My goal was to reach Lower Pierce Lake. My maybe goal was to reach Upper Pierce Lake. My shouldn't-do-it-but-would-be-nice-to-try goal was Mt. MacFarlane.One and a half out of three ain't bad.

Like last week's Flora Peak hike, the trail guide descriptions used lots of adjectives like "relentlessly steep" and "knee-knacker". The summit included Class 3 scrambles as well, out of my comfort zone and not in a good way.

Some hikers' reviews listed the cons as too much forest--no view for three hours. I'm in love with forest hikes, so this was a pro for me. The forest was ever-changing, too. Mostly ferns in some spots, huge tress and carpets of moss in others. Lovely smells in all. And steep! Although I'm getting stronger, I was about four hours in the forest, but getting closer to the trail guide estimates. Yay.

Someone queried if I ever get bored hiking solo. Never. It made me pause, though, especially today. Ten hours with no music, chatter, social media? I like listening to the forest. And my own thoughts. And my aching legs. And making deals with myself on the steep bits not to rest until I get to that next switchback or that downed tree or ten...more...steps.

Four forested hours paid off by emerging to this view. Lower Pierce Lake with Mt. MacFarlane looming above. I was a bit dumb-struck. Stood here for a good few minutes catching my breath from fatigue and awe. Met the first two hikers I'd seen, who said they ended up at the waterfall and couldn't find the route from there. I had been hearing waterfall-like noises for the past half hour, so on I trudged.

There was much criss-crossing of creeks, which also gave me a chance to test my new water filtration system. Glorious! A game changer! Water is incredibly heavy, which I only notice on steep hikes. Plus, it tends to warm up in my backpack. I chugged most of a liter of cold creek water in what seemed like 30 seconds.

The waterfall was beautiful, and where the marked trail ended. This was where I assumed the "may need some route finding" comment in 103 Hikes came in. It also didn't mention anything about a waterfall, and staying right in a "boulder-strewn gully." I didn't know if this was the gully, and the trail seemed to lead left. I also wasn't sure if what I was looking at was actually Mt. MacFarlane, as the area is littered with gorgeous peaks. Having stopped for a lunch/rest break, my fatigue level was announcing itself. I wisely turned around, after double-checking my Fitbit to ensure I beat last week's elevation gain. I'm competitive that way.

The book also mentioned "muddy sections". Yup. Good thing my Keen boots are amazingly tough and waterproof. Fourth summer of use and still going strong.

I liked the variety of wildflowers on this hike.

The last three kilometers were brutal. My knees were finished, my quads were burning, and I was doing frequent Fitbit-checking to estimate how much longer. i did spend a bit of the descent beating myself up for not continuing farther, but when I collapsed on my hot car, I knew I made the right decision. it's not like the mountain is going anywhere.

Got a new Fitbit badge for 40,000 steps. I'm so materialistic.

I have been trying to say yes more often, to break out of my self-imposed hermetically sealed lifestyle. Today I said yes to myself, so at least I was half way there. I completed my fifth of ten mountain climbs for My Peak Challenge, the steepest one yet. I tried to talk myself out of it....it's raining...it's cold...there won't be any view, what's the point. But then I said yes.

I've passed the trail head many times on my way to Lindeman Lake, and after reading the trail reports with adjectives like "brutal" and "relentlessly steep", I'd always just passed by. But, I felt ready and I was. The first few kilometers were the steepest, next to the final push for the peak, but the rest wasn't too bad. The trail is well maintained and taped, which really helped near the top.

The peaks of the Cheam Range and North Cascades were obscured by clouds for most of the day, as was the view of Flora Lake.

I chose to veer left and hoof it up Flora Peak. Even here there was trail tape to guide me to the top. I know my limits, and the rocks were loose and I'm a klutz. I called it quits for the uphill after climbing just over 4,000 feet, a personal best since climbing Panorama Ridge as a young gal of 20. I knew the stunning views would be denied by the clouds, so I wasn't disappointed in myself that I didn't quite make the peak.

The clouds were kind enough to lift on my way down. My favourite hikes include some ridge walking. There's something special about being above it all after emerging from the cocoon of the forest or descending through clouds.

I called this my "OMG look at that view" shot on Twitter, but the truth is I thought the picture was done and I was just airing out the sweaty pits.

Indian Paintbrush remains my favourite alpine flower.

Final pause to admire Chilliwack Lake before my determined descent. My knees really felt it. Especially the last kilometer. Now I'm off to soak in Epsom salts.

What should have been my fifth mountain climbed for My Peak Challenge (why can't I hyperlink anymore?) was thwarted by too much snow, but I'm not complaining. I had a fabulous hike.

One of the benefits of moving to Chilliwack (I still really miss Vancouver!) is I'm within an hour of four fabulous hiking destinations--the North Shore of Vancouver, Manning Park, the Coquihalla summit, and the Chilliwack River valley. Today I attempted to summit Frosty Mt. in Manning, as it was too darned hot to stay close to home. It was exactly what I needed.

The first 7 km rises through the forest, keeping me cool and giving the occasional view of Lightning and Flash Lakes, where the trail began.

The trail is surprisingly well-groomed, despite its back country status. It made climbing so much elevation seemingly easy(ish). The only obstacles were the victims of winter blow-downs, especially the ones affected by the mountain pine beetle. But, I just threw a nimble leg over and gently hopped down (you can be anything you want on the internet. Even graceful. I will not show you the holes in my leggings).

The terrain evens out in a meadow of alders, which are some of the oldest trees in British Columbia (some estimated to be almost 2,000 years old). According to the trip reports, early October is the season to go, when the leaves are changing. Something to think about, since it was a few kilometers past there that I had to turn around.

I lost the trail several times in the snow. I am a confident solo hiker, but I am not prepared for trail-finding, and a few times I had to choke down my fear and calm my shaking. I do NOT want to be that person who ends up in the news having to be rescued because of lack of preparedness. Kudos to Daryl from Kelowna, the only other hiker I saw that day, who happened upon me, turned me the right way, and blazed the trail with footprints to follow.

The trail was still visible here, but I soon lost Daryl's footprints.

I figured I only had about a kilometer to go before the promised exposed ridge with (hopefully) no snow to the summit, but I just couldn't do it.

I stopped for lunch at the nicest viewpoint thus far, congratulated myself for a hike well done, and descended back to soak my feet in the lake.

There are already a lot of wildflowers blooming. And a weird fungus that looks like coral or a sponge.

I am a sucker for Fitbit's flashing lights and badges at the end of a good day. I'm not fond of how it calculates active minutes. I was slowed down by the fallen trees and all the snow. With lunch, stops and the lot, I was seven hours on the trail.