Maija, Ryan and I had a jam packed week of climbing this past August. We spent most of our days in the Bugaboos climbing Bugaboo (Kain route), Pigeon (West ridge), Crescent Towers (Lion’s way), Crescent Spire (McTech arete), and East Post Spire, all based out of the exotic Appleby campground (that I love!)
Near the end of our trip, we escaped some fresh snow, and went to the Rockies to climb exquisite quartzite at the Back of the Lake and on The Grand Sentinel.
Morning Sunrise climbing up the Bugaboo-Snowpatch col looking east
working hard with the mountain boots on – Kain Route, Bugaboo
miles of pristine granite ridges
keepin’ on movin!
Grand Success on the famous Gendarme crux
a perfect day to enjoy the rewards on the summit of Bugaboo
organic snausage and fried eggs for the paleos (thanks for the frying pan Matt and Will!)
the slow start is an essential part of camping at Appleby
the way of the Lion-ess
enroute to Pigeon, the Howers’ greeting us in the early morning
oh how I love the bugs…
Bad Weather weighing on my shoulders while we scamper up Pigeon
a new day on the Crescent Spire
Every day we feel the urge to jump in
then …. common sense kicks in (ice on the upper lake, whoa!)
Time to head to the Rockies, a pair of happy campers
The Grand Sentinel. Small in a Big Landscape
The route has cracks, roofs, ledges and fantastic ‘grips’, and not a bad view either
about to cruise the crux
the chin/cheek jam gives a nice rest mid-crux ; )
the tippy top
A panoramic end to a full week of climbing. Thanks to Maija and Ryan for all the good climbs!
Chris and I recently went to the Bugaboos and had a great adventure involving lots of fresh snow and a hungry grizzly bear.
starting in the RAIN
It wasn’t too hot or too buggy on our rainy hike up to the Kain Hut : )
a rest before the final leg up to the hut
its not hard to get your pack on the hangar with a meter of snow under your feet
On July 3, we hike up to Eastpost Spire via Appleby campground where there was a meter of snow still! We had about 20cm foot pen in the new fresh snow. Very skiiable.
a wee bit of neige
Summit Photo!
I summitted too!
We decided to make a day of getting back to the car and so we headed over the Brenta-Cobalt Lake Sattelite Spire Col to Cobalt Lake.
Chris said he would of gone for a swim if it was warmer ; )
Then the Grizzly incident. He was not scared of us. There was no bluff charge. He just wanted what he smelled and it was coming from our direction and that was all.
hungry bear
After Chris scared the bear off we got ourselves up and over Black Forest ridge and onto the donkey trail back to the trailhead. Good times.
we hollered for bears all the way back to the trailhead ; )