Best Hike Ever!

I know I tend to use the "best ever" descriptor a little more often that I should. But, for real, Lake O'Hara is dynamite! We were able to get one of the last minute permits for the campground and couldn't have asked for a more beautiful weekend.

This is the first view from the alpine circuit that we did on the first day. The hike actually ended by traversing the scree slope between the cliff bands on the opposite side of the lake. Despite the sketchy appearance the trail construction was pretty impressive.

Only in the name of photography.

This was the last ascent towards Winwaxy Pass. The first alpine traverse is along the wall ahead of me.

Almost at the pass...

The trail descended toward these lakes which are fed from Lake Oesa.

The view from just above Lake Oesa.

From Lake Oesa, that trail headed back up and traversed above these smaller lakes.

Heady on another traverse above Lake O'Hara.

The larches were almost prime. But photoshop helped the progression!

Opabin Lake just before the last traverse along All Souls' route.

This is the last desent of the day off the shoulder from All Souls.

Can't resist the self-portrait. I couldn't photoshop a smaller forehead.
We opted for a more relaxed day on Sunday and took a short hike to Lake McArthur.

Pretty beautiful, but it was going to take a lot to impress us after the circuit on Saturday.

Again, acrophobia becomes absent in the name of photography.

Heading back towards the campsite after a great weekend.

Indefatigable

I was able to break free of studying and Heady and I made a break for K-Country. The weather looked like it was going to hold, so we decided to give Indefatigable a go...

You gain altitude really quickly and we got a great view of our route up Warrior from last year.

She got away pretty easily without a pack... I guess the 50 lbs of camera gear has to count for something.

I'm thinking of submitting this to the Sears catalogue for their fall line...

Little bit of a grunt.

At this point, it was tough to know if you were looking up or down at the lake.

I forgot that Sept in the Rockies actually means winter. We even got our first few flakes of snow.

Pretty sweet spot for lunch.

There was this really amazing ridge walk to the Northern pass. Weather looked a little unpredictable so we decided not to chance it.

Love it!

I tried to pose in this shot too, but Heather kicked me out.

Heather has this new panorama tool in photoshop figured out. I'm sure I'll be posting many more panos like this.

Life at the Cottage

One of the few good things about Sunshine...

Sunshine and I have never really gotten along. But, it's summer and I have no issues with taking a bus up the access road into the alpine!

The view across Sunshine meadows to Rock Isle lake.

Our decent to Howard Douglas lake. Heady was pretty excited about the fireweed.

This spot was about 5 kms into the hike without gaining any altitude, not too shabby.

We were headed to Citadel pass which is just out of sight, around to the left of the photo.

I think this was just after Jo left a little gift in the ground squirrel's home.

On our way back from the pass. A storm was rolling in and we almost died (well not really). We used Karl as a lightning rod and everything turned out ok.

Grizzly Col with Chloe

Never done this before... Heady and I headed off for Grizlzy Col with Steph, her sister, and Chloe. I was blown away by how amazing Chloe was. She timed her hunger with the sunshine and slept during the rain. Still not convinced she's Dowling's though... her behaviour is just too appropriate.
A little hunger break on the way up.

She slept right through the rain, not a sound.

I almost forgot how rediculous the weather in the Rockies is. After it looked like the clouds were socked in for the day, the sun came out and we had a beautiful afternoon.

Looking back to Pocaterra Ridge. That trip will have to wait until next year.

She's already in the alpine at 5weeks.

I had to get in on the baby action, just like a football.

No way she's Dowlings...