2017-05-22 Grizzly Peak
In the morning light, the crocus were just glowing. Soon there will be all kinds of wildflowers.. I got down low and tried to frame Mt Kidd in the background.
Awash in morning light, Josh crests a small step on the trail. Already we knew it was going to be an awesome day.
Natasha poses on an outcrop with snowy mountains in the background. We were the first ones on the trail, starting just before 9:00am.. the morning light was fantastic.
The views started to open up down the valley as we got a little bit higher.. one of the many photo breaks we took on the hike.
Gorgeous light with a view up the valley
Because the light was so nice, I took a lot of photos on ascent, trying to get different compositions. We stopped often to take photos.
The trail from the road ascends the front face of Grizzly peak than traverses around above Ripple Rock creek where the melting snow was draining. The roar of the rushing water, the calm warm air and the beautiful light was more than I could ask for.
After rounding the mountain, the trail starts to ascend. We stayed climbers left on ascent and scrambled up some rocky outcrops and loose scree. The normal route ascends a grassy knoll to the col on climbers right.
There was a soft atmospheric glow about Mt Packenham as it rises above the still snowy cirque.
We'd taken a line that went up the loose scree on climbers left.
Conor traversed towards climbers right from the loose rocky outcrops we were climbing and ascended a small snow patch to the col. Mt Evan-Thomas rises on the right.
Conor makes his way to the summit ridge via the col
Josh, Natasha and I took a more direct line on climbers left. The slope was loose and somewhat steep but not difficult.. Plus, we wanted to avoid the snow because everyone but natasha left their gaiters at the car, and she'd put hers away on the lower slopes.
We paused at these cliffs to make some photos, our ascent was below the cliffs from camera right.. Mt Pakenham, Mt Hood and other Opal range peaks run into the distance. There was a lot of deer/sheep poop here and I figure more than a few ticks climbed on for a ride while were stopped.
Natasha brought a flag up as a prop.. (an impromptu photo shoot?.. ) we made some photos here and along the ridge. I think this is where I picked up some travelling ticks in my pant legs. There was lots of sheep droppings on this little outcrop.. the sheep know how to pick a good view ;)
I took a few shots and stitched them together into a panorama.. I can't tell if the bottom center is distorted or if it was just like that.. either way, it's a pretty nice view of Mt Evan-Thomas, Packenham, Hood, etc.. The summit of Grizzly peak is on the right.
The true north strong and free..
Awesome views on the summit ridge
Conor on the Summit.. He'd been up here for about 30 minutes while we were photographing on the cliffs below, picking up ticks.. I found a couple on my leg under my pants (be sure to tuck your pants into your socks kids..) and there was one *in* my leg, just under the top part of my sock.. I know there are ways to remove ticks, but I was a little freaked out and just grabbed it and pulled.. luckly it wasn't there long and didn't leave it's head behind.
Almost a 1km above the road, looking down the valley.. perfect weather. but ticky..
The melting snow left this elongated snow feature near the summit.