Mini Maintenance Grinds

Vedder Mt via Lucky trail: 30 minutes ascent / 1.55 km / 270m gain

My most popular mini-maintenance grind is right in my backyard: it's a good way to start the day without taking too big of a chunk out of it. It gets the blood circulating, boosts my heart rate to a cardio level, gets me above the daily minimum of 10,000 steps on the Fitbit and helps me keep fit for those more challenging hikes with the club.

The neighboring field full of fermenting cabbages.

During the descent I got down and dirty, taking time to set up my Fujifilm camera on my short gorilla tripod for clearer shots of the fungi in low lighting. Turkey Tail fungi.

Oakmoss Scrufy Twiglet

Turkey Tail.

Herb-Robert A smiling Artist's Conk

Fomitopsis Trembling Merulius

Upper left: Oyster Mushroom Lower: Tinder Fungus

Oyster Mushroom Licorice Fern

Upper left: Hairy Curtain Crust Lower right: False Puffball

Tinder Fungus

Not sure how this salmon got into our back field.

Later in the day I went to check out Case's progress in clearing our newest purchase of 68 acres right behind the 22 acres that we live on.

I saw a coyote walking down the train tracks. Then Case said, "That's not a coyote. That's a bobcat!"

---

Abby Grind: 38 minutes ascent / 1.9 km / 440m gain

Just past the rod & gun club on the south-facing slope of Sumas Mt, this very popular trail has several trails shooting off of it. This day I tried a variant on the descent.

Looking across Sumas Praire towards Mt. Baker from the viewpoint & destination -- south.

Sumas River (lower right) and Hwy 1 -- southwest.

Tinder fungus Honey fungi

I'd never been on this variant trail before. It was narrow and steep.

Birch Polypore White Cheese Polypore

I wasn't sure if the trail I'd been descending on to the left of the loop, would connect to the main trail. It wasn't showing up on my Garmin66i. Hence that little tail to the lower left. I now know I could've kept going and it would've been OK. Total Stats: 4 km / 513m gain / 475m high point

---

Qoqo:lem trail: 33 minutes ascent to highest point / 2.4 km / 298m gain

At the north end of Vedder Mt. This 1-to-2-year-old trail is quickly becoming very popular. And no wonder. The wide gravel trail is in excellent condition, with no protruding bits or pieces to hinder your steps.

The Cheam Range with Elk & Thurston Mtns to the right -- east.

Chilliwack River Valley -- southeast.

There were 3 benches at this first viewpoint.

Orange Jelly.

At the plateau, 2.1 km in -- north. Another 300m farther is the highest point in the forest. There are picnic tables, benches and even an outhouse there.

Looking at the Vedder River & Dewdney + Nicomen Mtns.

Herb-Robert

Chilliwack Mt -- north.

Mt. Cheam & Lady Peak.

A gorgeous sunset in Sumas Prairie.

---

Teapot Hill: 34 minutes ascent / 2.7 km / 275m gain / 337m high

The first half of the asecnt was on a broad gravel path. I took my time during the descent, having brought my heavy-duty tripod along for those tall tree shots.

Cultus Lake.

At the highpoint of the Teapot Hill trail.

The short turqouise line in the upper right is the trail to the Giant Douglas Fir. Next time I'll take my measuring tape along and see if its larger than the one we keep boasting about in our backyard.

---

Giant Douglas Fir