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Chilliwack
1267 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2012 : 07:08 AM
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Yesterday I sent a msg out via fb to see if anyone wanted to trail run, hike or paddle. Nikki responded by saying that she would like to hike. I threw 3 options out - Lindeman Lake, Elk Mtn. or Bear Mtn. We agreed on Bear Mtn. as neither of us had been there. I was still at work so asked her to read some reports and we agreed to meet at Starbucks at 11:45.
We drove out to Harrison Hot Springs and along Rockwell Dr. I made a right turn off Rockwell Dr., up to the Bear Mtn. FSR and about 100 meters past the sign. That's all my little Hyundai could take. :) Time was 12:30.
Nikki and I began our hike and she had printed out a sheet from CT (trailwiki) and brought her gps. We started up the road, passing the old mining site.
The forest:
Approximately 1 hr into our hike:
One thing Nikki and I noticed on this hike was how much poo (scat if you prefer) was on the trail. We came across this BIG dump but neither of us could tell if this was from a dog or a cat.
The trail:
About 2 hrs in, we came across these awesome views of Harrison River, Harrison Lake and Echo Island.
   
Not long after this, we came across our first patch of snow:
Hit a fork in the trail (of which there are many, always take the most obvious route). At this fork we knew we either continued on to the helipad or down to the lake so we went down to the lake, about 100 meters away. By this time, we had put on our jackets and when we arrived at the lake it was freezing! We had a bite to eat and weighed our options. Turn around because of the weather or press on. Being "hardcore" Nikki and I decided to press on.
   
Back up on the main road, we continued to hit more snow and several huge puddles! Then we came across this nice swamp. It was getting messy in the area. Snow, weighed down trees but the flagging tape was good. Many thanks to whomever put the flaggin tape up!
Pretty soon we entered into a lovely forested area. My pics did not turn out and then around 3:30/4:00 we arrived at the helipad. Victory!
          
At 4:00 we decided to head back down. Liked the look of this.
Due to the number of forks in the road, I or we made a mistake and ended up walking past a waterfall. I said to Nikki. I don't remember this and she said the same thing, then I said, isn't it funny that neither of us remember this? You'd think that one of us would of noticed this. Nikki being smart got out her gps and opps, we had headed in the wrong direction. Took some pictures of the waterfall then headed back in the right direction!
Heading back:
Nikki and I had left my car at 12:30 and arrived back at 7:00. We probably spent 45 minutes enjoying the lake and heli-pad. Nikki's gps said we hiked 14 km but that could be wrong as some reports say it's 20 km from the pavement and we parked about 1 km from the road so we think it's possible we hiked 17 ir 18 km's? Who knows!
All I know is that my legs told me we got a workout. Even though this hike is a bit of a slog to begin with and steep, it's really nice and levels out. Also, for the loads of cat scat we saw, we didn't see any wildlife.
All in all a great day and good hike. I recommend you get this one crossed off your list.
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Edited by - Kanike on 06/09/2012 07:51 AM
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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
13441 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2012 : 07:12 AM
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Very nice Janice, great shots. This is on my todo list.
Then..... I came to poo pic... ...
...oops and I having breakfast.
Napkin please.
K |
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Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
6895 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2012 : 08:18 AM
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| I was up there last year and recalled seeing loads of blooming strawberry plants around the helipad. Would make a great destination too once the strawberries were out. Congrats on bagging the Bear! |
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Mission, bc
Canada
148 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2012 : 8:23 PM
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Ill try and keep it short and sweet.
Within a few minutes you reach this old mine building, looks like someone is fixing it up
 
Shortly after that you reach your first fork, we took the road to the left and followed the faded pink flagging, the road starts to climb and you will hit another fork, which we then took the left again. After a long steeper climb you reach an overgrown section just after Janice's picture of the bridge at the 1hr mark. It was flagged aswell.
At around the 5km mark the road opens up like the trail wiki says and you get some views of Harrison river and lake
   
The trail then wraps around to the right and you will come to an obvious junction, left to the lookout, right to Bear Lake
 
Bear Lake, It took roughly 2-2.5hrs to get here, we had some food, complained about the hail, rain and cold temps. Bundled up and discussed the lookout.
   
The decision was made, time to cowboy up and head for the top. We both agreed that we don't like doing things half way. So we pushed on despite the bad weather.
Is it a swamp, is it a pond, we don't know.
 
Sunshine! Get out of town!
10km marker, we must be there
           
Then on the way down we took a wrong turn (for us anyways)I think if we did continue on that road we would eventually make it back down but we weren't 100% sure so we just retraced out steps
 
And like the title states, there was an excessive amount of fecal matter on this trail, I have never seen anything like it. All colors and sizes. It got to the point that we would yell "poo" at eachother so we knew to look out for it. Then on the way back down, we could tell where abouts we were by certian piles of poo. Too funny
This trail is in really great shape despite other reports, Someone has put alot of time into flagging it. I defintely wouldn't write it off (even though most reports will say to)
thanks again Janice for the adventure. Im starting to think if we took the very 1st right it we would have been on the logging road that had the waterfall and that would be the 20km trail. I think the trail we took was someone elses "short cut" trail. Maybe we will have to go again and see
Nikki
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Edited by - sticki_niki on 06/09/2012 8:25 PM |
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Mission, bc
Canada
148 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2012 : 8:34 PM
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| Just looked in the 103Hikes book, says take the right at the first fork... So we did take an alternate route. Shorter but steeper. Which means we probably did only go 14km round trip. |
Edited by - sticki_niki on 06/09/2012 8:44 PM |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
2659 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2012 : 9:32 PM
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Nice trip. Your unidentified poo doesn't really look like dog or cat. It reminds me a little of this grisly mess which I believed was caused by a wolverine (Karl, put down your breakfast).
 
Or maybe bear? They seem to generate a lot of variation. |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2012 : 11:55 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by sticki_niki
Just looked in the 103Hikes book, says take the right at the first fork... So we did take an alternate route. Shorter but steeper. Which means we probably did only go 14km round trip.
I believe you're right Nikki. When I tried it a few years back we took the right fork past the waterfall. It wasn't steep at all and followed an old FSR for what seemed like miles. I'd like to try the left fork next time I'm up that way.
I enjoyed the report and pictures, nice job! |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5368 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2012 : 12:31 PM
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| Will have to try this one with Lexie followed up with ice cream at Harrison. (If summer ever arrives that is!) |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2012 : 6:10 PM
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| Water overlook was beautiful!! I would like to take a water tour, some day and see the mtns from there. Nice!! Great outing!! |
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Chilliwack, BC
Canada
826 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2012 : 7:36 PM
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Funny read, Fantastic shots.
You both must have been "pooped out".
Congratz on baggin, Bear.
Kelly |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
719 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2012 : 10:48 AM
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| Thanks for posting, Janice! I have never hiked Bear Mtn. because the description in 103 Hikes didn't turn my crank. 20 km on logging roads?? Now that you have mentioned an alternate trail that is not only shorter, albeit steeper, but by-passes the logging road, my interest is rekindled. |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2012 : 9:29 PM
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"is is a swamp? is it a pond? it is..... a billabong...hehe
So, in those bays and sounds, are there tours by boat that I can take? Maybe some that actually have hikings trails from where they let ya off? I am there!!! What a pretty place!! |
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Bear Mtn. - follow the poo.
