Dewdney Peak

Nov. 28 - Stats: 10 km / 1150m gain / 977m high

Would I find the trail on the other side of the two cut-blocks? In the last few years Dewdney Mt. has been subject to logging which has destroyed segments of trail and left ugly areas of debris on bare slopes. But this hike was still worth the effort, giving us three viewpoints and the Dewdney Cabin which is where most hikers turn back.

It's easy to miss the North trailhead which is after the south trailhead and just before the gravel road bends to the north.

It was supposed to a sunny / cloudy day. But it rained most of the way climb to the cabin. The clouds were clinging to the Mission mountains.

Not too far up the overgrown FSR we turned right onto this trail.

It was a steady steep grade, crossing 4 FSRs on the way to the cabin -- east.

Whisky springs is just a hop & a skip off of the trail.

Fog.

Fresh remains of a deer & the scoop by the "Canadian Whisky" spring.

3 km in and 1/3 of the way + 1/2 of elevation gain.

We dried off a bit by a nice warm stove, thanks to the previous visitors. This cabin was built in 2005 by the people of Dewdney in memory of Ben VonHardenberg who lost his life in a helicopter crash while fighting wildfires by 100 Mile House.

It was totally fogged in when we arrive but it soon lifted a bit to expose Nicomen Island and Deroche.

An optical illusion: this spur is actually going up hill. Its right where the trail used to be.

Matsqui prairie to the distant right.

Nicomen slough.

It was raining wet snow here. There was a bit of a path in the debris.

5 pic slider -- the slope right after the cut-block was even steeper than the one leading to the cabin.

We hiked over a false summit which was only 20 m lower than the true summit. From there the trail dropped 125m, partly through the second cut-block and then onto another spur which led back to the forest trail.

View towards Deroche & Chilliwack.

This is the summit-without-a-view. After descending a second cut-block and then hiking up another FSR which again was right on top of where the trail used to be, we came to Dewdney Peak.

A small pond just before our destination.

At the end of the route, on the outskirts of a third cut-block. View south on Sumas Mt. + the Fraser River.

Lunch time. A good spot for reception.

southwest

Group shot: Michelle, Ingrid, anne, Terry & Allana + me & Case.

Heading back involved some up hill again.

Back at the flat summit without a view.

We had an audience as we picked our way back up this cut-block.

Looking southeast towards Deroche & Chilliwack.

Nicomen Slough with Sumas Mt.

Descending the final cut-block, close to the cabin.

Much clearer views from the cabin on the way down.

Ahh -- so nice and warm in the sun.

East.

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