Elk-Thurston Mountains - Intermediate Hike ~ 7+ hrs - Chilliwack

Ok everyone ... gear up and lets grab some peaks! I am a huge fan of this area east of Chilliwack... and can't wait to get out there again, so let's do this!

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/7/c/c/event_234726092.jpeg

WHAT TO EXPECT...

(credit for this overview goes to Alan B, yes I borrowed it)

The first 3.5 km of this trail is a steady climb through forest. Eventually you will break through the forest and get to the first lookout, which offers great views of the Fraser Valley to the west.

Continuing along the trail for another 10 minutes back into forest, and you will pop out onto the ridge itself, where in the early summer many wildflowers bloom. If you hit it right, you'll also find wild strawberries as well (around the end of June-early July).

Once on the ridge, there's some excellent views of the mountains to the south and south-east, with Mt. MacGuire, Border Peaks, and Mt. Slesse being dominant. There's also some great views of Mt. Baker as well.

The trail along the ridge rises and dips with the ridge, and eventually heads back into forest past Elk Mtn summit. From Elk summit, another 30 minutes of hiking takes you to another minor peak with a large cairn with some excellent views. This is an un-named peak(false peak), but this little peak has far better views than Mt. Thurston, which is the bushy peak that is another 30 min or so away.

We will most likely turn around here....

The trail actually continues past Mt. Thurston, but it's condition is in somewhat worse due to the fact that few carry along the ridge this far from Elk. This trail eventually links up with an old forest service road and takes you to an obvious pass, where a trail then continues on to Mt. Mercer, which is the highest peak along the ridge.

TRAIL DETAILS

Description: Elk / Thurston Trail
Rating: Intermediate
Total Distance: 13.4 km
Hiking Time: ~ 7-8 hrs (moderate pace)
Elevation Gain: 996 m
Cumulative Gain: no data
Approx Return Time: don't make plans cause you never know!
After Hike Plans: White Spot in Chilliwack for dinner?
Bring: Water, lunch, snacks, hiking boots, micro-spikes (mandatory), gaiters, poles (recommended), sunglasses and sunscreen (mandatory if sunny), proper layers (rain, wind and cold protection), ID, camera, money for your driver and the essentials (http://www.northshorerescue.com/education/what-to-bring/).

TRAIL RESOURCES

http://livetrails.com/index.php?viewTrail=1&trailid=249
http://www.clubtread.com/routes/Route.aspx?Route=85

Guests
I do not allow guests to join my events. If you have a friend you wish to bring along please have them go through the normal registration process and RSVP for the event.

Dogs
NO Dogs allowed.

Toilets
No facilities

TRAIL HEAD DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS - 9:15 sharp please.

From Highway #1 (Trans-Canada Highway), take exit #123 for Prest Road. Turn right (south) onto Prest Road and follow it to the second four-way stop, at the base of Promontory Ridge. Turn left on to Bailey Road and follow it to a fork, with Lindell Road continuing to the left and Elkview Road heading sharply uphill on the right.

Take the right fork, following Elkview Road as it winds it's way up the mountain to the Ryder Lake area. At the 3-way stop sign, keep going straight. After approximately 15 minutes of driving through the pleasant country, the road turns to gravel. Continue onwards, now Chilliwack Bench Forest Service Road.

A short 1km of car accessible driving leads you to a gravel parking area on the left. Park here and find the trailhead at the far end of the parking lot, next to the road.

[ LINK TO MAP (https://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215529264558949838459.0004dca26ef3d7e138d15) ]

CARPOOLING SUGGESTIONS

Carpooling requests should be made by comment with your RSVP. Please remember to reimburse your driver for gas. The suggested rate is $5.00 per passenger per hour of driving time on flat road. Please put muddy hiking boots in a clean plastic bag and change into runners after the event/activity. Please be on time.

BE PREPARED!
The weather as we all know can and often does change so please ensure you bring the items I mention in the "Things to bring" list.

Please be on time. I will be leaving the carpooling area and parking lot meetup locations within 10 minutes at the stated time.

HOW DO RSVP's AND WAIT LISTS WORK?

First of all, there is no need to RSVP "No", if you are not attending. We only need to know who is attending. The "No" feature is there for people who need to change their RSVP.

The "YES" list is for people who are SURE they will attend an event. If you think you may be able to make it, please do not click "YES". As always, if you are on the "YES" list, we expect you to show up. If you don't, you will be flagged and if it occurs again we will remove you from the group.

The "Wait list" is activated when an event is full. If you are on the Wait list, you are waiting for someone from the "YES" list to cancel, then you can take his spot. Do not show up at an event unless your name appears on the "YES" list.

Legal Stuff - Liabilities, Obligations and Responsibilities
We are a group composed of volunteers. We are NOT a professional organization or pro trail guides and/or pro event organizers. However, as a group of friends and acquaintances, we will look out for each other. The organizer and any/all assistant organizers and other attendees are in no way responsible and liable for your personal safety and health state, before, during and at anytime after this event. By RSVPing "Yes", for this event, you acknowledge that you fully understand and accept the aforementioned conditions and following event attendance conditions and, you are solely responsible for your own health, safety and well-being before, during and at anytime after the event as stated previously. All attendees shall forever hold harmless the organizers and other attendees and unconditionally waive any liabilities resulting from attending and/or participating in this event.

Guests and Any Other Group Event Attendees
I do not allow guests to join my events. If you have a friend you wish to bring along please have them go through the normal registration process and RSVP for the event.

The organizers and/or assistant organizers are not responsible in any way for event group attendees/members. Event group attendees/members who RSVP "YES" for this event are solely and totally responsible for their own health, safety and well being before, during and at any time after the conclusion of the this event. The event organizer(s) and assistant organizer(s) shall be held harmless and shall be unconditionally free forever of any and all liabilities, obligations and responsibilities to any of the event attendees and group members.

The organizer(s) reserves the right to turn away any member who shows up without RSVP, unprepared and/or ill-equipped to handle this event. Please read the instructions carefully and come to each event prepared.

We respectfully request that you do not RSVP "Yes" to any event unless you are certain of your attendance. We volunteer our time to organize events in order to bring together dedicated members with similar interests who are committed to participating in various activities with other like-minded members. If you are unable to get onto an event, please put your name on the waiting list. Every effort will be made to accommodate members who demonstrate an interest in attending at a later date.