Finally I was able to get in to the back country again. The weather and my Ontario trip kept me sidelined since September! This morning Geoff and I left the house at 8am and set out for the Squamish FSR. Our first adventure of the day began early with our driving the newly completed Port Mann Bridge. It was a lovely drive with 4 lanes open each way. No more backups and delays, it really is a welcome project. The rest of the drive to Squamish went quickly and as we rounded the last turn before Squamish we had a spectacular view of Mt Garibaldi and The Chief. We just had to pull over and take a few photos before continuing along the highway into town.

As we approached the start of the FSR we still weren’t sure what to expect snow wise but soon we could see that the road was clear without even a trace of snow to be seen. So that bode well and we made our way along the road looking for some places to stop and gather photos. The drive was actually quite good as the road was in fairly good condition. We stopped at a wide spot along the river at around the 30 mile marker and there I was able to take some lovely photos of Mt Wood. Meanwhile Geoff was busy sighting in his rifles.

Done with the river view we continued up the mainline and came to the B700 branch. We hadn’t explored this road in our recollection so up it we went. The initial section continued snow free but as we reached 500m we encountered some lovely powder snow. It was unmarked as we were the first since the last snowfall to drive the road. Soon we reached a level spot with an amazing view of Pyroclastic Peak – the peak was just emerging from a cover of cloud. We drove a bit further up the road but soon the snow depth was deep enough that we no longer had good traction and we would need to put on chains to continue. The effort to chain up was not something we wanted to expend today so we turned around and started back down the road.

Unfortunately, the road going down was a different animal than the one going up and as we approached a cross ditch the truck lost traction and we slid into the ditch at a speed a bit faster than planned. This bounced Geoff and I into the ceiling of the truck and as I was wearing my cap with a button on the top it caused some ripping of flesh on my scalp! Once we picked our way past the ditch and stopped, we surveyed the damage and determined that my head took the worst of it. We decided to not bandage the gouge as the little hair I have left didn’t need to be ripped out by taking off a band-aid later!

For some time I have wanted to explore the slopes above the community of DeRoche. There is a logging road there and I thought today would be a good one to try it out. So Ethan and I left the house at 8:30 and soon found ourselves satisfied with a warm coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Then after a slow fill of the truck – our pump has been upgraded and now takes longer to fill the tank- we were off to DeRoche to find the start of the road. As we made our way through the residential area we passed the turn to the FSR and so had to back-track until we spotted it. Happy to find the entrance, our excitement was very quickly splattered across the gravel as we were stopped by a locked gate. So annoying. But our fall back was to head up the Chehalis and explore some spots along there. So back to the highway and off we went.

The Chehalis area always offers me pleasant views to enjoy and today was no exception. Though the light levels were quite low due to the heavy overcast we were still able to find some things to enjoy. The area at the start of Elbow Lake was full of campers and people so we just passed right by and though I was tempted to stop at the far end of the lake I decided to head up the Pretty Creek FSR. They had logged it last year and I was hopeful we would find a new section to explore. The road was rougher than I had expected but we persevered and soon did travel slightly better road but we didn’t make it to the area most recently logged due to a slide blocking the road, an ATV could have crossed but not our wide beast. So we returned to the fork which provides a road to the shoulder of Sasin Peak.  We continued along the over-grown road almost deciding to call it quits but the over-growth thinned just in time and we continued up the gravel to the viewpoint on the should of the peak. It offered us some nice views looking down on the clouds though we were only around 925m in elevation. After a few photos we continued up the road but found it blocked by a large tree. The tree was cracked at two points, one each side of the road. So we felt we could pull it and we set off to hook it up to the winch. After a few moments and lurches the one side had broken free from the rest of the tree and we were able to drag it up the road and then roll it off to the side.

This year, September has proven to be a warm and dry month and with the likelihood of good week-ends Geoff thought we could try Wells a second time this year rather than wait for next summer to affect our revenge. So we were watching the weather reports as the month progressed and come Saturday the 15th we felt great at having a chance for a second go at the summit. Like last time we left the house at 6:30AM but this time the sun had not yet risen and we enjoyed glimpses of a colourful sunrise. After our traditional stop for coffee we were on the road and making good time for the start of the FSR. We took a brief second stop for some food items in Bridal Falls and then it was onto the logging roads. The drive up the rough road seemed to go faster this trip as the road had been travelled and we didn’t need to clear any branches.

