Sumas Summit

January 21, 2025 -- Abbotsford

Stats: 17 km / 1075m gain / 919m high / 5:50 hours MT

Some neat features on this local hike are three viewpoints, three bridges, a weeping rock and a lake. Many hikers make the lake their destination but we went on another hour to the summit which made for a fairly vigorous workout.

We parked at the west trailhead to Chadsey Lake on Sumas Mt. Road. Just a few minutes into the hike I was thinking I wasn't so sure about that frost in the ground. Then boom -- I slipped and fell. That settled it. I ended up keeping the micro-spikes on for 3/4 of the hike.

In about an hour we got to the FSR where we turned left, soon getting to a fork where we stayed left again to arrive within minutes at this viewpoint overlooking Mission and the Fraser River.

Chadsey Creek.

We did 2/3 of the hike by the time we reached the lake. It was another hour and 300m gain to the summit.

Old growth cedars on the northeast side of the lake, just before starting the climb to the summit.

A lot of hoar-frost lined the trail.

After a steep half an hour climb, the ground almost levelled off, passing Lost Lake Rd and the radio towers to the right. At this tarn the trail turned left.

At the summit with the Cheam Range in the background. We just did a brief stop here so hikers could put their micro-spikes on before dropping a steep 20m to the lunch-spot viewpoint.

We arrived 3 hours later.

The vistas stretched all the way from Nicoman Mt to the north, to Mt. Baker in the south. The Fraser River and city of Chilliwack lay before us.

Group shot, back row, left to right: me, Sue A, Patty S, Owen W, Karl V. Annet M (newbie), Vic K

Front row: Lonja J, Brian H, Charlotte H

The Vedder Canal to the lower right.

Heading back.

Back at the lake, Karl was showing us the video he took of Lonja climbing up "the rock". Him, Lonja & Vic had hiked a few more minutes past our viewpoint to it. I prefer to wait till there's no more ice.