April 22 - Stats: 10.12 km / 713m gain / 1590m high / 3:45 hours MT
I'd never done this hike in the winter before. With fresh snow on a smorgasbord of peaks, it made them stand out all the more on the horizon. But the Cheam Range was so up close and personal, that it didn't need any aid in giving a clear outstanding visual. I would say this is one of the more superior hikes to do to get expansive views of the Chilliwack River Valley peaks.
Added to this day was some fun 4x4ing and even a bit of road clearing...
It was barely half an hour of snowshoeing on an FSR when we already got these amazing views. At this point some of us women also stripped down to tank tops.
Slesse, Crossover, Illusion & McFarlane Peaks -- south.
Rexford left and across the valley from Slesse.
Getting more and more excited, knowing that just round the bend we'll get a full view of the Cheam Range...
Knight & Baby Munday Peaks.
Left to right: Mt. Cheam, Knight, Baby Munday, Stewart, the Still, Welch & Foley. Most of the group parked here for lunch.
Four of us climbed about another 15 minutes to this knoll which presented an even better 360 degree view.
We met Carmen & James on top of the knoll.
Mt. Laughinton Peak which was 208m high than where we were. In the summer those meadows are full of tarns and wild flowers. We usually hike a loop along that ridge and down through the meadows -- northwest.
Mt. Laughton (1798m) to the left -- north.
Mt. Cheam (2040m), Lady (2130m) tucked in behind a bit + Knight (2130m) -- northeast. I've summited all three.
Baby Munday (2100m), Stewart (2160m), the Still (2160m) -- east.
The Still, Welch (2280m) + Foley (2160m).
Goetz (1920m) + Williams Peaks (1920m) -- southeast.
Rexford (2130m), Slesse (2440m), Illusion (1920m), McFarlane (2100m) Peaks & the Border Peaks.
Close ups.
Heading back to the other group.
The gang: Irene, Anne, Don, me, Dave, Lorenz, Sue, Denise + Lori (Sheri took this photo).
Goetz + Williams Peaks.
Operation snowshoe. Good ol' duct tape saved the day.
I asked Lorenz to drive so I could photograph this. He did such a fine job, precisely steering right of that small stump in the foreground, that I asked if he wanted to drive all the way back down. He said, "Sure!" He was like a kid in the candy store. It'd been a while since he'd been 4x4ing.
The left tire is barely making contact with the earth. We were able to drive 3 km farther than Dave was
but surprisingly, didn't wait long for them. I guess its because clearing shale off of a section of too narrow road and meticulouly manouvering my FJ while Sheri signalled to me through this long stretch of eroded road, took a bit more time. Shorty after this rough patch we hit snow and had to stop.
It was at this creek with a steep drop in the road, that Dave had parked. Looks like more people did.
Palmate Coltsfoot.
Laughington Peak to the left.
The Cheam Range on the top of this map.
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