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Pitt-Addington Marsh

August 17, 2017Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, Other Metro Vancouveradmin

The full name of this area is the Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area.
It is located where the Pitt Lake drains into the Pitt River.

There are a network of dykes and trails taking you along the River/Lake and marshland. This is more of a walk, as it is completely flat, but the distances can be over 10 km, depending where you go.

The Pitt-Addington Marsh WMA supports over 200 bird and 29 mammal species. This WMA is generally a flat, alluvial floodplain made up of dyked and undyked areas. Pitt Lake is the largest tidal freshwater lake in the world. There is a rare reverse delta at the mouth of the Pitt River, a result of deposition which occurs when rapidly flooding tides dam and reverse the main Fraser River outflow back up into Pitt Lake. The WMA also contains Pitt Polder Ecological Reserve, an area of sedge bog and two forested granitic outcrops rising 114 metres above the floodplain.

Interesting facts about Pitt Lake:

It is 24 km long
Is considered a tidal fjord lake
There is on average a three foot tide range
Pitt Lake is in a typical U-shaped glacial valley
The Upper Pitt River originates in Garibaldi Provincial park

The Details:

Distance: varies, but my route was 6.6 km
Time: varies
Low point: close to sea level
High point: close to sea level
Elevation gain: minimal
Trailhead and parking: 49° 20’ 55.8” by 122° 37’ 00” (Google Maps and navigation)

The route with downloadable gpx…

The Photos:

Mt. Thom

July 16, 2017Fraser Valley & Beyond, Non-Buntzen Lake Hikesadmin

Mt. Thom is located in the foothill mountains of South Chilliwack. From the top, there are amazing views of the Fraser Valley, including Cultas Lake. There are a few different starting points for this hike, but today, I choose to start from Sylvan Drive (see location below). You can park on the side of the road.

At the base of the trail on Sylvan Drive, Mt. Thom Creek can be heard (and seen), as you head up a number of stairs. Once off the stairs, the trail is well established and easy to follow. There are a number of junctions, but they are marked – just follow signs to Mt. Thom summit.

For directions, click on Trailhead and parking below.

Distance: 6.3 km
Time: 1-4 hours
Low point: 213 m
High point: 476 m
Elevation gain: 263 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 375 m
Trailhead and parking: 49° 06’ 16” by 121° 55’ 10.5” (Google Maps and navigation)

The route with downloadable gpx…

The Photos…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.

To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★

Cheakamus Lake

July 7, 2017Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, Squamish - Whistler - Pembertonadmin

Cheakamus Lake is a emerald-green, glacial-fed alpine lake, located in Whistler. The hike follows the Cheakamus River for about 3.5 kms and then follows the north side of the lake ending at Singing Creek, after another 4 kms. At this point the official trail ends. To go beyond, you will have to walk across a fallen tree over Singing Creek and do some bush-whacking (according to Park Rangers).

The emerald-green colour along with the back drop of snow-covered peaks, really makes for some nice scenery. The hike is not too strenuous, as it is mostly flat with some small ups and downs.

For directions, click on Trailhead and parking below.
NOTE: There is a 7 km pot-holed gravel road to travel. My 2-wheel drive car made it with no difficulty, but I would imagine, it would be a challenge in snow or in wet conditions. Even during the best weather, take it slow due to the large number of pot holes.
Tip: shut off fresh air, so you don’t get dust in your car.

Distance: 15 km (return)
Time: 3-6 hours
Low point: 832 m
High point: 899 m
Elevation gain: 67 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 360 m
Trailhead and parking: 50° 02’ 31” by 122° 59’ 23” (Google Maps and navigation)

The route with downloadable gpx…

The photos…