Mt. Crickmer

May 31, 2024 -- Fraser Valley north between Alouette & Stave Lakes

Stats return from trailhead: 9:17 km / 862m gain / 1360m high / 4 hours MT / used quads

We drove quads almost 5km & 475m gain to get to the trailhead.

This day-hike ranked among the top ten in regards to organization. How to get 21 hikers to the trailhead, with only two quads? And time the three different meet-up points so we'd arrive around the same time at the parking location? As it turned out, by the end of the day it all went quite smoothly without hardly any glitches, other than a lost phone and watch that were found.

There were several firsts on this excursion: 1) For 19 of the 21, it was their first time on this hike. 2) It's the first time we used quads on a hike. 3) It's the first time we had a birthday party on a summit.

Thanks to my husband, who borrowed our friend's quad, attached cut-out plank seats for four passengers and even bought a mini-utility trailor to pull our gear.

The plan was to split into two groups, the quads returning to shuttle the second group who were hiking up the FSR. Rather than group 1 waiting for group 2's arrival, I thought to set a relaxed pace and do a bit of trail-clearing along the way, till they caught up to us. Three of the women cylced up. So I didn't have to say, "No, you can't come" to anyone. In this pic it looks like Owen is trying to convince Irene to take the clippers along.

Introductions were made (Case & Denise) and we were ready to roll. Group 2 had left about 10-minutes earlier.

The trailor reads, "The Explorer". How fitting.

Owen hesitantly offered to drive the second quad. He said it'd been a while so he was cautiously testing his gas peddle.

A bit of a squeeze but no problems.

A very focused Owen. We stayed right at two junctions, me tying my red flagging tape to some branches to mark the way. The ride wasn't near as bumpy as what I expected.

An old very decrepit bridge by a beautiful waterfall.

Once we turned left, veering away from the over-grown FSR, the grade became quite steep. I was warned about the alders, but they were no problem. Someone must've been in there clearing the trail since last fall.

Arrived to 360 degree views!!!

Stave Lake to our right -- east.

The Golden Ears Bridge over the Fraser River and the ocean with Vancouver Island on the horizon.

Mt. Blanchard is the pointed black rock and beside it is Golden Ears (1680m) -- west.

We dropped down a bit on the north-facing slope from the summit, to get this view of Alouette Lake. You could see Vancouver's skyscrapes to the very right -- southwest.

Alouette Lake & Golden Ears.

north

Robie Reid (2095m) -- north

The northern end of Stave Lake.

Sheri caught Sonia off guard. We had this birthday celebration planned, several women helping carry the party items up. Sonia often takes goodies along for festive occasions. This time it was our turn.

Charlotte took her birthday-bear along. It sang a funky upbeat birthday song. Couldn't help but do a little jiggle to the tune.

My backpack was on the bottom of the utility trailor. Several water bottles were leaking so my sparkler didn't want to ignite. What cake to take along in our backpacks that wouldn't get squished? Mini cupcakes in the shaped plastic cartons.

Allana gave Sonia (and me) these beautiful self-made mugs of our mountains. Sonia used it as her "shot-glass".

Then we all had a toast to her birthday.

Sayres Lake at the bottom of this pic.

Group shot, back row, left to right: Denise D, Patty Cat, David G, Denise Pawson, Allana W, Case T, our dutch students, Folker & Peter, Terry Kant, me, Cal F, Charlotte H, Owen W & Irene H

Front row: Cindy W, Elizabeth B, Terry B, Sheri K, Sonia (the star of the show), Lonja B, & Brian H

By the end of our lingering lunchbreak, the clouds that covered the nearby peaks had dissipated with the exception of a small one on Robbie Reid.

Patterns in the snow.

The first ten or so hikers kept going past the trailhead, while the other half regrouped at the trailhead and eventually got shipped down. I was almost at the Florence FSR when Case gave us a lift. The quad group was held back by the glitch of Terry losing her watch. Sonia was the hero, zooming back up the trail to good look for it. Our quad had to turn back when Charlotte discovered her phone had fallen out of her pocket.

Sheri's, Brian's & our vehicle loads hung around for another party; the traditional tail-gate while we wait party. But even when everyone showed up, we didn't make any moves to get up and go for a while. Good times. Eager-beaver, Owen was already making plans with us for the next hard-to-access trip to Williamson Lake, being inspired by the use of the quads.

When hikers were eventually packing it up, Sheri almost turned on her truck and then abruptly stopped herself. She realized Irene was sitting with her head right beside the big exhaust pipe!

The trailhead is just a bit above the highest red-dotted line.