Our 1st hike as a group and a formidable challenge. This historic mountain is the one that caused the famous Frank Slide back in 1904. The slide buried the town of Frank. We were able to check out the rocks and rubble below and then hike to the summit to get a view from the top.
The winds were a fair bit stronger than normal. You could see from how the trees were growing along the ridge that they were use to strong west winds. and we certainly held the same profiles as we hiked up some of the more exposed sections of the ridge.
The climb was very challenging being our first one. We were not all quite in shape, but we'll be getting better now. For some the challenge was almost too great. but with plenty of stops to bolster our morale and our stomachs we persevered and made the summit. The views were spectacular from the top. You could see mountain range after mountain range. The view down the slide was scary to say the least.
Hiking down went a lot fasted. Having a powerful back wind and mother nature's gravity, we made it down in half the time.
Finished off the event by having a wiener roast at Ed Norton's camp in Blairmore. Ed is Karl's father-in-law. He's a great scouter too. Provided a few tips on getting our fire started.
Trip home was uneventful as we slept the whole thing. Oh, we each brought home a souvenir (a lump of coal) So now we will have re-gift opportunities for Christmas.
|
Karl Burndorfer - Scout Leaders |
|
Connor Johnson, Daniel Urquijo, Liam Davy, Joseph Wilsher - Scouts |
|
Sam - Dogs |
No problem setting up this tent. |
Playing Pac-Man with Sam |
Sam almost catches the Laser light spot. |
and for my next trick I'll start my hair on fire |
Nothing like a well filled Therma-rest. |
Still hot on the trail of the light spot. If I could just get my teeth on
him. |
The snug bugs in the rug. |
are you on my rug? |
Wake up call... |
and on the road in a jif. |
Lets have breakfast. |
hey, count me in. |
a deer in the headlights? |
|||
First light and we hit the base of Turtle Mountain |
That's a big rock! |
a little practice climbing summits. |
Look guys I made it. |
I can do this, I hope, ahhh |
|||
At the trial head |
and we're ready. |
Whoa, this is getting steep in a hurry. |
If Sam can make then we can make too. |
First break. Really need to catch your breath. |
Need a snack after this major accomplishment. |
Is it all back in my pack? |
They got some major Woodpeckers around here? |
2nd Plateau, and boy, the buildings are getting small. |
A summit in view behind us. |
Entering the wind zone. Trees only have branches on one side. |
Sam made it up without getting blown off. |
3rd Plateau, and the endurance is building up. |
Look there's the avalanche down there. |
Getting a reprieve from the wind in a small grove on the leeward side. |
No ones sharing their buns, ooh! |
Just need to side track Daniel here, oh look his bun. |
Beginning of the hike along the ridge. |
This is the windy side. |
What we have here is the gray breasted swallow. Not to be confused with
the African swallow. |
That's no swallow, that's a finch. |
Taking cover on the leeward side again. |
I can make my rock roll down farther that yours. |
It's too bad I carried this all the way up here for nothing. |
I agree... |
|||
The winds too strong to get my hood back on... |
Ready for the final leg. |
Man, is this high up. |
Just getting in a little scramble here for the picture, hold onto me in
case I blow off. |
On our right we have a sheer drop of about 2000 feet. |
|||
Daniel leads the way. |
Connor on the Lower Summit with the slide on his right.. |
Liam with a view from the back of Turtle Mountain. |
Boys on the peak. |
The cheers of success. |
Look Mom, that's the slide from the top. |
Smile of satisfaction in a challenge accomplished. |
Here we have a slightly different angle |
Forgot, got the hand up now... |
This was so cool, I stayed up here till it gets dark... Can I put my hand down yet? |
Upper Summit in view. |
You know, at the very top, it's not that windy. |
But as we descend it's just blasting us. |
So if you apply the force of gravity on the scarf against the
horizontal angle of the scarf, we estimate the wind speed to be about
100kph |
I'm getting rocks blown in my face, ouch! |
Back into a nice grove on the leeward side. No flees left on me, man. |
A nice reprieve. |
Peace baby. |
Here we have a Spruce Grouse, indigenous to the area, definitely good
eating if you like that pine flavor to your meat. |
|
He definitely has his best outfit on for camouflage |
 Finally out of the wind. Good for the last leg. |
Please share what remaining food you have with me, as you won't be needing
it any more. |
Chin-up bar, wait, boost me up... |
Just climb the tree... |
or start at the lower end... |
Beginning of tree climbing lessons here. |
Do avoid getting your backpack caught on the broken branches. |
No problem, eh guys. |
Conquerors of the challenge. |
||
Now for some R&R with wieners on the barbee. |
Excuse me! Woof, I'd like mine well done please. |
||
| Movies | |||
| Dominoes | Almost the top | Drop the rock down | The peaks |
| Lunch 2 at summit | Movie with lens cap on | Sam on descent on windy side | Group descent on windy side |