Soon we were at the parking area and ready to head out. After getting organized we were on the trail at precisely 9AM. Having done the first section before, we made good time up the old road and into the forest. The day was still much cooler than last time and so I was able to keep up a better pace as we ascended the steep slope to the ridge. The ground seemed drier and so our footing was a bit more sure which helped us to keep up the pace. Before long we had reached the point where we first encountered snow last time but today the ground was dry and we could actually follow the trail. Thinking back to our previous attempt and referencing the GPS track we noticed how we had wandered off the trail. Today it went quite quickly as we could follow the established route which was easier than the one we had forged. 

As we reached the ridge Geoff wanted to detour to the rock outcrop where we had eaten our lunch last time. Today it looked so different with the snow gone. There were trees all around us and the area looked so much fuller than when the snow was burying everything. After a brief rest and some photos we returned to the trail and hiked up the ridge to where the trail finally started to cross the open slope. During this section of the hike the trail was hard to find and we only found it sporadically. The slope was still very steep and uneven and we slipping quite a bit on the heather, so having learned from the Mt Hansen hike we put on our crampons and enjoyed better traction for the rest of the hike. In reviewing our path later we learned that we had ascended too high on the slope, which lead us into the gravel slide area. This was a challenge to get across but we eventually managed. 

We finally made it across the slope to the far ridge where we saw a couple of cairns indicating the resumption of the trail. Here we were able to spot worn sections in places and so we started up the slope to the shoulder and a very narrow ridge that connects to the main ridge between the major peaks of Wells. This section was steep and we felt it a challenge but then we reached a 100 foot long section where we had to scramble and crawl up the slope. Our spikes made it easier but we had to be very careful as there wasn’t much keeping us from a few hundred foot fall. I was glad to get passed this section and onto the main ridge.

Last month my friend Ralph got bitten by the bug to operate his small portable radio on a summit of a local peak. He had been reading about the SOTA (Summits on the Air) organization and felt like giving it a try. So we picked the next date I was available to do a backcountry trip and we planned to operate for a couple of hours from the summit of Mt Cheam. Mt. Cheam was our first choice as it was already a registered peak with the group and the access and trail were not difficult though the hike was still 4.5km each way.

Ralph hadn’t done any mountain peaks so he really didn’t know what to expect or what was needed. The first thing I had him do to prepare was for him to hike some of the steep roads in White Rock. I figured if he couldn’t do them then there was no way he would do a summit. He tried a couple of the steeper roads in White Rock and felt it was fairly easy. So that confirmed, we met a couple days before the hike to review his supplies and backpack. My son Geoff gave him some tips and helped him to finalize the items he would be packing up. So we were ready and good to go for Saturday, the weather looked good if not too hot, so we felt sure we would be on the slopes come the week-end.

To beat the heat of the day we set out from my house at 6:30AM and made for the nearest Starbucks to load up on our requisite caffeine. Then it was on to the open road. I had estimated that we would be starting the hike about 2.5 hours from when we left the house so when we arrived at the start of the logging road after just a bit more than an hour Ralph thought we would be quite early. He really didn’t know logging roads! The mainline was quick but soon we were onto the Chipmunk Creek FSR and it was very rough and had numerous patches of bad potholes. Needless to say, the speed of the drive dropped considerably and it took almost an hour to get to the parking area and that was with passing a couple of SUV’s.

Having arrived, the lot had only a few cars in it and we picked the spot closest to the trail head. We got our gear in order and items locked up that we were leaving and by the time we wereready to start it was 2.5 hours from our home departure. The day was still cool and we made good time along the first segment which follows the old logging road. Then we dropped down into the bowl – Spoon Lake was full of debris and still had ice in it. Continuing along we started the intial ascent which was fortunately still in the shadow of Lady Peak and so we avoided the heat during the steep part of the hike. We made really good time upto the top of the open knoll where we took a breather before continuing on to the col between Cheam and Lady Peak. By now a few groups of young people zipped past us on their journey to the summit. Though slow we made steady progress and reached the summit after 2 hour 20 minutes of hiking almost bang on to my 2.5 hours estimate.

