John Harvey Photo

Mt Cheam
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Look how cheap the gas is out here!


Wing Over Mountains
Last Summer, flying back from Toronto on approach to Vancouver, the plane dropped in close to the peaks out at Abotsford.  The plane trip featured a sun set protracted over three hours and as we  approached, you could see the mountain peaks punching god rays into the evening haze.  I so much wanted to be on those mountains, rather than in that plane.


Fast forward almost a year, it's Canada day, and I want to get outside.  Brendon and Ashley graciously volunteered to join me hiking (be photo filler) so I picked them up at 9:30 and we started the long drive out to Chilliwack.  After a bit of direction following, we were heading into the mountains well off the beaten track.  We turned off onto forest service roads (well maintained gravel roads) and then onto a deactivated (not maintained gravel road) road for the last 7km up to the parking lot.  The road is rough - there are a few sections where you are driving on bedrock, and a few streams to ford through pushing your front clearance.  As you get near the end, you can see vast clear cuts (why the road was built) and large alpine meadows.

Drive Up

We had not even started hiking before Brendon called me over to see something cool.  Golden Jelly Cone was growing on the logs that marked the perimeter of the parking lots (or the beginning of the last slope your car would ever descend).  They looked like natures answer to the gummy bear.

Golden Jelly ConeGolden Jelly Cones On Wood


I like hikes where you start at or near alpine.  The road up seems to reduce the number of people who come up, but the trails are still well worn and will probably get worse.

Brendon And Ashely On Broken BridgeRiver In Meadow

 
I gained a new appreciation for Alpine Flowers last summer, but every other trip I've been up in the alpine has been late summer.  At this time of the year, Yellow Glacier Lilies are just starting to come into flower.

Yellow BellPatch Of Yellow Glacier Lilies

Hiker In Meadow
We made it about 45 minutes from the parking lot (of a four hour hike) when the light rain turned heavy, and then hard (hail). The trail quickly become slick with mud and summer hike in the meadows was losing its appeal fast. The top of the mountain was locked in clouds, so it was unlikely we would have seen anything anyways, so we decided to cut the hike shot.
 Small Lake In Meadow

Back down in the valley, we came across Alpine White Marsh Marigold growing next to the stream that caries off the melt water from the surrounding valley.
 
Alpine White Marsh MarigoldWet Marigold

Ashley Sliding Down Snow
Thanks Brendon and Ashely for putting up with my hiking desire and the potholes needed to satisfy it.

Brendon And Ashley On Bridge
 


Brendon And Ashely On Broken Bridge
Tags: alpine, bridge, meadow
Small Lake In Meadow
Tags: alpine, lake, meadow, snow
Alpine White Marsh Marigold
Species: Caltha leptosepala (White Marsh Marigold)
Tags: alpine, flower
Ashley Sliding Down Snow
Drive Up
Tags: driving, vista
River In Meadow
Tags: alpine, meadow
Golden Jelly Cone
Species: Guepiniopsis alpina (Golden Jelly Cone)
Tags: mushroom
Yellow Bell
Species: Erythronium grandiflorum (Yellow Glacier Lily)
Tags: flower
Patch Of Yellow Glacier Lilies
Species: Erythronium grandiflorum (Yellow Glacier Lily)
Tags: alpine, flower
Hiker In Meadow
Tags: hiking, meadow, trail
Wet Marigold
Species: Caltha leptosepala (White Marsh Marigold)
Tags: alpine, flower
Brendon And Ashley On Bridge
Wing Over Mountains
Tags: crepuscular rays, mountain, plane
Golden Jelly Cones On Wood
Species: Guepiniopsis alpina (Golden Jelly Cone)
Tags: mushroom
Tags: alpine(6), meadow(4), flower(4), Do Not Tag(2), mushroom(2), plane(1)
From: John Harvey Photo > John Harvey Photo - Hiking > Mt Cheam
From: John Harvey Photo > John Harvey Photo - Hiking > A Second Attempt on Mt Cheam > Mt Cheam

Your taxonomy page for your fungi pictures was very helpful for my Forest Habitats Lab on the Fungi. Thank you!
Burton
Thursday, November 8th, 2007 at 08:02:52

nice pictures!
che
Monday, March 9th, 2009 at 04:01:15

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Last Modified Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 at 00:50:32 Edit
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