot's of attention this year! |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1116 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2010 : 8:11 PM
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| Possible first steel toed work boot ascent of mt Lindeman?Way to go ,great tr. |
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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
13453 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2010 : 8:11 PM
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Awesome adventure indeed, what an impressive feat for you all to make it.
K |
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over the hills and far away
Canada
708 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2010 : 8:24 PM
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| Nice one indeed.... but did it only take you guys 20 minutes to walk the length of the lake, or from the point when it started raining? One day I'll have to go see this lake for myself. |
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Langley, BC
Canada
12 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2010 : 8:41 PM
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It only took us 20 min to walk from the south beach of Chilliwack to our car parked 3/4 of the way down the lake on the gravel road there.
Yup hiking in work boots is the way to go |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1111 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2010 : 8:53 PM
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Wa ha ha ha...nice. Ford of the year....if you call that shallow. Great trip. Nicely told. |
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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 - 09/07/2010 : 9:19 PM
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| Respect for this T/R and post, well done. |
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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 - 09/07/2010 : 9:38 PM
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The steel toe boots got my attention too. Great variety of pictures to compliment the trip.
Well done . |
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505 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2010 : 9:51 PM
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The steel toe boots weren't just for show. I saw these guys at Upper Hanging lake and it was the first thing I noticed too....and the blue jeans ;)
Great job guys and nice to meet you.
Paul |
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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 - 09/07/2010 : 9:54 PM
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| Jeans and steel toes? Dang, that puts a new spin on this trip... |
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Manitoba's misadventurin' bushwhackin', dog sloggin', dehydratin', beer drinkin' biggie - who's eager to peak bag Mt Currie in a dress
Squamish
5041 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2010 : 10:33 PM
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| That's great! Good stuff. Steel toes and blue jeans to hanging lake. :) |
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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 - 09/07/2010 : 10:37 PM
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| Chris posted!! This thread must have some worthyness!.. I thought this dude had nearly perished..Its all good now. |
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Manitoba's misadventurin' bushwhackin', dog sloggin', dehydratin', beer drinkin' biggie - who's eager to peak bag Mt Currie in a dress
Squamish
5041 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2010 : 11:23 PM
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haha still here. Always interested in hanging lake stories  |
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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 - 09/07/2010 : 11:27 PM
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Wow...EPIC!
Well done guys, I wonder who the other CTer's were?
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Edited by - TheShadow on 09/08/2010 12:38 AM |
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Vancouver, bc
Canada
1009 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 12:45 AM
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Way to get er done old school.
No weight weenies here!! |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 07:49 AM
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| Great job everyone! Congratulations on one heck of a trip! |
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
667 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 08:58 AM
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| Way to get er done.. ill post a few pics on this thread when I Get them done. |
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Langley, B.C
Canada
285 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 09:41 AM
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| Sounds like a pretty sick trip. How is the ridge from Macdonald to Lindemen? |
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Squamish, British Columbia
Canada
1007 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 10:22 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Aqua Terra
Jeans and steel toes? Dang, that puts a new spin on this trip...
When we passed the guys at Upper Hanging one of the guys was wearing sweat pants to get down through the bush bowl. Once he was made aware of how wet the bush was though, it was ok, he took them off and he had jeans underneath.
Kudos to all of yous for making the traverse and kicking it old school with the gear. That's the real original pioneer spirit.
quote:
Originally posted by Gearhed
Way to get er done old school.
No weight weenies here!!
As a bonus that pot doubles as a medieval jousting helmet.
Cheers for telling us about your camp up in the saddle, I doubt we would of spent any time up there if we hadn't of known about that shelter under the boulder.
Here's the picture I took up at upper hanging lake
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
7 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 11:00 AM
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great trip report guys. I'm glad you guys were able to warm up at the fire I had going on your way down to chilliwack lake, you definitely needed it after that trip from upper hanging lake to hanging lake. I'm amazed at how much snow you had on your tents as well. I'm definitely going to try your route in the future, it really is amazing up there.
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Mt. MacDonald and Lindeman, Upper and Hanging lake