Nick doesn’t get to enjoy the backcountry as much as he would like due to his working on the week-ends. So when a long week-end comes along we try to take advantage of it and get out somewhere to enjoy the sights. Today we returned to Lighthouse Park. I hadn’t been there since our last visit together back in April, 2011! so it was well worth the effort to return. Today we decided to start our hike on the eastern trails and work our way around to the western views. So we set off and after the customary stop at Starbucks and later a Safeway for lunch supplies we made our way to the parking lot of the park. When we arrived it was quite full but there were a number of spots readily available for us. We chose one across from where the western trails connect to the parking lot.

Once parked and settled into the site we got our hiking gear loaded and we set off for the Arbutus Trail that runs along the eastern portion of the park. Before actually starting on the Arbutus trail we took a detour to the summit. Now this summit doesn’t compare to that of any minor mountain but it is the high point in the park and has some views of the water but most of the view is blocked by the beautiful and huge trees surrounding the rocky summit. Once we had our fill of the rarefied heights we slumbered down the Summit Trail to where it joins up with the Arbutus and there we continued our way down to the shoreline.

In time we reached a small spur trail that led out to a rocky exposure on the eastern side of the park. We were the only ones on the rocks and we took a few minutes to enjoy the freshness of the sea air and warm sunshine in the mild breeze. It was a delicious spot with all the elements readily available to enjoy and no one to bother us. I gathered a few photos but we wanted to see more and so we returned to the trail and made for Eagle Point. When we arrived at the point there were only two other couples enjoying the scenery and we were able to find a nice spot to relax and eat our lunch. Done with the prepared sandwich, I started to roam the rocks looking for some interesting photos to gather. By now several other groups had found the point and were busy taking in the views. After a few photos, I checked with Nick and he had collected the photos that he wanted and so we grudgingly left the rocks and continued along the Arbutus Trail and then the Valley Trail all the way to the main facilities. 

With the local roads being well travelled it was time to open up some new areas for our exploration. The big negative is the time it takes to get to the start of the roads and then back home. But we decided to give this region a go as we had briefly seen the start of the Anderson mainline last year. So we left the house an hour early and set off for Boston Bar where the Anderson mainline begins at the highway. The drive up the transa-Canada seemed to progress quite quickly and once in Boston Bar we refilled the tank and started up the Anderson River FSR.

The initial road segment we did last year but back then we got in only a few kilometers before being stopped by snow. Today it was warm and the snow long gone. So we made good time as we drove south along the river. It was not the most exciting of drives at this point as the river was hidden from view. We continued south staying on the mainline for the most part. Eventually we got a bit bored with the less than amazing views so we took the next branch which forked right down towards the river. It was a couple Km long and not too rough to travel. When we reached the end we had a bit of a view of the valley but the river was still unseen though we could hear it. As we returned to the truck we noticed that the tonneau cover had slipped and needed to be repositioned badly. The one fastener had popped off and was no longer holding the cover in place. It was the one that I had repaired before and it needed careful work to get it functioning again. Once secure we returned to the mainline for further driving.

We continued south and eventually came by a major fork. This time we chose the left side not fully realizing where it would take us. A short ways along we passed a large group of campers who were out for the long week-end. Continuing east we soon were making our way through a narrow valley following the Uztilius River. This valley gained elevation and soon was passing through some scenic areas. Here we managed to get out of the truck and actually find things of interest to shoot. Towards the end of the valley we chose a side branch that climbed the slope where we hoped we would find some nice views. It was worth the effort as we did manage to get some good shots from higher up the slope covered in wild flowers.

We returned to the Uztilius mainline and edged up a maintained but chewed up section that climbed the slope out of the valley. The road was now travelling along a higher plateau area with branches heading off in all directions. It was fortunate that the main route was marked with good signs. So we continued along with little difficulty. But here we learned that the area is so loaded with roads to explore that it could only be done by camping out in the area. Finally we reached a branch where we had to make a choice, either to continue along the FSR and end up at Merritt or take the right branch and head to the Coquihalla. We chose the right branch and followed the Dewdney FSR to the Maka which connects to the Murray Lake Road.

It was only a few weeks ago that we drove up to the ridge with the hope of seeing the sights. Unfortunately on that trip the clouds were blowing through and we didn’t see any views of the valley below. We also didn’t get to the end of the road due to snow blocking our way. So this being a week without a hike planned we decided to give the ridge a second attempt. Our day began a bit earlier than our regular departure but not as early as the outrageous time we go hiking. We grabbed a few items in Cloverdale and then made for the highway and our destination – Squamish.

