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Liumchen and snow....

2K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  RockyTFS 
#1 · (Edited)
Once upon a time, there was a nice road that led up the Liumchen area, all the way to the Liumchen Ecological Preserve.
After many winters of rain, the unmaintained road was washed out pretty badly and getting to the area was "problematic" for an unskilled rider like myself.

Fast forward to recently and the road has been rebuilt by the logging companies. I got the intel from an old hiking acquaintance, and since I was off work early today, I decided to scope out the area for myself.
As I drove up the hill, I thought back to the last time I was up here....at first I thought it was 2006, but then I remembered that someone with some heavy equipment had "graded" the road about 5 or 6 years ago. Nonetheless, this particular hill and I have some history, but I won't get into it...it's a long story.
Soon, I reach the first switchback with a decent view.
Cultus Lake would be to the extreme left, behind that knoll in the foreground.

Tree Mountainous landforms balsam fir Mountain Nature


Some staged TW porn...she looks funny with the Double-Take mirrors, but at least I can see!

Vehicle Motorcycle Car Automotive tire Enduro


The road continues to climb and climb...I navigate dozens of cross-ditches. Soon, the "new" road ends and the old one picks up where it left off. It was downright ugly in places.
I didn't want to stop to take any pictures on the way up, and lose my momentum...so I thought I'd get some on the way down, but it was so slick and icy that I was afraid to stop in places...so there are no pictures showing how bad the road is.
Slick and icy? Yeah...I found the snowline.

Snow Vehicle Winter Freezing Motorcycle


Now, every puddle I cross is frozen solid. In some places, the water has run down the middle of the road, creating a ditch of ice...making my way through that was interesting. Coming back DOWN that was even more "fun".
Eventually, things level off and I am riding along the edge of the mountain...and I find the small pond that I visited back in 2006.

Water Tree Snow Winter Geological phenomenon


When I last saw this, was in the summer and the pond was home to several large salamanders. I took a series of photos, hoping to stitch them together as a panorama of this quaint pond and the surrounding mountainside, but something went wrong with the camera (probably too cold) and I didn't notice until I was off-loading the pictures at home...so no pano, either!
Directly behind me is a viewpoint to the valley below...

Sky Snow Winter Mountainous landforms Nature


...and there is a small waterfall that drains the pond...

Vegetation Tree Plant Biome Snow


Funny how an area can look SO different between seasons.
A bit further down the road, any water seeping through the rocks has frozen into icicles...

Rock Formation Vegetation Outcrop Nature reserve


On my way back down now, this spot has the best view of the valley below. From here, I am actually looking down on some family!

Mountainous landforms Mountain Highland Wilderness Mountain range


The Cheam range peeking out from behind Elk mountain.

Mountainous landforms Mountain Highland Mountain range Sky


The "road" to the left goes uphill, to the Ecological Preserve...I am going downhill to the right.

Geological phenomenon Tree Grass family Grass Plant


This area is at 49.039399° -121.858096° of Google Earth, if you want a closer look.
 
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#2 · (Edited)
Continued...


This is why cross-ditching is necessary...

Trail Thoroughfare Road Geological phenomenon Dirt road


If left to its own, the water will continue to erode the edge of the road until it inevitably slides off the hillside one day. Then, this area is lost to us adventure seekers until the logging companies return to rape and pillage....


Speaking of which, the lower reaches of this road are in the best shape I've seen in a decade...cross-ditches notwithstanding.

Geological phenomenon Soil Trail Dirt road Tree



On the way down, I noticed that some of the hillside was already starting to slide...it's almost as if this mountain doesn't want a road.

Road Trail Natural environment Forest Tree


After about an hour of downhill (with photo stops) I am back on the asphalt, and heading home.
I stopped to take this pic of Mt. Cheam in the early stages of alpen glow...

Mountainous landforms Sky Mountain Mountain range Hill


Thinking about it...I should have taken a pic of the hill I was on...


After digging through some old photos, I found one of the "pond"...almost from the same angle:

Nature Wilderness Tree Reflection Watercourse




Great to get back up to this area. Hope the road is still in decent shape by Spring...
 
#4 ·
Oh ho! This looks like it'd be fun to tackle, in the 4x4 or on the TDUB.

I'd wager in the warmer months that little salamander pond would make a great camp spot.

I may have to make a little trip up this coming season with the tdub in the back. Will require me checking into what the camping rules and regs are in BC.
 
#5 ·
Great pics in the first post. None came through in the second post. I really like the addition of the grid coordinates.

Marty
 
#7 ·
Some say ice is nice, but not on the TW.:p
Great trail ride story and photos so far... try re-posting photos in post #2 by using "GO ADVANCED" option while in editing more for #2 and then continue the story.
 
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