Elk Mt. Sunset

January 12, 2025 -- Chilliwack

Stats: 9.6 km / 890m gain / 1470m high / 3:45 hours MT

Nineteen COCers tromped up the steep trail with the intention of watching the sky from the summit. It was the day before a full moon and other than low lying fog, the skies were clear. Once at the top, we settled in with our hot drinks and even a lawn chair!

And what a grand display it was! First a hint of pink in the east, then at 4:30pm to bold orange, yellow, red & gold as the sun set in the southwest and finally to velvet black with twinkling stars and the moon. Venus, Mars, Jupiter + Saturn were also visible, looking more like prominent stars but without the sparkle.

By 2:00pm we were on the go, after trying to parallel park in a very crowded parking lot.

Not too far from the first viewpoint, we strapped on our micro-spikes as there was now frost in the ground.

Just below the viewpoint.

We passed many people that were heading down. There was only one other group of four that left the same time as us, and shared the summit with us.

This final short stretch just below the viewpoint, was very steep. Would we make it down OK?

Looking west.

Sumas Prairie.

Nearing the summit. Fog filled the Chilliwack River Valley.

Slesse's pointed peak and the Border Peaks -- east & southeast.

McGuire -- south.

McGuire & Mt. Baker -- south.

So where was that moon?

video

No wind made for perfect conditions -southeast.

east

Group shot minus Irene H & Paul L who stayed a bit farther down the ridge.

Back row, left to right; David G, Peter E, Bote M, Gregg S, me, Lori Y, Elizabeth B, Case T, Patty A. Darcy G, Jim A, Jeff Frederick (newbie)

Front row; Fred H, Brian H, Denise D, Lonja J, Danny G

Cultus Lake.

Peter found the moon! It was behind us. We had to walk a bit farther east on the ridge -- northeast.

You could barely see the peak of Mt. Cheam between the trees.

Heading back down, equipped with our headlights.

The Fraser River gleaming in the distance.

Back at the first viewpoint.

There were plenty of square orange reflectors on the trees to guide us on the way back through the forest.