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 Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
6907 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2012 : 11:37 PM
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I did a three night solo hike with my faithful Chocolate Lab Krista up to Ponderosa Shelter in the Stein Valley. My original plan was a bit more ambitious in making it to Cottonwood Camp in one day, but I will get to that in a moment.
I began my journey from the trailhead at around 08:45, so I figured I had plenty of light to make it to Cottonwood, some 30km away.
Loop Camp:
Then Devils Staircase Camp:
Leafy Trail:
TeePee Camp after 2.5 hrs of hiking:
Earl's Cabin 45 min later:
 
Suspension Bridge straight up!
 
At an unofficial camp named Riverside I believe:
River gets nice and calm past Riverside
I stopped here at the picnic table for a break, now some 4 hrs in.
We kept going and in a little while made it to Lean-to Camp, which in my view is an oddly placed camp suitable only for emergency through hiking. Lots of Mosquitoes here too.
From here to Ponderosa the trail gets a bit brushy in places along with some deadfall:
 
Nice stand of Cottonwoods from the bluffs:
We made it to the Ponderosa shelter at 3:45, so 7 hours and 20km with another 8km to go for Cottonwood.
Looks pretty much in the same state of construction as it did when I hiked past it in 2005. There's a bear cache and outhouse, but no discernable campsites and no nearby water source. I elected to camp at Ponderosa shelter instead as at least there were places to camp and the river was closeby.
The shelter is missing alot of shingles but still provides some level of cover in the event of rain, which so happened to commence that evening.
The next morning I had decided to head back down the valley and perhaps camp at Riverside or even Teepee. I stopped at Riverside and enjoyed the sunshine for awhile until it faded behind the mountains just after 2pm.
That's no good!
It got cold fairly quickly after that so I decided to continue east and down the valley. Besides, I had heard at one time that Riverside was notorious for mice. Bears are one thing but what I really don't like are mice. Sure they frighten easily, but they will come back...and in greater numbers, just like the Sand People in Star Wars. It was Friday anyway and I figured I would still likely have Teepee to myself. At least there's lots of sunshine there.
I got to Teepee around 7pm and set up my tent in a nice grassy corner close to the river so at least I'd be somewhat removed should others arrive. I had just finished setting up my tent when a lone hiker arrived, who promptly introduced himself by name and noted that he was a member of the Kamloops hiking club and he was the first of what would be a group of 8 to arrive. He had for himself a Tarn 3...suddenly the half pound of cheese I had decided to take along didn't seem so excessive anymore.
Sure enough, some 15 minutes later the others arrived, but they were a great bunch and soon enough I knew them all by name. They were in for 2 nights and were planning on hiking up to the Suspension Bridge or further the next day. They invited me to join them but I opted to enjoy some solo time along the river and bask in a beautiful sunny day.
So I spent two nights at Teepee with them. Among them was Avatar from CT (very nice getting to know you!) and it was actually quite a delight spending time with them all. After they left this morning I lazed around some more and decided at 3:30 when the sun was setting behind the mountains that I too would head out today instead of spending another night and leaving the next morning.
It was truly very refreshing having a relaxed pace and having two days of nothing planned except reading, whittling and chucking rocks at other rocks. Thanks again for the great company Kamloops Hiking Club  |
Edited by - BillyGoat on 05/03/2012 10:44 AM
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Langley, BC
Canada
1078 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 07:46 AM
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| Small world. My girlfriend and I stopped for a bite to eat at your camp yesterday (Sunday). We were just up for a dayhike, made it to Earl's Cabin. It was nice meeting you, however brief it was. |
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over the hills and far away
Canada
708 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 07:47 AM
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| Poor dog. Nice trip. |
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Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
6907 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 08:13 AM
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| Ah so you are Matt Nice meeting you too! |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 08:51 AM
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You're right, the Kamloops hiking club are a great bunch! The first time I made it up Needle Peak they took us newbies under their wings . I guess you could call this trip, "The Solo That Never Was". |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
719 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 09:48 AM
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BG, have you tried liquid glucosamine to treat Krista's arthritis? I've had great results with our 18-year old cat.
Nice report! |
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Kamloops, BC
Canada
171 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 1:23 PM
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Ya... It was a great weekend. We got some great weather, got to hike with some great people, and managed to make some great new friends.
Thanks for all the help/advice/company Tim! That little tour you took us on at the end was a real nice way to end the trip. I'm really looking forward to meeting up and getting out again. Plus... My attendance here on this board has been lacking; I've made a commitment to spend less time working, and more time surfing ClubTread :).
