The Cheam Range

The Cheam Range Cheam Peak (pronounced “Shea-am”), Lady Peak, Baby Munday, and Stewart Peak (from left to right) are located at the Eastern end of the Fraser Valley near Chilliwack, BC. They are part of the Skagit Range which form part of the Cascade Mountains. The other four peaks in the Cheam Range are Knight Peak, The Still, Welch Peak, and Foley Peak. The Halkomelem word translates as “the source”, referring to the place from which waters spring. It was also recognized by the Sto:Lo as “Chiyom”, “a place for wild strawberries”. The Sto:lo translation is “mother mountain”. One legend tells the story that Mt. Cheam was once married to Mt. Baker. They had 6 children, 3 boys (Mt. Hood, Mt. Shah-sta, and Mt. Shuksahn) and 3 girls. Mt. Cheam decided to leave her husband in the USA, and return to the Fraser Valley to guard over the people of the valley, the salmon, and the 3 girls she brought with her. The family dog (Lady Peak, which resembles a dog’s head) followed her. The 3 girls are the smaller peaks that lie in front of Mt. Cheam. Baby Munday was named after Edith Munday, the daughter of a famous climbing couple, Don and Phyllis Munday. Foley, Welch, and Stewart peaks were named after the partners in an engineering firm, which operated the Lucky Four (copper) Mine near the peak, and which was instrumental in the construction of the Fraser Valley section of the (now named) C.N.R. railway