| Ref: Alan Kane's
Scrambles
in the Canadian Rockies |
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Following the Rummel
Lake trail is quite delightful. |
| Scramble: RT 8.5; 4.0 up.
Another fantastic outing. We invited our good friend Ev for this early
fall, summer send-off weekend. The mild temperature and absence of snow
at this time of the year is great for any fair weather enthusiast. We
followed the Rummel Lake trail; the gentle grade provides the
opportunity to maintain a conversation on the way up. Past the first
lake, we saw a grizzly run away from us across talus slopes until he
was out of sight. He was healthy looking, his fat jiggling at the
impressive speed he was travelling. Grizzly video. When we reached the
ascent gully, we were still unsure of where the summit was; the top
looks like it's part of the ridge. The sun was now shining and the wind
cooled us nicely. We enjoyed the climb, mostly on rock slabs the whole
way up. From below, the ascent slope appears shorter than it is. Once
at the short traverse (near the ridge crest), the summit is a short
distance away. We stayed at the summit for a while; amazingly it
offered shelter from the wind. The view was unhindered by Mount
Nestor's prescribed fires. I felt fortunate to be here with my friend
Ev, and Fab of course! Our return was not as fast as anticipated. Our
careful descent, slowed by searching for looser stuff, was followed by
a questionable decision: choosing the cutline on the way down.
Part of the cutline is obstructed by windfall and overgrown in other
sections. The trail is faint and hard to follow. After losing the
cutline, we decided to plod straight down through the
cutblock back to the road. |
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At the lake, the sun
is rising but the air is already warm. |
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The Tower now in
sight; which is the summit? |
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A close look at the
route; left side of the drainage. |
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The slope is
relentless but enjoyable. |
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Fossilized worms. |
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Looking back on the
upper slope. |
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Upper terrain and
summit, left of center. |
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Near the ridge crest
a traverse is required. |
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30th summit this
year! |
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Mounts Bogart and
Kidd, left and right. |
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Summit picture with
my very good friend Ev. |
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Leaving the
sheltered top. |
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Short distance to
the traverse, the crux of the trip. |
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A little bit of
hands-on. |
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After the traverse,
back to rubble and slabs. |
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Taking advantage of
this incredible weather. |
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Hiking in the meadow. |
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Yellow colored
deciduous larch is a reminder of fall's arrival. |
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The cutline is
difficult to follow. |
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