BOU AVENUE
Cheam Peak
On 27 September 2002, I drove out to Vancouver, British Columbia to help a friend move into her new home and to explore some of the local hiking areas.  Cheam Peak, towering over the Trans Canada Highway just east of Chilliwack, was one such place I was interested in checking out.  Originally, I had intended to hike up the peak as a day trip from Vancouver, but having reached the Fraser Valley relatively early (about 4:00 PM; I wasn't expected in Vancouver until later that evening) and with the weather being so nice, I decided to try and bag the peak before sunset.  Getting to the trailhead would prove to be the most problematic part of the trip as it involves driving up the easy-to-miss Chilliwack Lake Road followed by a horrendous pull up a rough and steep logging road.  The final four kilometres before the trailhead parking area really put my Honda CR-V's off-roading capabilities to the test.  By the time I actually started hiking, it was 5:45 PM, a little over 11 hours after I left my house in Calgary!  Despite the rather late start, I had no route-finding problems and managed to reach the summit just a few minutes after sunset.  After the requisite summit photographs, I reluctantly headed down and was back at my car by 8:15 PM.  Another bumpy ride down the forestry road ensued, but eventually both car and driver made it out safely.
It's getting late!
Sonny looks up to Cheam Peak from the lower slopes of Lady Peak.
Doh! Just missed the sunset!
This is the view looking west from the 2112-metre summit of Cheam Peak.  Winding far below is the Fraser River.
Better get going soon!
This is the view north to Harrison Lake.
Enough pictures already! Let's get outta here!!
At right in this southern view is Mount Baker.