本周六的hiking计划

lulululu
先想了几个,

1. Panorama Ridge via Cheakamus
Cheakamus lake road conditiom:
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21930

2. Mercer - Elk Traverse

3. Hannegan Pass/Hannegan peak(Baker area)
http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/v ... asc&start=0

其它的还在想，大家有什么建议吗？

ALEXYIM
[quote]lulululu
先想了几个,

1. Panorama Ridge via Cheakamus
Cheakamus lake road conditiom:
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21930

2. Mercer - Elk Traverse

3. Hannegan Pass/Hannegan peak(Baker area)
http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/v ... asc&start=0

其它的还在想，大家有什么建议吗？

lulululu
[quote]ALEXYIM
[quote]lulululu
先想了几个,

1. Panorama Ridge via Cheakamus
Cheakamus lake road conditiom:
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21930

2. Mercer - Elk Traverse

3. Hannegan Pass/Hannegan peak(Baker area)
http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/v ... asc&start=0

其它的还在想，大家有什么建议吗？

andrewl
强烈要求周日活动！最好还是不用雪鞋的，哈哈
周六上课，太郁闷~不过还好，只剩下4次课了。但是看着你们每个周六都出去自己去不了实在...

=======================================
    quote:Originally posted by mazeGirl

    nice job! Thanks for sharing.

    I have several questions to ask about the access:

    1. how's Chilliwack Bench Road and Thurston FSR condition? are they 4WD roads?

    2. how long did it take to drive from Elk trailhead to Mercer trailhead.

    3. any GPS info to share?

    Thanks in advance!

===================================

Hello Gloria.
The Chilliwack Bench road is drivable by car but a bit bumpy in places, the Thurston FSR is definitely 4WD due to water bars, and latter on due to steepness and large grooves in the road. The drive from Elk trailhead to the 1000 meter level on Mercer (southside) where we parked took about an hour to hour and a quarter. From there it is a further hour walk along the road to the real trail head on top of the saddle. At the saddle, the trail follows along Mercer Ridge eastward all the way to the summit, and the SAR Radio shed. Trail networks continue east and northeast down from Mercer summit towards Chipmunk forest road. From the saddle, trail and roads continue west towards Thurston. Unfortunately I have no GPS Data, just the sketch and topog map posted on the 'trip event' with the route marked in black.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Hello Gloria

I just found this email of yours in my spam folders.   I replied on the trip report to your questions.   

We had excellent 4 wheel drive suv's and drivers, this saved 1 hour walk up a steep hot tiring road.    You definitely need 4 wheel drive on Thurston Main which branches off the Chilliwack Bench Road.  My honda made it the 650 meter level last year before the forest company put in the water bars and cross ditches.   If you have strong high clearance 4wds' you can drive to the road fork which is close to the 1000 meter elevation.

We took 10-1/2 hours to do the whole traverse on foot, but we had 3 large breaks;  fun in the snow, lunch, loungeing and for views.    Actual hiking time would be 8 hours at a good pace, with no breaks.

Snow is firm, with a soft 2 to 4 inch layer on top.   Very little in the way of steep snow slopes, no ice-axes needed and ski poles are just fine.

Check on the map posted on the trip event which roughly marks the route.

You need to bring 3 litres of water at least if the day is sunny.

I do not have a good memory to describe how to get to the Thurston FSR, best way to say it is the last major road turning off to the left (north) before you reach Mount Cheam access road  (When coming from Elk trailhead).   Between Elk and Thurston FSR, there are several other roads heading left....

Karl