Mt. Steele + Chapman Lake

July 12 - 13, 2021 -- This was an overnighter on the Sunshine Coast by Sechelt, our first backpack hike of the year. It was also a hike in the "105 Hikes in and Around Southwest BC" book. After this hike, I now have 5 left to go in BC. It is my goal this year to complete all the hikes in the book. Once the borders open, I plan to do the final 5 short hikes in Anacortes, WA.

Day 1: Stats: 12.44 km / 940m gain / 1645m high / 5:25 hour MT (with overnight packs)

We were on the road by 6:00am and caught the 9:50am ferry.

We were able to park at the higher parking lot with our 4WD FJ, thus cutting 2 kms off of the hike. The first 45 minutes from the trailhead were on gravel FSR.

After a sign reading: "Victors Landing" the old road-bed becomes narrower and hugs the north-facing slope of a hillside. To our left were these old growth trees.

About 20 minutes from the sign, we dropped down a bit into the forest.

Soon we came to patches of meadow filled with Cotton Grass, occasional boardwalks and gold tarns.

Edwards Lake.

Only two tarns had water lilies.

Edwards Cabin, 4.9 km in. Its one of 4 cabins in Tetrahedron PP. We hiked to 3 of them.

Shortly after this cabin we crossed Steele Creek which was our first water source.

Each cabin had a pee tree.

Mountain Marsh-Marigold only grow where it's wet.

Out in the open this creek was a great second spot to fill our water bottles. Here we were about half an hour from the Mt. Steele cabin.

north

west

Dropping into the rocky bowl by Mt. Steele cabin.

At the trailhead a sign stated that all the cabins were closed. So we were surpised when we got to the Mt. Steele cabin and the door was open.

We left our heavy packs at the cabin and hiked another half an hour + 145m elevation gain to the summit.

1) Heather 2) Mountain Marsh-Marigolds 3) Buttercups 4) Leatherleaf Saxifrage

Looking down at the cabin -- west.

north

Tetrahedron Peak to the left (1728m) is the highest peak in the park -- northeast.

Approaching the summit.

The Pacific Ocean and Vancouver Island on the horizon -- west.

Infront of the camera for once, instead of behind it. Just to prove that I was there.

Looking at the ridge we'd hiked up on to the left.

Heading back down.

There's nothing quite like watching the sunset in the alpines. And all you hear in the quiet solitude is the gentle breeze and an occasional bird call. So peaceful.

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Day 2: Stats: 20.5 km / 675m gain / 1521m high / 7.5 hours MT

Up at the crack of dawn. We knew it'd be a long day.

Bye bye Mt. Steele.

At the junction before the Edwards cabin, we turned left onto the Chapman Lake trail. We recognized immediately that this trail was less travelled.

We lost count of all the pictursque tarns.

Skunk Cabbage.

1) White Rhododendron 2) Deer Fern & Bunchberry 3) Northern Starflower 4) Deer Cabbage 5) Heather 6) Western Mountain-ash

This pink film on the water was gone when we passed it on the way back.

This was the only pond with Deer Cabbage growing in it.

A very boggy trail hugged the perimeter of this large meadow. A few times we had to search for the markers in the trees.

1) Spotted Coralroot (not a flower but a fungi)

Chapman Lake.

Panther Peak.

The end of the trail at McNair cabin.

This trails are also used in the winter for nordic skiing.

Heading back.

Panther Peak.

Floating bog.

Back on the main trail.

Mt. Steele from Edward Lake.

This graph is of the second day, leaving the Mt. Steele cabin. At the junction to Chapman Lake we hid some of our overnight gear in the bush. We didn't need it for the next 11 km.