Sumas Mountain (British Columbia)
Encyclopedia
Sumas Mountain, aka referred to as Canadian Sumas to distinguish it from an identically-named mountain
just south in Washington state, is a relatively large mountain rising from the floodplain of the Fraser River
in the Lower Mainland
of southwestern British Columbia
, Canada
. Its western end is in the urban area of Abbotsford
and is home to a number of suburban areas of that city, notably Clayburn
. Its higher eastern reaches tower over Greendale
, a community within the City of Chilliwack
and is mostly wilderness; the mountain's summit, Sumas Peak
, is located in this area, along with Chadsey Lake
. The mountain is separated from the Cascade Mountains
by the drained lake now called Sumas Prairie
, south of which is its American sister, Sumas Mountain
, and which is part of the greater floodplain of the Fraser River (the Fraser Lowland
). West of the mountain is Matsqui Prairie, another floodplain, and north of the Fraser, which lies along the mountain's north flank, are similar floodplains - Nicomen Island
and Hatzic Prairie.
Sumas Mountain Provincial Park is located in the higher, northern reaches of the mountain. Some mining has taken place in the mountain, notably brick-clay, which gave rise to the mining community of Clayburn. Located on the mountain's north foot, adjacent to the Fraser, is a Canadian Forces base naval station. On its south side is the reserve of the Sumas First Nation
.
. A common 19th Century spelling of Sumas was "Smess"; Simon Fraser
's journal recorded the name as "shemotch".
Sumas Mountain
Sumas Mountain is a mountain located in Whatcom County, Washington, 15 miles northeast of Bellingham and southwest of Vedder Mountain. Located in the Skagit Range the mountain is notable for its high biodiversity and year-round hiking trails. It is sometimes referred to as American Sumas to...
just south in Washington state, is a relatively large mountain rising from the floodplain of the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
in the Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
of southwestern 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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Its western end is in the urban area of Abbotsford
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Abbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,...
and is home to a number of suburban areas of that city, notably Clayburn
Clayburn, British Columbia
Clayburn is a small historic village now located with the City of Abbotsford, in the Central Fraser Valley of British Columbia. Largely surrounded by farmland and green fields, on the northern slopes of Sumas Mountain's eastern ridge, the historic centre is situated immediately north and east of...
. Its higher eastern reaches tower over Greendale
Greendale, British Columbia
Greendale is a primarily agricultural town within Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, located 92 kilometres east of the city of Vancouver. Greendale is located on the west side of Chilliwack, bordering the east side of the city of Abbotsford. Greendale, originally called Sumas until 1951, was...
, a community within the City 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 is mostly wilderness; the mountain's summit, Sumas Peak
Sumas Peak
Sumas Peak is an official name for the summit of Sumas Mountain, which is located in the on the south shore of the Fraser River in the Fraser Valley between Abbotsford and Chilliwack, British Columbia. Elevation above sea level, prominence...
, is located in this area, along with Chadsey Lake
Chadsey Lake
Chadsey Lake, also known as Lost Lake, is located on Sumas Mountain near Abbotsford, British Columbia.-Name:Chadsey Creek flows into the lake and was named in 1939, after pioneer William Harvey Chadsey, son of William Chadsey and Mary Jane Town .Chadsey died at Chilliwack General Hospital on July...
. The mountain is separated from the Cascade Mountains
North Cascades
The North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington and are officially named in Canada as the Cascade Mountains...
by the drained lake now called Sumas Prairie
Sumas Prairie
Sumas Prairie is a landform in British Columbia, Canada and the State of Washington, United States. Part of the Fraser Lowland, it was created by the draining of Sumas Lake early in the 20th Century, and extends from the Vedder Canal southwestwards into northern Whatcom County, Washington...
, south of which is its American sister, Sumas Mountain
Sumas Mountain
Sumas Mountain is a mountain located in Whatcom County, Washington, 15 miles northeast of Bellingham and southwest of Vedder Mountain. Located in the Skagit Range the mountain is notable for its high biodiversity and year-round hiking trails. It is sometimes referred to as American Sumas to...
, and which is part of the greater floodplain of the Fraser River (the Fraser Lowland
Fraser Lowland
The Fraser Lowland is a landform and physiographic region of the Pacific Northwest, in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington. It includes much of the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia and a portion of Whatcom County, south of the Canada–US border...
). West of the mountain is Matsqui Prairie, another floodplain, and north of the Fraser, which lies along the mountain's north flank, are similar floodplains - Nicomen Island
Nicomen Island
Nicomen Island is an island in the Fraser River east of Mission and between Deroche and Dewdney . Located on the river's north side, and separated from the foot of the Douglas Ranges by Nicomen Slough, the island is near-totally given over to agriculture and constitutes a rural community in its...
and Hatzic Prairie.
Sumas Mountain Provincial Park is located in the higher, northern reaches of the mountain. Some mining has taken place in the mountain, notably brick-clay, which gave rise to the mining community of Clayburn. Located on the mountain's north foot, adjacent to the Fraser, is a Canadian Forces base naval station. On its south side is the reserve of the Sumas First Nation
Sumas First Nation
The Sumas First Nation or Sumas Indian Band is a band government of the Sto:lo people located in the Upper Fraser Valley region, at the community of Kilgard aka Upper Sumas, part of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. They are a member government of the Sto:lo Nation tribal council.-References:...
.
Name
"Sumas" is a Halqemeylem word meaning "a big level opening", referring to the Sumas Prairie area south of the mountain, formerly Sumas LakeSumas Lake
Sumas Lake was a body of water between Sumas and Vedder mountains, midway between the present-day cities of Chilliwack and Abbotsford, British Columbia. Its name means "a big level opening" and is a reference to the site of the lake, which lay between Sumas Mountain and its American counterpart,...
. A common 19th Century spelling of Sumas was "Smess"; Simon Fraser
Simon Fraser (explorer)
Simon Fraser was a fur trader and an explorer who charted much of what is now the Canadian province of British Columbia. Fraser was employed by the Montreal-based North West Company. By 1805, he had been put in charge of all the company's operations west of the Rocky Mountains...
's journal recorded the name as "shemotch".