Sure couldn't beat the weather we all had. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1011 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 3:14 PM
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Just ahead of you, calendar-wise ;)
Back out on the 18 th. Camped at Teepee, Lean-to, then Devil's Staircase on the way out.
Saw bear poop just below Snake Bluffs (our furthest point), wolf poop in that area too, plus a freshly gnawed deer bone. Dog in my party was on high alert! No people on the trail either - a Coquitlam school group was arriving back at their bus just when we got to the trailhead. |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
1002 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 6:22 PM
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Come on, Tim. How young is she now, 7-8 years and has arthritis in one of her front legs...please carry her stuff for her.
Otherwise, I enjoyed your report. Still an area we have yet to venture in. |
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 Trail cuttin, GPS packin bushwhacker, wiki hike compilin, who is now Hope-less
2542 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 7:03 PM
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We were hiding up that way too. We'd done the middle valley recently and decided to avoid Teepee due to the crowds - doubled back to Loop Camp (!) and did some exploring of the trailhead area that I'd been putting off for years.
Bushwacked/attempted the Stein/Stryen Divide Ridge and the North Shore Trail. |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 7:05 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by ShadowChaser
We were hiding up that way too. We'd done the middle valley recently and decided to avoid Teepee due to the crowds - doubled back to Loop Camp (!) and did some exploring of the trailhead area that I'd been putting off for years.
Bushwacked/attempted the Stein/Stryen Divide Ridge and the North Shore Trail.
You're teasing us now Eric, where's the trip report? |
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Langley, BC
Canada
1688 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 11:14 PM
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| Nice! Really hope to do a portion of this before I'm 92.. |
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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 - 04/24/2012 : 06:54 AM
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Nice...
Sure had the weather for a trip like this.
I can't believe the mozzies are already out!
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Edited by - TheShadow on 04/24/2012 06:54 AM |
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Squamish, British Columbia
Canada
1007 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 08:45 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by TheShadow
I can't believe the mozzies are already out!
I know right? Seemed like last year I didn't start feeling the Mozzies until August, and they're big too.
Nice TR BG. Did feel a little sorry for Krista though.
The origin of the phrase "Dog-Tired"
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
830 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 6:09 PM
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Glad you made it in/out safely buddy.
Nice report...I will have to explore that area in the summer with the kids.
Cheers,
Kelly |
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Powell River, bc
Canada
2529 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 6:34 PM
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The sand people LOL!!! Good report,and awwwwwww,poor Krista :( I also had great luck with glucosamine on my dog back when....
As for the BUGS, THEY ARE SO BACK!!!! Millions of them around Lost Lake yesterday!! |
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Sunnyvale Trailer Park
Canada
1087 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 8:16 PM
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| Having good knowledge of the trail really seemed to help you make some good choices on this trip. |
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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 - 04/24/2012 : 8:57 PM
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Sweet, really enjoyed the style and flavour of your report Tim. It is wonderful to relax, chuck stones, etc... to just cool out. Hope Hedda's recommendation helps Krista out.
K |
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Coffee swillin', wine lovin', Owl fearin' Andie McDowell stunt double, who sports retro gear
Vancouver, BC
5465 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2012 : 09:37 AM
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| I miss the Stein; haven't been there in two years I don't think. Might be time for me to make a return trip soon. |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2012 : 7:11 PM
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I love my Stein book. thanks CTers for the gift!! I keep it next to some really cool stuff I have in my hiking room.
Nice trip. What an amazing place. Lucky you!! Poor tired doggie. I imagine summer would be really thick and densely covered thickets and such. Mice....when I used to do overnighters, I used to walk 100 ft away from camp and put some "offerings" out for the meeces. Don't know if it really kept them away or not. But I thought it did at the time.
Cool river!! |
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Kamloops, British Columbia
Canada
149 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2012 : 1:27 PM
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Too bad I missed this one with you guys Avatar...but Vegas was ok too in it's own way :)
Sounds like a great weekend had by all... |
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Three nights in the Stein Valley Apr 19-22, 2012
