Cheam Peak
Encyclopedia
Cheam Peak, called Theeth-uhl-kay in the Halqemeylem language of the Sto:lo
and usually referred to as Mount Cheam, is the farthest northerly peak of the Cheam Range
, a subrange of the Skagit Range
of the Canadian Cascades mountains. It dominates the eastern Fraser Valley
, rising above Bridal Falls and Agassiz
just east of Chilliwack
, and west of Hope
British Columbia
. The north face, plunging 2000 m (6,562 ft) to the Valley floor, has rarely been climbed. However, an easy trail provides access to the summit from a subalpine
bowl to the southwest.
divides the northwest and south faces; below the gently sloping south face is the subalpine bowl of Spoon Lake. The southeast ridge ascends from the col
with Lady Peak
, two km to the southeast; Jones Lake is below the east face. A sharp ridge divides the east and north faces.
First Nation. The Halkomelem name for the peak, Theeth-uhl-kay, means "the source" or "the place from which the waters spring." For the Sto:lo, the peak is the "mother mountain" or old woman overlooking her children dwelling in the valley. Lady Peak, to the south is the old woman's dog. Cheam, the official name of the peak, is the Halkomelem word for "wild strawberries." This describes the ridge that includes Cheam and Lady Peaks, and the lower slopes around Spoon Lake and upper Airplane Creek.
The first recorded ascent of the mountain was in 1888 by A. O. Campbell, Ebe B. Knight and party.
Road on the south side of Cheam. Access with a four wheel drive vehicle is recommended. From the trailhead, a 3.8 km (2 mi) trail leads through subalpine meadows and then ascends, moderately steeply, 632 m (2,073 ft) to the peak. The summit offers views of the Fraser Valley to the north and west and of the Cheam Range and North Cascade mountains to the south.
One can also access Lady Peak via a route that begins about halfway up the Cheam Peak Trail.
Stó:lo
The Sto:lo , alternately written as Stó:lō, Stó:lô or Stó:lõ and historically as Staulo or Stahlo, and historically known and commonly referred to in ethnographic literature as the Fraser River Indians or Lower Fraser Salish, are a group of First Nations peoples inhabiting the Fraser Valley of...
and usually referred to as Mount Cheam, is the farthest northerly peak of the Cheam Range
Cheam Range
The Cheam Range is a mountain range in the Fraser Valley region of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia near the town of Chilliwack. The region is also a part of the Skagit Range of the Canadian Cascades and contains many rugged peaks....
, a subrange of the Skagit Range
Skagit Range
The Skagit Range is a subrange of the Cascade Range in southwestern British Columbia, Canada and northwestern Washington, United States, which are known in Canada as the Canadian Cascades or, officially, the Cascade Mountains...
of the Canadian Cascades mountains. It dominates the eastern Fraser Valley
Fraser Valley
The Fraser Valley is the section of the Fraser River basin in southwestern British Columbia downstream of the Fraser Canyon. The term is sometimes used to refer to the Fraser Canyon and stretches upstream from there, but in general British Columbian usage of the term refers to the stretch of the...
, rising above Bridal Falls and Agassiz
Agassiz, British Columbia
Agassiz is a small community located in British Columbia's Fraser Valley. The only town within the jurisdiction of the District Municipality of Kent, it contains the majority of Kent's population.-References:...
just east of Chilliwack
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack is a Canadian city in the Province of British Columbia. It is a predominantly agricultural community with an estimated population of 80,000 people. Chilliwack is the second largest city in the Fraser Valley Regional District after Abbotsford. The city is surrounded by mountains and...
, and west of Hope
Hope, British Columbia
Hope is a district municipality located at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Hope is at the eastern end of both the Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland region, and is at the southern end of the Fraser Canyon...
British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The north face, plunging 2000 m (6,562 ft) to the Valley floor, has rarely been climbed. However, an easy trail provides access to the summit from a subalpine
Subalpine
The subalpine zone is the biotic zone immediately below tree line around the world. Species that occur in this zone depend on the location of the zone on the Earth, for example, Snow Gum in Australia, or Subalpine Larch, Mountain Hemlock and Subalpine Fir in western North America.Trees in the...
bowl to the southwest.
Description
Cheam's structure is pyramidal, with north, northwest, south and east faces. While the north face is the steepest, the northwest face is also sheer. A prominent spur ending in the sub peak called "Red Pyramid" or "Red Tower" (1400 m (4,593 ft)) divides the two northern faces. The western ridgeRidge
A ridge is a geological feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for some distance. Ridges are usually termed hills or mountains as well, depending on size. There are several main types of ridges:...
divides the northwest and south faces; below the gently sloping south face is the subalpine bowl of Spoon Lake. The southeast ridge ascends from the col
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
with Lady Peak
Lady Peak
Lady Peak is a mountain located just southeast of Cheam Peak in the Cheam Range near Chilliwack, British Columbia. It is west of the four peaks in the eastern portion of the range known as The Lucky Four Group or The Lucky Four,...
, two km to the southeast; Jones Lake is below the east face. A sharp ridge divides the east and north faces.
History
Cheam Peak was part of the oral history of the Stó:lōStó:lo
The Sto:lo , alternately written as Stó:lō, Stó:lô or Stó:lõ and historically as Staulo or Stahlo, and historically known and commonly referred to in ethnographic literature as the Fraser River Indians or Lower Fraser Salish, are a group of First Nations peoples inhabiting the Fraser Valley of...
First Nation. The Halkomelem name for the peak, Theeth-uhl-kay, means "the source" or "the place from which the waters spring." For the Sto:lo, the peak is the "mother mountain" or old woman overlooking her children dwelling in the valley. Lady Peak, to the south is the old woman's dog. Cheam, the official name of the peak, is the Halkomelem word for "wild strawberries." This describes the ridge that includes Cheam and Lady Peaks, and the lower slopes around Spoon Lake and upper Airplane Creek.
The first recorded ascent of the mountain was in 1888 by A. O. Campbell, Ebe B. Knight and party.
Hiking
The trailhead to Cheam Peak, is via decommissioned logging roads accessible from Chilliwack LakeChilliwack Lake
Chilliwack Lake is a lake in the upper basin of the Chilliwack River southeast of the city of the same name in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada...
Road on the south side of Cheam. Access with a four wheel drive vehicle is recommended. From the trailhead, a 3.8 km (2 mi) trail leads through subalpine meadows and then ascends, moderately steeply, 632 m (2,073 ft) to the peak. The summit offers views of the Fraser Valley to the north and west and of the Cheam Range and North Cascade mountains to the south.
One can also access Lady Peak via a route that begins about halfway up the Cheam Peak Trail.