Mt. Cheam

August 15, 2024 -- Chilliwack

Stats: 9 km / 730m gain / 2093m high / 1:40 hours MT to summit

It took us almost as long to drive to the trailhead & back, as to do the hike. The rough Mt. Cheam FSR is loaded with large water bars. We ran into two setbacks on the way up. But after a few adjustments, we made it to the trailhead. Thanks to KJ Vandenberg + Patrick Ramsden who volunteered to help drive twenty COCers up there.

I gave the option to do either Lady Peak or Mt. Cheam. Both start out on the same trail. The faster-paced hikers opted for the first one. Unfortunately the weather did not behave and the clinging clouds did not disperse as we were sitting on the summits. Therefore, I've included 3 photos from a previous hike to let you see how it would've looked.

Setback 1: Uh oh. This back hoe and big truck were taking up the whole road. What now? The friendly driver of the dumptruck said not to worry, he'd be only 5 more mintues. But we had to turn around and park a little farther down so he could pass us.

Setback 2: Not too much farther down the road, I had to abruptly stop when the engine of our ol' FJ started to overheat.

Plan B: load my passengers into the back of Case's truck. This proved to be a very uncomfortable ride. The wheel-base on the truck is too long and often the hitch would hit the opposite side of the water-bar as Case was giving it gas to get up & out of the other side of it. We'd wince when the truck would sometimes bottom-out, making a loud grinding noise.

From the parking lot (equipped with a nice outhouse), we hiked almost 1km to the end of this FSR.

Minutes after turning onto the trail, we crossed over this little foot bridge in the meadows.

Spoon Lake and the road we'd just driven up on to the distant left.

northwest

The summit to the right -- north.

Just past where I took this photo, we entered a small section of forest. Forewarned, we knew that 20m in, at the corner was a nest of hornets. We spaced ourselves and hiked a bit faster. No one got stung.

Approaching the flat portion where a trail to the right leads to a viewpoint of Jones Lake and a sharp drop-off.

On Mt. Cheam's slopes.

Looking back at Lady. Our group split up at the gully between the two mountains. Those who went on to summit Lady Peak were: Kim B, Sonia L, KJ Vandenberg + Cindy W. This hike is longer, steeper, more exposed and involves scrambling and hiking on loose scree.

Getting closer to that summit.

A large group was sitting on the summit.

A shelter on the ridge leading to the summit.

What an inspiration! Three muscular young men helped get a fourth young man born with spinal bifida, to the summit with the aid of this wheelchair. All 15 people in the group were somehow connected to this determined young man. His parents, brother, previous teacher and friends were there to enjoy the day with him.

This is as good as the view got. The clouds were not cooperating -- northwest on Sumas Prairie.

The Fraser River.

Partial group shot, back row, left to right: Case T, Ron C, Ann White & Denise (from Vernon), Pat S, Susan V, Narasi M

Front row: Cathy U, Elizabeth B, April Huml, Patty C, Carolyn H, Joce T

Joan S & Farhan Shafig were wandering around a bit lower so missed this photo and Patrick R made it about 2/3 way up and turned around. His knees were bothering him. A bit later he was saying how he had hiked MacFarlane the day before to examine the upper lake for getting an outhouse installed. I said, "No wonder you have sore knees today!"

Making our way back down.

Jones Lake -- east.

The group we'd shared the summit with.

Starting to get glimpes of Lady Peak's peak.

Cheam.

Lady Peak (2130m)

Mating beetles on a Green False Hellebore.

Monkey flowers.

The Lady Peak group: KJ Vandenberg, Cindy W, Sonia L & Kim B on the right.

Pat & Joan hitched a ride back to the FJ so they wouldn't have to ride in the back of Case's truck again (good idea). Once there everyone was digging into their backpacks for water to put into the radiator. We got it filled and it worked once again!

These next three photos I took on a previous hike.