July 26, 2024 -- Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park
Stats: 14.5 km / 1370m gain / 1830m high
With an early start and temperatures having dropped to the mid 20s, this hike more doable. A steady and steep climb gave us that challenging workout that many club members are wanting. With upcoming club trips, it made for ideal training. Staying local was the place to be, as forest fires were burning to the east and going west meant dealing with a busy highway.
Since our club had done a hike to Flora Peak just a few months ago, I thought to do the eastern lookout instead which is only 90 lower than the peak and on the opposite side of the saddle. The Peak offers better views of Chilliwack Lake but the eastern lookout has a better view of the emerald Flora Lake.
The first hour to the first viewpoint was the steepest. There we got a view of Chilliwack Lake. Old Man's Beard lichen draped over tree branches and moss mixed with kinnikinnick made for a bright attractive ground cover.
Mt. Webb (1980m) -- south.
This was Heather's first time out with our club. It was a rather tough hike to start out on. But she made it to the summit!
The views just kept opening up as we gained altitude. This is the viewpoint just before the flatter section of trail where all the wildflowers were blooming -- south.
The flowers were slightly past their prime.
Fireleaf Leptarrhena Lupines
Indian Paintbrush
Arnica
The plan was that when we arrived at the saddle between the two peaks, Heather could stop there for lunch and wait for our return. But once we were there and I checked our stats, getting to the summit seemed quite doable. Thankfully she decided to come.
Flora Lake
We had to do a bit of scrambling to get to the lookout.
Two new ropes have been put up on the western side. We'd followed the trail to the north side, thinking we'd gone the wrong way after we skirted round a sketchy boulder wall, and got to the higher rope. But on the way down, when I checked out the lower rope, I thought I'm not doing that. There were no footholds. So I went back the way I'd come up.
The radio repeater tower on the summit of the lookout.
Group shot: Lori Y, Denis Lalonde (new), Lonja B, Brian H, Sheri K, Pat S, Heather Ramsay (new), Janice H & me
These next 5 photos were taken in a sequence, from north to south.
Mt. Wittenberg (2007m) to the right, is accessible from where we were, if you follow along the ridge.
Mt. Outram -- northeast.east
east
Paleface Mt. in the foreground. Redoubt Glacier in the background -- southeast.
Challenger Glacier in the background above the south end of Chilliwack Lake -- south.
Leaving the helicopter pad where we'd had lunch -- southeast. Three of our group decided to summit Flora Peak as well.
Williams Peak (1620m) to the left with the pointed Foley Peak behind it. Flora Peak to the right (1920m) -- west.
This is why I didn't want to take the second tope. Denis made it look easy but I'm sure it wasn't.
Janice navigating the sketchy section.
Back at the saddle we could see Chilliwack River valley -- west.
The clouds had lifted round Macdonald Peak (2100m), second from the right.
Pipsissewa
Back at the first viewpoint.
To the left is Lindeman Lake, right is Flora Lake and center bottom is Chilliwack Lake.
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