Halfers

I make a todo list, do half of it... enough stuff backs up in the meantime so I need a new list. Wash, rinse, repeat. Its enough to make you bolt for the mountains!


Escape from things that go "ding"

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Volcano Ridge

By the time I do Clubtread & Facebook I sometimes forget about my blog. Anybody reading anymore??

Well, these are two of my favorite photos of the day in any event. A great day out for lots of reasons not the least of which that it turned from what looked like a foggy viewless day to a real bluebird. Stopped off at Vales on the way home for a little plant fix too... although I've been told I talk about plants too much so whatever. Not here I don't.

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Moab roadie

A little recap on the Moab trip from October. I wasn't going to take a fall trip but Moe was available for part of it, work was more or less accommodating as was Shannon so I figured what the heck. These trips are so worth it even though I sometimes come back a bit bagged from trying to cram too much in. I love Utah hiking!

I enjoy photography. I don't excel at it, I still consider myself to be a bit of a hack but thanks to Lightroom I can usually scratch together my shots into a gallery I am happy with. It took a long time to process all the photos... first of all there are a ton of them & often it is hard to choose which ones to work on. Then a computer dies, & always work sapping my strength. Anyway this shot of Druid Arch I thought worked well as a high contrast B&W.

This shot was on the Peekaboo trail, it was one of the best days for weather, sunny & warm, & this was my 'second breakfast'. The wonderful silence of the Needles area... it just reminds me of great day out hiking.

While I planned fairly effectively for this trip (weather...) there were many moments of discovery or timing that stood out. One was here at what I call Wooden Shoe wash. The cottonwoods were just brilliant in the late afternoon sun ... a happy accidental find.

Here's Moe in The Joint. It was good of him to look up at the right moment, I really like this shot. Moe is a good hiking partner, always on the lookout & is always right there with a sarcastic comment (even if many of them aren't very funny, here's to trying)

Fisher Towers. I just love this shot, the blue sky against the red stone... it kind of symbolizes what I wanted out of this trip: grand sights, good weather, some solitude & some good company.

Here's a shot from the Goblin Valley. Even though my plans for a full moon walk here were foiled it was still one of my favorite places. As it fringes onto the edge of a future trip so I may be back.

Here's the link to the all the Moab Galleries. Oh yeah, I'll be back!

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Fallout

Stomach bug this weekend... bad timing as it grounded Saturday's outing to Waterton. It was a beautiful fall day too... the leaves they fall, oh the humanity! But on the bright side I got somewhat caught up with my photo processing.

Birdwood Traverse (above)


Invincible Lake Ridge.

Unless I get very lucky that's it for larchy goodness for another year... it is sadly such a small window.

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Photo Challenge, May long-weekend

Great long weekend... couldn't crack the whole todo list but I did get a lot done including a hike! I decided to see if I could do the whole photo challenge on the hike, see what you think.

animal (wild – bird or four legs. No pets)

scenic (prefer landscape),

plant, (None other than the Boundary Pine)

macro (nature oriented)

The hike was west of Longview: Grass Pass, Boundary Pine, & Bull Creek Hills. The full selection on the day can be viewed here

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Memorial Lakes

October 03, 2009 | Memorial Lakes (Kananaskis, AB) 2212m | 16 km | 750m gain

This hike has been on my mind for probably close to ten years. Last year looking down on it from Mt. Sparrowhawk just threw a little more coal on the fire. Bogart tower is center with the second & third lakes visible in this shot from that scramble. Owing to poor visiblity I plan to go back one day & hopefully scramble Bogart Tower. It was still a stellar day with the fresh snow soaking us to the gills.
A lovely day for a hike!


The first lake with Bogart Tower in the background. I actually took this shot on the way back because we paused for a break & I was able to dig out my wide angle lens.
Bogart Tower from more or less the high point between the second & third lake. When I proposed this hike the plan was to scramble the tower but too slick today.
The gang looking down on the second lake. Already discussing various food items & good things to put Bailey's in. Mmmmm!

The third was basically dry so we did not descend to the memorial cairn.
An excellent day out. I rate it as a scramble due to the slippery footing. The pitch to the third lake was challenging.

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Mt Tyrwhitt & Pocaterra Ridge

Sept 27, 2009 | Mt. Tyrwhitt 2874m | Pocaterra Ridge (first bump) 2670m (Kananaskis AB)| 13.0km | 1335m gain.

A solo outing with three things in mind. 1)Larchy-goodness 2)Sustained maximum sustainable exertion (aka exercise) 3)The elusive Mt. Tyrwhitt.

First view of Mt. Tyrwhitt from Pocaterra Cirque. Almost out of the trees... getting tired of yelling YO BEAR. (first up the trail on the day)
A zoom of natural arch. One of the intriguing things about this mountain. & when I say 'elusive' it's only because I've planned to do this in larch season for a few years now & seen it on several occasions thru this summers neighboring scrambles.
Pocaterra ridge (right), the second objective for the day. While Tyrwhitt was scrambling loose scree & hands on rock with crappy handholds (physically challenging & technically tedious) Pocaterra ridge was the cardo on the day... plow on.
At the arch, pretty cool eh? I just about went right over top of it before realizing I was there already (following the ridge rather than the scree treadmill option)
One member of a group coming up behind me posing on top.
The brown bump middle left is Pocaterra Ridge, the high point on the right is Mt. Rae, about a third of the way from the left is Tombstone South.
Upper & Lower Kananaskis Lakes.
Looking back from the cirque.
Tyrwhitt from Pocaterra Ridge.
My favorite Larchy-goodness shot of the day.

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Pyramid Lake & Peak

Sept 20, 2009 | Pyramid Lake, Pyramid Peak (Kaniksu National Forest, Idaho Selkirks) 2242m | +-12km | +-600m gain

Jumping the border into Idaho for this hike was a great idea. My sister joined me & she kept up pretty good despite her short legs ;-) When I say 'joined me' I was pretty much at her mercy with no map, only a description of the hike to the lake & a general idea of how to summit Pyramid Peak. Straightforward enough though as these things go.
Huckleberries!!!

There was also a ton of beargrass ... I'd love to come back here in June/July.
We attained the ridge circling south of the lake then circled around the ridge up & down until eventually reaching Pyramid Peak (center right). Supposedly this peak is visible from Creston.

Pyramid peak far right.
A wind blasted pine I thought was worthy of the 'Hardrocker' preset.
I found a trip report online after the trip which names some of the peaks. This one is supposedly 'Chimney Rock'.
& this one refered to as 'Lions Head'.
On the summit. 360 degree views.
Some wee boulders on the descent.
Bushwhack back to the main trail.

It was 2:30 am before I got home... had to have a nap part way. A Peanut Buster Parfait & Mountain Dew will only get you so far it seems...

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Bow Glacier Falls

Sept 18, 2009 | Bow Glacier Falls (Banff NP) 2090m | 9km | 150m gain

Top down: Bow Glacier, Iceberg Lake, Bow Glacier Falls, Bow Lake as seen from Cirque Peak.
Good morning from Bow Lake. Windy, rainy, cold morning but who's complaining.

My breakfast spot by the falls, not too shabby.


This is a BUSY hike in season but I had it pretty much to myself this day.

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