After arriving in Squamish we filled up the truck and I called John a local Ham radio friend. He answered back that he was heading up a ridge just a bit past where we were going so we agreed to listen for any calls from each other. Fueled up, we quickly reached the start of the FSR and made our way along the Cheekye Creek FSR. It really is a miserably rough road and the heavy traffic it gets just makes it worse. As we gained some serious elevation we started to enjoy the views of the valley and Howe Sound that we missed last trip. The view along the Sound is truly remarkable and I really enjoyed the look of the three major islands stacked up in a neat row. 

Geoff stopped at the small wooden platform I discovered with Ethan last trip. He immediately saw it as a mountain bike jump and pointed out the landing ramp which we didn’t notice in the over-growth last time. We continued up to ever better views and soon came by an old concrete structure that caught our eye and so we had to stop and check it out to see if we could figure out what it might have been in its better days. After some time and looking it over from all angles we still couldn’t decide what it was and so we continued on our drive up the road.

We quickly reached the point of the upper gate and the snow level that stopped us last trip. Well this time the snow was gone but the gate was locked! Now this was very annoying and we were not at all impressed. After a few minutes of anger and gathering a few photos we backed up the short drop in the road to where two other pickups were parked and we then drove a side road to a boggy area where there was one more pickup. They were all empty and we wondered where the occupants were off exploring. The alpine bog was quite interesting but we were soon back on our way to the main road with plans to continue our drive.

Driving back down the initial section of the road exposed even nicer views of the valley and Sound below and we stopped a number of times to gather up more photos. Rather than head back down we elected to take the cross-over route to the Brohm FSR and there we explored the area Ethan and I started out on last time. We could see better views and the bugs were a bit less intense. We drove up two side spurs to get close looks at two small lookouts that had been built. I would say that at one time they likely had a good view of the valley far below but today the view is quite limited and consequently the structures are falling into disrepair. The road to the second lookout was quite long and narrow and we had trouble trying to turn around. After a vigorous attempt at the start we gave up and backed out half the distance before we could find a wide enough spot to turn around. We then continued up the remaining short distance and once at the far end of the road we stopped to eat lunch. It was a decent spot with a fair view and the bugs weren’t too bad – at least not at first. 

Geoff and I have wanted to try hiking a peak where there was no marked trail. So we were trying to determine the best location for this new adventure when I came upon an on-line posting of a hike of Mt Hansen and it seemed to fit the bill quite nicely. The distance was not too long nor the elevation gain too great and the terrain not too steep. I wasn’t sure we would find a good fit but we eventually did and so we planned for the trek later in the season to reduce the chance of heavy snow patches getting in the way.p/> Our day started with Geoff’s arrival at my place at 6:30AM, we quickly finished loading up and were soon on the way to of course the closest Starbucks on our route. Once loaded down with coffee we made another unplanned stop to buy a hat for Geoff who had forgotten his at home. The day was expected to be a hot one and a hat was essential. We then set off for the start of the forestry roads and our initial ascent to the ridge line. According to the maps the roads lead right up to the ridge and would give us an easier start. Our starting point was the Sowerby FSR which branches from the main Silver-Skagit road just before the start of the Silver Lake campsite. The road was rough in places but also very smooth and easy for long stretches. 

As we gained elevation we eventually came to the expected fork and there we saw a washout that was almost blocking the road. Someone had done clearing of the boulders which was fortunate for us. Once past the rocks we made good time to the ridge line but here the road continued on and we decided to follow it to the end. It continued along the ridge but 60+ meters below it. Once at the end we had to decide whether we would park here and climb to the ridge or back-track to where the road crossed it. We decided the gain in distance was worth more than the short climb back up. So we parked the truck and set up the cross-band radio. The location was proving to be difficult for us to reach the Sumas Mountain repeater but after erecting our larger antenna we had a reasonable connection. 

So with the radio in place we started up the bank to the ridge. This short climb went easily and we soon found ourselves on the ridge. Geoff tied a ribbon to a tree for a return reference and we were off to the peaks. The ridge was forested but the trees were widely spaced and our travel was quite easy for most of it. We slowly gained elevation and as we did the trees thinned. At some point I brushed against some trees and knocked off my lens hood. I didn’t notice it for a while and by then we couldn’t even be sure we were looking in the right location for it. So I had to make do with no lens hood for my photos taking.

