January 29, 2021 -- Stats: 17 km / 826m gain / 540m viewpoint
This hike is literally in our backyard. Our property almost reaches the railway at the base of Vedder Mt. Our six kids grew up playing in the forest. They built campsites, swings, forts and discovered what we think is the Fraser Valley's largest Douglas Fir tree. Our landscape & nursery business + hiking hobby have exposed us to many trees so when our son found this tree on "our" mountain, he was confident its the biggest & best. And its our secret, which we shared with our dear group of hiking friends this day...
We starting hiking right from our backyard. Our neighbour, Lucky built this trail which rises steeply upwards, crossing two gullies with narrow high waterfalls.
After 30-40 minutes of steep climbing in the forest up the aptly named, Lucky trail, we came to a deactivated FSR. Recently ditches & logs have been put across the road to stop ATVs from using it. A viewpoint overlooking Sumas Prairie -- northwest.
In less than an hour from our house, we got to a farm which is very familiar to us. Half of our clan either hikes or drives (by way of Columbia Valley) up there almost every Sunday afternoon to visit round a fire.
At the farm and old barn we turned right. This viewpoint over Columbia Valley (southeast) was close to what we call the Old Baldy viewpoint and end of the FSR.
Arrived. Sumas Prairie from southwest to northwest.
Such an expansive view with McKee & Sumas Mts across from us.
The left side is in the USA and the right is in Canada.
For Brigette, who also lives in Sumas Prairie, this was a real thrill. She found her home in the live map and many other farms familiar to her.
Terry found this lawn chair alongside the road a bit farther in the bush. It looks awfully familiar.
Right below us was the little community of Arnold. Case & I lived there for 9 years, right after we got married. We bought the 22 acres we live on now, off of our neighbour in Arnold.
McKee & Sumas Mtns -- north.
Group shot: Lori, me, Don, Anne, Case, Brigette, Terry & Michelle (+ Charlie & Clover).
After lunch we backtracked to the farm and turned right.
It was a level walk past two ponds, to the Columbia Valley lookout.
This lookout was quite overgrown. Old Baldy had much more to offer.
This time when we desended the Lucky trail, we stayed left about 3/4 way down. This got us farther south on the low level trail that skirts the mountain from Yarrow to the hydro station on the end of Vye Rd. Our son made several swings but this one was his newest.
On we went, past our place. Then we bushwhacked steeply uphill. I won't tell you exactly where because then it won't be a secret anymore.
This beauty is 8' in diameter + 245' high!
Cables set up by Corwin many years ago, running to his decrepit tree fort.
Heading back down. 15 years ago Corwin climbed this tree by stepping on nails that he'd hammered into it. After he showed it to me, I went straight to the store and bought a harness & rope.
Then I showed them our son Nathan's fort that him and his friends built in their teenage years. They even hauled an iron wood stove up there!
This was especially interesting for Brigette who's son (also a Nathan) hung out here too. We found several old beer cans in the bush.
It was a great chair....It was a great hike, and I enjoyed your blog