wandering willows animals that drop opals

#Wandering willows animals that drop opals series#

We agreed to meet at the Bighorn Campground parking area near Ya Ha Tinda on Friday morning at 08:00. We agreed to a three day / two night plan that involved accessing a bivy in the upper NW McConnell Creek drainage and ascending some pretty obscure peaks that may or may not have recorded ascents. When the weather forecast cooperated for almost an entire weekend we decided to do the trip sooner rather than later. We noticed that conditions were pretty good considering how snowy many other big peaks in the Rockies are this year. Planning for McConnell Creek started again in earnest when Boar Station Peak became highly visible and firmly planted in our minds after seeing it repeatedly from Mount White. Divide Pass at center, McConnell Creek at left, Mount Tyrell at right. Boar Station looming large at distant left. Views back down the NW shoulder over the Red Deer River from our 2020 ascent of Mount White.

At right is the Drummond Icefield and Mount Drummond itself. At center is the McConnell Creek Valley which is lined by beauties such as Snort, Bleat, McConnell and Boar Station. Left is looking north down the Roaring Creek Valley lined by very obscure summits such as Deluc, Dip Slope and Smoky Mountain. We put it on our list and concentrated on other things until it made sense to bring it to the table again. Early in 2020 with the mountains still coated in winter coats of snow Phil put together a comprehensive plan involving the upper NW corner of the McConnell Creek basin. All of these trips and the many kilometers traveled between them contributed towards Phil and my latest adventure up one of Banff National Park’s most remote and inaccessible valleys. Earlier this year Phil and I completed our biggest day trip to date – a 73km bike ‘n scramble up Mount White and Grouse Peak. In late June 2019 I joined Phil and Jo on a fantastic 3 day trip over 3 passes in the eastern Banff front ranges of the Rockies just west of the Ya Ha Tinda ranch and north of the Red Deer River. In September 2019 I joined Mike and Cornelius on a remote hiking and scrambling adventure into the “ Heart of Banff” up more obscure Banff summits such as Deluc, Dip Slope and Clearwater Mountain. Partly due to these views, in August of 2018 Phil and I did a 2 day trip into Mount McConnell, becoming the 6th or 7th ascent party on one of Banff’s more remote summits. In July of 2017 Phil and I ascended Cataract Peak and paid close attention to a few remote valleys located to the east of this lofty, lonely perch of snow and rock. This is a fairly serious off-the-grid trek and you should come prepared for swift creek crossings, fickle weather, trackless Rockies landscapes and very loose and unstable slopes.

#Wandering willows animals that drop opals series#

Quick ‘n Dirty Rating: Class 2/3- you fall, you break something.ĭifficulty Notes: One of Banff National Park’s most remote valleys and series of peaks. Peaks Ascended: Boar Station, Bellow, Howl Trip Dates: Friday, Jto Sunday, July 12 2020