Cheam Peak dominates the Fraser Valley, rising above Bridal Falls and Agassiz just east of Chilliwack. The rarely climbed north face plunges 2000m down to the Trans Canada Highway, while an easy trail leads to the summit from the subalpine bowl to the southwest.In plan Cheam is pyramidal, with a north, northwest, south and east face. The north face is the steepest. The northwest face is also steep; the two are divided by a prominent spur which terminates in the prominent sub peak known as Red Pyramid or Red Tower (1400m).The west ridge divides the NW and S faces; below the gentle, rubbly S Face is the subalpine bowl of Spoon Lake. The vague SE ridge rises from the col with Lady Peak; the East face drops to Jones Lake beyond. The sharp crest of the NE ridge divides the east and north faces.
Name Notes: The word Cheam, in Halkomelem, means "wild strawberries" and properly refers to the ridge comprising Cheam and Lady, and the lower slopes around Spoon Lake and upper Airplane Creek. Cheam Peak itself, in Halkomelem, is known as Theeth-uhl-kay which is variously translated as "the source" or and "The place from which the waters spring/slide". The peak is also considered to be the "mother mountain" or old woman overlooking her children dwelling in the valley. Nearby Lady Peak is the old woman's dog.
