Burstall Pass

Aug 29, 2009. Burstall Pass + traverse to South Burstall Pass. 2540m. 17.5 km. 630m gain.

An outing with Shannon taking advantage of a beautiful day in Kananaskis.
Check out the color coordinated hair, pack, poles & top ;>)

Shannon posing on the highpoint of the traverse with Mt. Sir Douglas in the background.

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SKooL

Eric off to grade twelve and later that morning Mike off to U of A for his second year of engineering.Michael had no shoes on so was whining about appearing short. Note the classic surreptitious back-of-the-arm pinch usually reserved for causing trouble when Mom isn’t looking is alive and well. If memory serves it came shortly after Eric tried to ‘accidentally’ step on Mikes toes. Some years later perhaps this photo will be a classic when our trusty ’89 Prelude has been made into rebar.

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Tombstone Mountain South

Aug 23, 2009. Tombstone Mountain South. 3035m. 17.6km. 1020m gain.

A moderate scramble with Eric with some fine views of the portion of Kananaskis country accessed up the valley from Elbow Lake off Hwy 40.

Eric with Mount Rae and the Rae glacier in the background.
Eric on some friction slabs.
Approaching the false summit.
View across to true summit.


Looking down on Tombstone Lakes.
Eric downclimbing from the summit.

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Mt. Allan

Aug 22, 2009. Mount Allan. 2819m. 14.4km. 1313m gain.

A ‘Super Saturday’ repeat but a good one. My favorite part is the rock gardens / spires part way along the climb.



'Vision Quest' marmot.

A very bold ptarmigan trucking right over the summit.

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It is Alive!

Well, mostly alive. There were still some caps & finishing touches yet to go on when I took these shots. I don't generally show my work on this blog but this project was fun albiet stressful as it got shoe-horned into an already hectic sked.
This was an interesting project because I was learning a new software package on the fly as I worked the clients thru the design process of this outdoor fireplace & liased with the fireplace vendor, our construction manager, & that boss guy who wanted his say.


I know Carol is out there laughing about the votive shelf... yes I do know what a votive is. Photos with actual votives to follow someday maybe.

It came out pretty much as designed except for the 'hat' got bigger (client change order). Of course I would be remise (and risking my health) if I didn't give a huge amount of the credit to our great clients, our construction manager, carpenter, construction helpers (including Mike) & the crew that applied the cultured stone. Great job guys!
I love it when I get to see a concept thru to reality!

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Cory/Edith Gargoyles

Aug 15, 2009. Cory Pass 2360m, explore Mt. Edith (partial) 2560m, Edith Pass 1950m. 12.9 km loop, 1000m gain plus 2.5km & 200m gain exploring.
Plan "B" due to weather, turned out to be a nice day but higher up there was fresh snow!

Gargoyle & Mt. Louis... for me the two highlights of the trip. We also explored part way up the scramble route on Mt Edith north peak but lacking a route description & rock lids (left in the truck) we backed off at the chimneys where things become 'moderate'. Rock fall was a concern also.
Rabbit shaped outcrop in Gargoyle valley.
Yours truly exploring a gargoyle with Mt. Louis in the background.

A little disappointed our super-early start for Plan "A" was thwarted but it needed to be 'bare & dry' & that wouldn't have happened.

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Tamarack / Avion

Our annual boys trip, this year down to Waterton for four days (three nights)of perfect weather sandwiched in between rain days. July 31 - Aug 3, 2009.

Day One: This was the big one. Rowe Lake Trailhead (on Akamina Parkway), Lower Rowe Lake, Upper Rowe Lakes, Lineham Ridge 2560m (fourth highest maintained trail in the Rockies) then seemingly endlessly down to Lone Lake. 20.1km, 1490m of gain, 1100m loss.
Little Golden-mantled ground squirrel that wanted a handout at Lower Rowe Lake. Eric kept giving him little pebbles that he would dash off with.

Lower Rowe Lake
Rowe meadows and the approach to Lineham Ridge from the goat track cutting across from Upper Rowe Lake.
Toiling up the trail to Lineham ridge. Lots of flowers set off against the red argilite rock.



Lineham Ridge & Lineham Lakes below as well as view out over Upper and Lower Rowe Lakes and many peaks beyond.
Even where there wasn't the stunning Beargrass there seemed to be flowers everywhere.
Stand of mature Larch on the final pull into Lone Lake.
Artsy shot of Lone Lake. Our campsite for the night.

Day Two: Lone Lake to Twin Lakes
A very short haul over a few minor bumps past Blue Grouse Basin to Twin Lakes. 7.2km, 215m gain, 235m loss.
This was along the way, Blue Grouse Basin.
Lower Twin Lake... our slacking place for the afternoon.
I had a few options for some sidetrips but everyone felt kinda lazy so we hung out by the lake snoozing, reading, & skipping rocks.
Up early the next day for some shoot'n by Lower Twin Lake.



Day Three: Another hot grunt day. Twin Lakes, thru Snowshoe CG, up to Castle River Divide, then up and over Avion Ridge and down to Goat Lake. 14.7km, 700m gain. 645m loss.


Eric and Mike racing to the summit of Avion Ridge. I hung back not wanting to make them look bad ;>) ... but I did win the race as they stopped just short of the highpoint. Technicality but who said life is fair?
Mike on Avion Ridge

Looking down the valley to Goat Lake, our last campsite of the trip.
Cascade below Goat Lake (after dinner shoot'n)

I was going to make a seperate post for just the Beargrass photos. It was a good year for Beargrass and it was stunning. Definitely one of my favorite wildflowers.

Day Four: Goat Lake and out to Red Rock Canyon. 7km, 530m loss.
Morning shot of Goat Lake.
Wandering homeward. They're probably discussing what song is stuck in their respective heads.

Good trip all up. I guess this would be our sixth year of doing this and hope there are a few more in us before life gets in the way (perhaps it never will.)

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