Post by JeffOver on Sept 2, 2008 15:49:27 GMT -8
Hi all.
On Labour Day my parents and I decided to do the hike up Ford Mountain. We drove about 1km up the forest service road, and then hiked the rest of the road (about 3km). The trail then continues to the summit for about 2km. The first part of the trail is quite steep but switchbacks alot. At the top are a few cement posts, remnants of an old lookout. All in all, a fairly nice hike. We started hiking at 7:00, and were back at the car by about 12:45. I had been hoping that it would be clear by the time we got to the top, but that didn't happen, although we spent an hour at the top hoping for the sun to break through. We did see several species though.
On the way up we saw:
Stellar's Jay
Gray Jay--2
Varied Thrush ~4
Chestnut-backed chickadees--lots (several small flocks)
Winter wren--heard 2
Red-breasted nuthatch--heard several
1 unidentified woodpecker
Possibly heard Grey-crowned Rosy Finch
At the top we saw:
Oregon Juncos--several
Townsend's Warbler--1
Red-shafted Flicker--1
Another unidentified woodpecker
Another Varied Thrush
Red-breasted Nuthatch--at least 4
Pine Grosbeak--3 ;D
The Pine Grosbeaks were the highlights--a life bird for my parents--although there was no bright red male. If I were to compare it to Cheam, Ford Mtn isn't as high so there are no ptarmigan. Also, the hike is much more in the forest than Cheam which perhaps prevents more birds from being seen. Still, I definitely want to do it again on a clear day just for the sake of the views that we caught glimpses of through the clouds. Instead a view of the Fraser Valley as nice as that is, you are surrounded by beautiful and impressive mountain peaks with Slesse straight across looking south from the summit. The trail apparently also continues from the summit to Williams Peak, another hike I would love to do someday as well. Anyway, here are a few pics of our hike:
Looking south from the summit--an impressive gorge with a tributary that runs into the Chilliwack River
A zoomed-in view of what I believe is Williams Peak, looking east from the summit.
A red-breasted nuthatch at the top
A unique top view of an airplane
These trees are partway up where one can first see Slesse Mtn. Notice the dead ones--I'm not sure what that's from. Would it be pine beetle or something else?
Have a good day.
--Jeff
On Labour Day my parents and I decided to do the hike up Ford Mountain. We drove about 1km up the forest service road, and then hiked the rest of the road (about 3km). The trail then continues to the summit for about 2km. The first part of the trail is quite steep but switchbacks alot. At the top are a few cement posts, remnants of an old lookout. All in all, a fairly nice hike. We started hiking at 7:00, and were back at the car by about 12:45. I had been hoping that it would be clear by the time we got to the top, but that didn't happen, although we spent an hour at the top hoping for the sun to break through. We did see several species though.
On the way up we saw:
Stellar's Jay
Gray Jay--2
Varied Thrush ~4
Chestnut-backed chickadees--lots (several small flocks)
Winter wren--heard 2
Red-breasted nuthatch--heard several
1 unidentified woodpecker
Possibly heard Grey-crowned Rosy Finch
At the top we saw:
Oregon Juncos--several
Townsend's Warbler--1
Red-shafted Flicker--1
Another unidentified woodpecker
Another Varied Thrush
Red-breasted Nuthatch--at least 4
Pine Grosbeak--3 ;D
The Pine Grosbeaks were the highlights--a life bird for my parents--although there was no bright red male. If I were to compare it to Cheam, Ford Mtn isn't as high so there are no ptarmigan. Also, the hike is much more in the forest than Cheam which perhaps prevents more birds from being seen. Still, I definitely want to do it again on a clear day just for the sake of the views that we caught glimpses of through the clouds. Instead a view of the Fraser Valley as nice as that is, you are surrounded by beautiful and impressive mountain peaks with Slesse straight across looking south from the summit. The trail apparently also continues from the summit to Williams Peak, another hike I would love to do someday as well. Anyway, here are a few pics of our hike:
Looking south from the summit--an impressive gorge with a tributary that runs into the Chilliwack River
A zoomed-in view of what I believe is Williams Peak, looking east from the summit.
A red-breasted nuthatch at the top
A unique top view of an airplane
These trees are partway up where one can first see Slesse Mtn. Notice the dead ones--I'm not sure what that's from. Would it be pine beetle or something else?
Have a good day.
--Jeff
