Places I've Wandered - Ledgeview pt.2

And now.. the conclusion of our Ledgeview Adventure (Part 1 here) aka Getting Out Alive!

We last left our intrepid adventurers looking out over the Sumas Prairie

Having climbed beyond the top of McKee Hill, in Abbotsford, British Columbia, my longtime friend Papa Theo was going to use his old memories from his mountain biking days to lead us down off of the hill through routes not recently travelled; by him. But travelled often by mountain bikes and people on them!

Join me as we make our way off of the hill.

A Plant I've Encountered:Giant Fawn Lily on the side of the trail.

The diversity of biospheres on this hill amazed me. As different factors like rain water, exposure to the sun, etc allowed for different plants to grow in different places.

Truly a tortuous trail down, up, and around

for the mountain bikers do love to ride down with speed and over and around.. and off of things

The sun lit our path and called us on through trees, branches, and shadows, criss crossed above

We came across another grove of Devil's Club with stalks well over 6 feet tall

I suspect the troublesome foliage alongside the path poses a great incentive to not wipe out

A cyclist cruises by and beyond.. still we continue on.. not knowing what awaits around the next bend

A big drop in the distance

And then we encountered some very healthy stinging nettle

Theo noticed evidence of a wipeout alongside the trail's edge after a jump..

and then reenacted the likely incident...

Here's a front-on view of a jump..

And a side view

still descending and the forest changes yet again..

till we find the original wide path we walked up earlier

continuing down to the entrance/exit

and we emerge unscathed but wiser from our expedition upon McKee Hill...

Some parting thoughts.. blah blah blah journey blah blah blah friendship blah blah destination.

But really? Yes.. exactly. I suspect that history and the passage of time will continue the process already started in my memory and hindsight. It wasn't about the destination, the top of the hill or the view. It wasn't what was said as I remember some of the words and the things discussed, but they too will likely fade with time. The memory is of the doing. Of the being outdoors with my good friend. Of walking beside him and laughing and sharing of our stories and fears and past year. Ledgeview on McKee Hill really is a beautiful and wonderfilled place that I feel privileged to have wandered and explored. But more so than that I am privileged to have a friend like Papa Theo to walk alongside.

May you all have wonderfilled ambles and friends to walk alongside.
Sincerely,
The Maplemusketeer

Places I've Wandered - Ledgeview

Ledgeview (aka McKee Hill) exists as a foresty mysterious system of trails and discovery in Abbotsford, British Columbia. (there is also a golf course nearby called "Ledgeview Golf Course"... likely unrelated ;) )

As the Greyhound bus turned the corner and descended the hill towards the Abbotsford Bus Depot I could see my buddy's red suburban waiting to welcome me in the parking lot. Any time I manage to spend with Papa Theo is rewarded with laughter, growth, friendship, and copious amounts of yerba mate consumed. In fact, when I prepare my yerba mate to drink every morning, I use a modified Papa Theo method because he's the fellow who first taught me how to prepare the "Cup of Life". But that is a tale not yet told. On this occasion he picked me up and we ran some errands before he said "how do you feel about going for a hike?"

Let us depart to the trailhead and make way.

The sky was beautiful. Blue offset with the occasional puff of fluffy white goodness.

We slowly and cautiously advanced through the forest whilst dialoguing on life and happenings.

Occasionally there were small bursts of speed involved with stream hurdling. But it wasn't a common occurence.

The sun continued to cast its gaze and rays upon us

The green foliage nurtured by all of the recent rains encroached in upon the trail.

Tall trees lurched and lurked above.

And Devil's Club grew near alongside the trail...

We kept climbing up, conversing and sweating as the ground cover drew back and the cottonwoods emerged into the light.

Tall cottonwoods.

Then we found a washing machine! A little worse for wear..

A conifer, some colours, and then a clearing to cross as we were definitely feeling the heat.

Crossing the clearing we neared what is most likely most people's destination on this hike. Through the spooky forest and towards the radio tower. If this was the purpose of climbing the mountain we were nearing it at a rapid pace.

Tada! The tower!

It always pays to bring a local ;) Back when Papa Theo was an avid mountain biker he'd come ride up here. So whilst those who aimed for the top got there and left... we kept on. To where I knew not. But the place is called Ledgeview for some odd reason...

Into the woods once more we went. Down sketchy slopes we somewhat slipped and slid. Till we turned a corner and emerged upon a scene I'd never seen.

A view from a vista out over the Sumas Prairie

What a view... what a journey... of course getting there is only half of it... Click here for part 2 aka How we got out via an alternate side trail of adventure and discovery :D

May you all have wonderfilled days and see the world in new ways

The Maplemusketeer