Athabasca Pass -- Day 1

Here's the photos from the Athabasca Pass trip. Lighting was often difficult for excellent photos, but these will show you the overall view of the trip. All of these photos are mine, but I will be assembling everyones' photos in a short while. Moab Lake Trailhead to Simon Creek. Top Photo: Trailhead: Nate, John, Cody, and Alan. Next: View from Whirlpool Camp. Bottom Photo: View from Tie Camp Campground -- Ugliest Campground on the trail.

Athabasca Pass -- Day 2

Simon Creek Camp to Scott Camp. Top Photo: Sunrise over Simon Creek. Next: Nate crossing Middle Whirlpool. Bottom Photo: Cody and Nate enjoying their first full view of the Scott Gravel Flats.

Athabasca Pass -- Day 3

Day off at Scott Camp -- Explore the Scott Glacier Basin. Top Photo: Party of four on the bridge to the Basin. Next: En route over the gravel flats. Next: Waterfall from the Scott Glacier. Next: Three Amigos watching the waterfall and glacier. Bottom Photo: Mount Scott and moraine below.

Athabasca Pass -- Day 4

Scott Camp to Athabasca Pass (Committee Punchbowl Camp). Top Photo: Cody... king of the forest or troll of the bridge? Next: Crossing the Whirlpool by bridge. Next: John directing us towards camp. Next: Alan eager to get to the Pass. Bottom: Committee Punchbowl camp.

Athabasca Pass -- Day 5 Party Switch

Committee Punch Bowl Camp to Helicopter pick up (party switch) to Kane Meadows camp. Top Photo: National Historic Monument. Next: The group of four in the pass before helicopter pick up. Next: Party of three losers after drop off (JF, Jason, and Neil). Next: Jason at boarder marker. Bottom: Mallard Peak and meadow en route to Kane Camp.

Athabasca Pass -- Day 6

Kane Meadows Camp to Scott Glacier Basin to Middle Forks (big day). Top Photo: Three posing fools with Kane Mountain and waterfall in background. Next: Kane Mountain and Glacier, Next: Scott Glacier and Mount Hooker, Bottom: 400mm zoom of 'Alan's Rock'.

Athabasca Pass -- Day 7

Day 7: Middle Forks Camp to Trailhead. Top Photo: View from Whirlpool Camp. Bottom Photo: Trailhead sign.

Two Peaks but no Camera

I don't know why, but I never brought my camera on two trips I did this week.
I did the Indian Ridge, Marmot Pass route with Tracey, Dieter three dogs. The weather was beyond perfect, no clouds, Mount Robson visible and so on. Dieter had a camera so I'll get his and post a few. By the way... fall colours are now at their peak!
Saturday, Neil and I climbed Peveril Peak. This was our second time each climbing this gem of a mountain. As Neil explained: "We climbed this peak, just down the road from our homes". I really wanted to climb this mountain again so that I could lead a few pitches, in fact I lead the entire mountain except for the first pitch. This is a technical peak, our route was off from the standard route following a slightly more difficult crack system. We both agreed the route we chose was a steady 5.6 climb. The weather was gorgeous... 25'C and pure blue skies... I really wish I had a camera for this one. We were fast, reached the summit by 11:15 am (start at 6 am) and off the mountain by 2 pm (we spent an hour at the summit).

Coming up.... Athabasca Pass photos... finally!

Back from the Pass!

I'm back from the Athabasca Pass trip, which I feel, went very well. I know I had a excellent time and was grateful for the participants who allowed me to guide them on this trip.

The participants were: Alan, Nate of California, Cody of Idaho, and John of Alberta. The first three being of the same group. This was a very easy group to guide and at times felt more like fun than actual work. I did my best to thrill their taste buds and know that I at least succeeded with the decadence chocolate pie.

We experience nearly every type weather you could imagine and even witnessed three clear nights. We also experienced quite a bit of rain and grapple. Overall the group hiked over 50km including the Scott Glacier basin day trip.

I hiked 101 km in 7 days and an additional 63 km in 2 days, less than a week earlier; Overall 164 km in 9 days. The more I hiked this area, the more I liked it. Neil accompanied me on the way in to carry the food cache. Neil, Jason and JF flew in to hike out with me. I think that I will return again to the Athabasca Pass, next time with a couple of mountains in mind.

The Athabasca Pass is a very historic route and very scenic for an area with a lot of forest. Furthermore, these were some of the most beautiful forests I have ever seen. A lot of old growth that was surprisingly diverse with various berries, mushrooms, mosses and lichens. I wish that I would have taken more photographs in the forests. Then again you can never take enough photographs and at the time there is no time to take them.
As it is, I hope that you enjoy the photos of the trip. I will try to post them in chronological order, but it may take me a few days to complete.

End of August update

The weather of the end of August has been much like my life lately.
Some beautiful days that have seen me fishing and canoeing. There have been a lot of rainy days, reflecting the stroke that hit my beloved Grandfather 10 days ago. I flew back to Ontario to see him and lent some support to my Grandmother too. The weather stayed rainy all through out the time I left Jasper and reached Ontario and it is still raining now here in Jasper.

I covered my second longest distance in one day and my longest in two days with a pack the other day. Neil assisted me in carrying over 50lb of food into the Scott Camp of Athabasca Pass. Over two days we covered 63 km. On the way in, Yoho found a hornets' nest. Yes, the hornets found me too.
I hope that all of the food is in fine shape for when I lead the group in on Tuesday. I'll have pictures and stories when I get back.