Home»All Photographs»2019 Hikes»Ochre Springs Peak 07-13-19

David and Clayton accompanied me up Ochre Springs Peak in Kootenay National Park today. After following the trail a few kilometers beyond the ochre pits, we came to our avalanche slope that we would ascend to scree slopes above.
We turned 90 degrees to the right and started bashing up through thick, lush, chest-high vegetation. It had rained the night before - we were so soaked here!
While ascending through the tangle of fireweed and alder, I heard a movement in the bush. I thought it was probably a deer. A few minutes later, I heard it again. Then out of the thicket, a cow moose emerged, saw me, did a 180 and bolted. Wow, what an exciting start to the morning!
The top of the avalanche gully led us to open slopes of scree and snowpatches. Some easy scrambling past a minor cliffband, and we were on the summit ridge. Then, what I thought was the false summit ahead turned out to be the real one - when does THAT ever happen?? Joyed to be at the summit already, the three of us sat down to an extended lunch. A super day in fantastic environs.