By now the day was heating up and I was slowing down but we continued south along the ridge and soon came to a rise before the major sub-peak of the mountain. Here we took a longer rest and tried to determine how to proceed. Continuing along the ridge looked steep and so we felt it was time to skirt the peak for the next ridge which ran between the two main summits. This decision we learned after our way back was not optimal as it caused us to drift down quite some ways to get passed some rock walls and loose gravel patches. As we continued forward I was rapidly losing stamina and had to rest frequently in the heat. Eventually we made it around the slope to the point just below the lowest point of the second ridge. After a fierce struggle to get up this last climb I was able to rest and start preparing some lunch. I had also used up most of my water, so we also had to melt some snow to replenish our supplies. The path we had taken to get here had seen us traverse a variety of ground types – rock talus, loose sand, snow packs and heather fields. It was fun but the steepness made it slippery and slow going. For the final bit up the snow I put on my crampons and did better.

Today’s adventure was to get fairly distant and do some HF radio work back to club members at home and to see some new valleys that we haven’t tried so far. So after review of our map book we decided to head up the East Harrison and onto Shovel Creek FSR where not too far up is a further branch heading up a valley to Camchin Peak. It looked like a nice area to explore and the location looked good for a radio contact back home. So Ethan came by at the standard 8:30AM time and we left for the hills.

The drive went well; traffic seemed a bit light and was moving well. We were soon making our way through Harrison Hot Springs and onto the FSR. As we started up the FSR, we began behind a slow car that was also on its way up. Though the road was mostly clear, we did come by a large number of campers at the various campsites. The initial road is well maintained and now everyone can get up to campsite just before the Cogburn River (Bear Creek) logging yard. We drove this section quickly stopping only at the point just before Cogburn to gather a few lake photos. The Haze was out and so the photos were not as sharp as they could be.

We then made our way further north stopping next at the bridge which crosses over Silver River. This gorge view always impresses me and I keep hoping that one day I will actually be able to capture the view well enough to portray its beauty. After few shots we continued north along Silver River to the washed out crossing where Geoff was digging sand last trip. I gathered a few more photos in the bright sunlight – this section of rapids through the gorge is another amazing spot to enjoy the look of the river. I think I will need to do some video footage of this location. Done with the spot we continued on to Shovel Creek and started up that road. 

Shovel creek was smoother than the upper part of the East Harrison and the bridge work was very nice but at the spot we wanted to turn south to follow up Spade Creek, we found the road completely blocked off. I doubt we could have got in there with an ATV! It was very annoying. The road was overgrown but we could have driven it for at least some distance. Frustrated with this discovery, Ethan decided he would like to do the loop run up to Nahatlatch and down through Boston Bar. So we continued along Shovel creek for a couple more kilometers and there we were faced with a washout that we didn’t feel we could cross. Another major frustration. It was too early to set up for the radio test but we were hungry and so we cooked our lunch and rested for a bit.

Done with lunch we returned to the East Harrison and continued north along it. The road was in much better shape than the last time we were here and so we felt optimistic for what was ahead. Eventually we came to a fork and chose the nicer side the other being blocked by a log. It was only later that we realized that the blocked fork was the one we were on last time and this new side didn’t exist. We continued up the newly logged area and eventually reached the end of it there we set up our HF antenna and got ready for the chat with the boys at home. 

Campbell valley Park is only a few kilometers from my home but I don’t go there very often and there are still a number of spots I have never seen. The one area, in the north-east section, is not that easily accessible as there is no parking near it except alongside a busy road with no shoulder. This area holds some historical significance to me as almost 50 years ago my father had leased this area to raise highland cattle. I spent a few weeks in the summer there enjoying the rural life. I have not been back since even though I zip past heading along 16th Ave. So since Nick had the day off we decided to see what this area had to offer.

There is one wide area alongside the road just long enough for two vehicles. When we arrived there was already another car there so we had just enough space to pull in and get off the busy road. We set off up the access road and over the locked gate. A bit further a trail led off across the field and the road ahead stated it was private so we opted to head across the field to see the old pond that I remembered. The day was bright but mostly overcast which kept us cooler but It left me concerned about light levels. The walk across the open field was pleasant as it offered some classic rolling views to the south.