April 17 - Stats: 19.3km / 1353m gain / 1260m high / 8 hours MT
Want a good work out? A really good work out? This is it. Also its good for a shoulder season hike. And it was one of the few I haven't done yet. The views from the summit were partial. We did not go to the second viewpoint because we were post-holing badly and after 4.5 hours of climbing up a rough trail with an average grade of 30%, we were content with the first viewpoint. There were some beautiful views on the way down as well...
Before turning the bend onto Bell Rd. we turned right off of Hawkins Pickle Rd. and then crossed the railway tracks. It was 9:00am when we parked there. When we returned at 6:30pm, vehicles were lined up for almost a km! They were there for the river.
This first flat part of trail followed along-side Norrish Creek.
Leaving the river, we headed east on Little Nicomen Mt where the climbing soon began.
pic 2) Oregon Grape 3) Holly 4) slimy moss coating an embankment along the logging road higher up
The Ravens Bluffs viewpoint overlooking Dewdney and Matsqui. This was the farthest I'd ever been. Just beyond this rocky bluff we turned left where there was a sign.
From Ravens Bluff to the newer FSR it was quite level with several signs and make-shift barriers to guide the way.
After a few km we turned right onto the active FSR. View west on the Fraser River & Mission.
Tomyhoii to the left and Baker to the right -- south.
west
There were three fast running creeks along this stretch of road. Good thing, because I would've run out of water otherwise. After the third one the road narrowed and became overgrown with alders. At the end of the road we turned north. This was the halfway point for elevation gain. We braced ourselves for the next very steep 600m...
Sumas Mt.
Dewdney.
At 950m elevation the snow started and we put our micro-spikes on.
pic 2) The wizard stump, pointing the way. Not much farther...
A monster fungi! I'd never seen one so big.
Robie Reid & Judge Howay -- north.
The summit. Not much of a view. Two viewpoints that had more to offer, were not far beyond the summit.
View before dropping down to the eastern viewpoint which we did not do because we were already post-holing badly at this point. Judge Howay + the Breakenridge Range -- north to northeast.
Border Peaks + Tomyhoii -- south and mostly in the USA.
Dewdney -- south.
The cover of the log book reads, "Mission's Hardest Hike!". I agree.
Heading back down.
From the Cheam Range, to Slesse, to the Canadian Border Peaks to Tomy Hoii to Baker.
Deroche, the Cheam Range and Chilliwack.
Slesse, Border Peaks, McGuire, Tomy Hoii.
You-know-who above Dewdney.
Phew. Made it down in one piece.
Back at Ravens Bluff.
Looking back at Nicomen Mt. We did it!
Dewdney Mt. to the left.
Beautiful pictures! Love your blog.