Training Log Archive: BashIn the 1 days ending Jul 19, 2017:
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Wednesday Jul 19, 2017 #
10 AM
Trekking 7:46:36 16.91 km (27:35 / km) +1541m 18:57 / km
slept:7.0 shoes: Salomon XA Pro Grey
This exploratory trek around Mitchell Ridge near Invermere was the most epic day on our trip; it felt like adventure racing!
Our mission was to try to find an old trail that had been used by a horse outfitter until two decades ago. The trail, which is shown in the brown area on this old map, leads to some beautiful lakes. The normal route to these lakes starts along the boundary with Kootenay National Park, which runs along Mitchell Ridge marked with the orange line, and stays high as it approaches the lakes from the northwest. If we found the trail, we planned to go as far as we could, then loop back on the ridge. If it was nasty bushwhacking with no sign of a trail, we could bail out and just do an out-and-back hike on the usual ridge trail.
VO2Max, Goose, 'Bent and I drove on forest service roads to the bottom of the ridge and dropped a dirt bike that would be used to shuttle the driver back to our truck, assuming we finished our loop there as hoped. This meadow was full of wild strawberries - yummy and I'm sure grizzlies like them too.
Then we drove around to the old trail. Its southern part is now in a logged area so we could drive partway up an abandoned forest road. I thought this was the end of the line but VO2Max carries a chainsaw!
We parked the truck and headed up the valley behind us.
We knew the trail should be lower than the road so we started with some bushwhacking and fanning out to search. We made lots of noise to scare away wildlife.
Within half a km, after a few false starts, we found an overgrown trail that we were able to follow up the valley.
When we got into the trees, the trail was very obvious. It must have been used over the last 20 years, probably by hunters. There were occasional signs of trees being cleared with saws - also some relatively fresh grizzly tracks.
Wood lily
When we crossed avalanche slopes, the views opened up and the trail became less distinct.
Yup, that's the trail.
Eventually we popped out into a flat open area with lots of snow. Behind us in this photo is the ridge we planned to return on.
Ahead of us, it looked like the trail might be more difficult to find.
VO2Max pointed out the lakes this trail supposedly leads to. They were across a wide valley and it was clear we were not going to get there. Instead we would aim for a saddle ahead of us, then we would return on the ridge as planned.
We discovered a hunting camp here, which explained the quality of the trail.
After this, there was a lot more bushwhacking and guessing but we usually found signs of the trail. VO2Max hung some flagging tape.
The alpine wildflowers were gorgeous. This is the best time of year for them.
Glacier lily
The saddle (left) was getting closer but we ran into a canyon soon after this.
Rather than finding a way through the canyon and bushwhacking to the saddle, we decided to climb the ridge and start our trip back. At first it was beautiful.
Then it got rocky - "chossy", VO2Max called it.
The final climb to the ridge was tricky so VO2Max went ahead to scout the route.
Then he led us up there one at a time, pointing out safe footholds.
Mitchell Ridge is narrow with steep slopes and beautiful views on both sides. We enjoyed a late lunch, then headed south along the ridge (behind us in this photo). We still had 8 km to go, and we were going to be late meeting Coach LD for dinner.
It was so beautiful that I could post a hundred photos but don't worry - I won't! :) This is the view into the valley we'd traveled up.
We ran when the going was good.
You can tell Mitchell Ridge is a national park boundary because there are tiny yellow signs propped up with rocks.
These photos look back at where we'd come from on the ridge.
Some scrambling was required.
Most of the ridge was loose scree and easy going.
At the very end, the trail descends steeply through the trees and loses close to 1,000 m. We ran this as much as possible and got back to the dirtbike. Amazing day! It was fun and challenging, and I got to read a map, which always makes me happy. :)
Our mission was to try to find an old trail that had been used by a horse outfitter until two decades ago. The trail, which is shown in the brown area on this old map, leads to some beautiful lakes. The normal route to these lakes starts along the boundary with Kootenay National Park, which runs along Mitchell Ridge marked with the orange line, and stays high as it approaches the lakes from the northwest. If we found the trail, we planned to go as far as we could, then loop back on the ridge. If it was nasty bushwhacking with no sign of a trail, we could bail out and just do an out-and-back hike on the usual ridge trail.
VO2Max, Goose, 'Bent and I drove on forest service roads to the bottom of the ridge and dropped a dirt bike that would be used to shuttle the driver back to our truck, assuming we finished our loop there as hoped. This meadow was full of wild strawberries - yummy and I'm sure grizzlies like them too.
Then we drove around to the old trail. Its southern part is now in a logged area so we could drive partway up an abandoned forest road. I thought this was the end of the line but VO2Max carries a chainsaw!
We parked the truck and headed up the valley behind us.
We knew the trail should be lower than the road so we started with some bushwhacking and fanning out to search. We made lots of noise to scare away wildlife.
Within half a km, after a few false starts, we found an overgrown trail that we were able to follow up the valley.
When we got into the trees, the trail was very obvious. It must have been used over the last 20 years, probably by hunters. There were occasional signs of trees being cleared with saws - also some relatively fresh grizzly tracks.
Wood lily
When we crossed avalanche slopes, the views opened up and the trail became less distinct.
Yup, that's the trail.
Eventually we popped out into a flat open area with lots of snow. Behind us in this photo is the ridge we planned to return on.
Ahead of us, it looked like the trail might be more difficult to find.
VO2Max pointed out the lakes this trail supposedly leads to. They were across a wide valley and it was clear we were not going to get there. Instead we would aim for a saddle ahead of us, then we would return on the ridge as planned.
We discovered a hunting camp here, which explained the quality of the trail.
After this, there was a lot more bushwhacking and guessing but we usually found signs of the trail. VO2Max hung some flagging tape.
The alpine wildflowers were gorgeous. This is the best time of year for them.
Glacier lily
The saddle (left) was getting closer but we ran into a canyon soon after this.
Rather than finding a way through the canyon and bushwhacking to the saddle, we decided to climb the ridge and start our trip back. At first it was beautiful.
Then it got rocky - "chossy", VO2Max called it.
The final climb to the ridge was tricky so VO2Max went ahead to scout the route.
Then he led us up there one at a time, pointing out safe footholds.
Mitchell Ridge is narrow with steep slopes and beautiful views on both sides. We enjoyed a late lunch, then headed south along the ridge (behind us in this photo). We still had 8 km to go, and we were going to be late meeting Coach LD for dinner.
It was so beautiful that I could post a hundred photos but don't worry - I won't! :) This is the view into the valley we'd traveled up.
We ran when the going was good.
You can tell Mitchell Ridge is a national park boundary because there are tiny yellow signs propped up with rocks.
These photos look back at where we'd come from on the ridge.
Some scrambling was required.
Most of the ridge was loose scree and easy going.
At the very end, the trail descends steeply through the trees and loses close to 1,000 m. We ran this as much as possible and got back to the dirtbike. Amazing day! It was fun and challenging, and I got to read a map, which always makes me happy. :)