Home»All Photographs»2014 Hikes»Bumpy Meadows - Pedley Pass 08-16-14

Aidan, Megan and I headed up to Bumpy Meadows and Pedley pass today. The 16km long gravel road is suited to high clearance vehicles only, and took longer than I thought. The driving approach to trails like this and others in the Invermere area give these hikes a distinct feel to them, I find. We are spoiled in the National Parks and Kananaskis by often having paved or well-graded roads right to the trailhead.
The hike started on a forested hillside and quickly rose directly (no switchbacks) up to Bumpy Meadows - whose name is so because of the frost heave that affects the moist ground of this meadow. The weather was overcast, no wind and thick fog - which gave way later in the day. The fog provided a serene atmosphere, enhanced by the fact that we were the first on the trail, and didn't see anybody until our return hike.
Pedley Pass itself is a small, rather unimpressive forested pass, but has interest in the fact that it provides access to several interesting options from here. Being foggy, we chose to descend to a small tarn past the pass (ha ha).
There were many interesting fossils littered around the tarn, which I gave the unofficial name of "Pedley Pond". We ate lunch pondside and then Aidan and Megan hunted for fossils while I explored higher into the basin surrounding the tarn.
The trail proved to be slipperery on the descent, owing to a steep grade and wet ground. Soon, however, we were back at the vehicle for a fun drive out the forestry service road.