Flora Lake trail

Oct. 28, 2022 - Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park - Stats: 9.8 km / 926m gain / 1495m high / 3:50 hours MT

What to hike on a day in the middle of a rain filled week, with only an afternoon of promised sun?

A local trail in good condition. This was a familiar trail for most of us. We did not get the views of the peaks surrounding Chilliwack Lake but we did get a good work out in fresh clean air with a great group of people.

Geared for rain but we did not get any. Only a few minutes in, we turned right at the sign post, onto the Flora Peak trail, after a stop at the outhouse in the now closed parking lot (it had toilet paper in it!).

Bronz and bright green ferns decorated the moss covered ground.

Less than 10 minutes in, we turned east, away from Post Creek and started climbing on a steady unrelentingly steep slope.

In 1:10 hours moving time & 513m gain, we reached the first viewpoint. Clouds were clinging to the surrounding peaks but we could see most of the lake.

This is a photo I took in 2018.

As we continued upwards, it didn't take long before we ran into snow. So we pulled on our micro-spikes.

Our destination was the plateau below which there were more expansive views. But not for this day. We parked in puffy new snow for lunch. Good practice for the up-coming snowshoe season.

There was about half a foot of snow at the plateau. On went the waterproof hats. The temperature was well above freezing so the trees were dropping snow-bombs on us.

Starting back down.

Back in the furry forest filled with Old Man's Beard Lichen.

Back at the first viewpoint.

We had a good laugh when John was pointing at a peak as he was talking to us and a Whiskey Jack spooked him when it landed on his hand.

Group shot: Lori, Lucy, John, Iraj, me, Jerry & Paul.

The Salal ground-cover section.

We were back at the vehicles by 2:30pm which provided lots of time for us to do a nice long coffee & hot Belgium dark chocolate stop at the Waves in Garrison Crossing.