Illal Meadows is such a beautiful, peaceful spot, perfect for relaxing and soaking in nature’s calm. During our stay, we noticed four hunters camping out in the meadows, and the next day, a lone hunter made his way up. My friend and I spent some time exploring Jim Kelly and a few other bumps around the area. Heads up: a 4WD is definitely needed to access this spot comfortably.
The next morning, while my friend stayed behind at camp, I set out to check out Coquihalla Mountain. Not having a clear route, I asked a fellow camper who recommended ascending via the south side, which turned out to be a straightforward hike to the summit.
At the summit, I read through old summit entries and learned that in 2007 a group from CT did a traverse from East Peak to West. The ridge looked doable but involved crossing 3-4 bumps. Since I had no helmet or rope for safety, I was a bit hesitant but decided to give it a go.
I downclimbed the narrow east ridge from the summit, definitely some heart-pounding moments with steep drops on both sides. After reaching the saddle, I scrambled up a narrow gully to another bump on the traverse where I met Peter and his wife doing the traverse in the opposite direction. Peter kindly shared some helpful tips about the NE ridge descent.
The ridge itself was enjoyable to walk, with a few narrow spots that kept me on my toes. Following Peter’s boot tracks, I made my way down the NE ridge to the base, bum-slid to the pass, then ran back to camp where my friend was waiting.
We broke camp and drove to the Cheam trailhead for a quick trail run to catch the sunset from the summit. It took about 45 minutes up and 30 minutes down, just enough to end the day on a high note.
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