Avalanche Lake- 2 Sept 2010

Instead of driving over to the Avalanche trail head we decided to try the shuttle service. Caught it quickly at St. Mary's and at the top of Logan Pass but it still took 2 hours to go over.

Fluffy clouds were hanging low over the mountains as we went over the pass.

We made it. It is only a 500ft total climb but with lots of ups and downs it seems like more.

 Jackie, Ruth, Sheila, Gail, Faye, Debbie,Gerry

                                   Betty Lou and Shannon

Gerry, her daughter-in-law Debbie, daughter Shannon, her sister Jackie

What a family day Gerry had.

In a tree trunk- Debbie and Gerry

 After an hour of waiting at Avalanche we finally made it to the top. Fresh snow on Reynolds Mountain

There we enjoyed another hour waiting for the shuttle to take us back to St. Mary's Total shuttle time was 6 hours. But it was an experience and we had fun together.

When we got down the pie at the Park Cafe was well worth the wait.
                                             

Red Rock Falls/Bullhead Lake-23 Sept 2010

It's getting late in the season but we won't let a cool. cloudy day keep us from another day of fun!

Fresh snow on the mountains but Ruth won't let that stop her!

Red Rock Lake-  looks pretty chilly and the falls is only a trickle compared to our July trip here

 Linda, Pam, Joan, Ruth and Ken- bundled up but it is worth it!

                   The Fall colors were spectacular

 Bullhead Lake- we made it! Ruth, Joan, Linda and Ken

This is just to prove that I made it also!

Too cold at the lake for lunch but nice here-Ken, Ruth, Linda, Joan, Pam

      There were others of our group that stopped at Red Rock falls- unfortunately I didn't get any pictures as we started out. All in all it was a very worthwhile  day to be out with friends in the beautiful mountains- one of our most favorite places to be!
                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                              

Oberlin Ridge and Mountain-26 Aug 2010

We are off on one of our favorite hikes- Oberlin Ridge and the top of Oberlin Mountain for those who are not of faint heart. Ken, Ruth, Jackie, Gerry, Pam, Karin, Shelly, Dorene and Gail

Ken, Ruth, Gerry and Jackie- now the goat trail starts getting interesting!

Ruth can't resist throwing a snowball at Ken

Up and up we climb

We made it to the ridge- now lunch time. Jackie, Dorene, Gail, Gerry

Ruth, Pam and Ken

We are all looking at Oberlin Mountain and wondering if we are brave enough to climb it. Karin and Shelly have already gone up. Oh to be young again!

                         We're going to climb that?

Dorene, Jackie, Gerry, Pam and Ruth-which way is the best way up-?

Do we go up through the red shale?

Pam helping Ruth with Jackie looking on.

Jackie jumping the chasm with Pam ready to help

After climbing through all that rock  they are getting there

              The last few steps!  Pam, Jackie and Ruth

    Yahoo! There they are on top Pam and Ruth- What an accomplishment for  an 80 year old

                         Pam, Ruth, Jackie and Gerry Thanks Gerry for all of these climbing pictures. We can see the joy on your faces.                                                         

Meanwhile I am back at the ridge and looking

east toward Logan Pass. It isn't that far away but it is a pretty steep climb getting to the ridge.

Reynolds Mountain

                                                              

Looking west from  the ridge. this is where Bird Women Falls, that you see on the west side of Logan Pass, originates.

                   Beautiful Variegated Paint Brush

Jackie and Gerry- This was Gerry's second time up there. Will she go again?

It took awhile but here they come. Ruth and Pam. Ruth was lterally and  figuratively on "top of the mountain"

What a great day everyone had. Will I ever get brave enough to climb Oberlin?

Fernie Overnighter - 17-19 of Aug 2010

    Fernie Overnighter- how excited we were for a brand new area to explore

Back row- Ritchie, Geoff, Betty, Joanne, Nelson, Shiela, Joan, Carol, Loural, Marilyn
Middle- Betty Lou, Linda, Judy, Karen, Norma
Front row- Faye, Bob, Colleen, Ron, Karen, Frances, Ila Rae
We are on our way to Fairy Creek Falls. the first part of the trail was very steep but soon leveled out. Signage was not good and the trail was very narrow in places but we made it to the bottom of the Falls

                        Ritchie,  Frances, Illa Rae

Linda and Karen

As we are sitting, admiring the falls, a truck drives past on the other side.

Who knew?

Carol in a hollowed out tree

Marilyn and Betty Lou on this neat little bridge

Joanne, Shiela, Karen, Geoff, Betty, Illa Rae and Frances- on the lawns of Island Lake Lodge

Joanne and Karen at this beautiful tranquil area

This is the trail that Betty and I gave up on but Karen, Joanne, Francis and Illa Rae continued on up 2.4 miles to the view point on the Tamarack trail

Marilyn, Norma, Karen Morton, Ron, Linda, Joanne, Nelson, Ritchie

Carol, Joan, Judy

This was the group (minus Joanne and missing Betty Lou ) that hiked the Mount Baldy Loop- a hard 2200 ft gain in about 3 1/2  miles

Betty Lou, Carol and Judy- a much needed rest spot on the trail

Betty Lou- getting ready to take a group picture- run fast Betty Lou to be in the picture

Loural- on top of Mount Baldy- "all covered with rocks"

Thanks Loural for the Mount Baldy Pictures

They made it back-

Island Lake

A watermelon treat at the end of the hikes- thanks Betty and Geoff.

Shiela, Karen and Linda

Fun and games at the Fernie Hostel

                                             Judy, Carol and Karen

Before starting our final day of hiking we stopped at the Fernie town Hall to see this marvelous World War 1 statue. The war to end all wars. It was a very emotional time and many tears were shed.

The final hike was with our whole group at the Fernie Ski Resort on the Double Creek cross country ski trail. Are we an "explosive" group or what!

Joan, Karen, Linda, Frances,

Norma, Joanne, Judy, Loural,

Marilyn, Carol, Betty Lou- no she wasn't eating the fern!

This was a trail of many different mushrooms

We came down a steep incline to this neat "lunch and rest" spot

Betty Lou, Marilyn and Shiela- still resting!

After finding our way back to our cars and after many hugs and good-byes we are on our way home with lots of happy memories.

Of course the "party car" didn't go straight home- (Linda was driving)

We had to stop and soak our feet

and then a stop at Lumbrick Falls -Carol, Norma, Linda and Marilyn

What fun we had as we watched Norma get so excited watching fish trying to jump up the falls.

Truly a trip to remember.