73. Whaleback, Beaver Dam Ridge

Distance: 4 hours ridge climbing and rambling
Elevation: 300 m

In the midst of a few weeks of rain, we found a sunny, warm Tuesday on September 25, put aside other engagements and hiked in the Whaleback again - this time on another ridge and in another season. Lisa joined us.
We started off in the same spot fording a little creek.

For the whole hike we were treated to wide vistas and beautiful colours of trees and plants.

Lamentably, the landscape was dotted with dead limber pines - from a virus imported from Europe, as our guide had explained last spring.

In the spring, the hills had been yellow with balsam root flowers. Now, I was reminded of their beauty as I saw the dead leaves all over landscape.

Lunch was on the first summit with a selfie picture on my phone because Herm had forgotten his camera.

The dead pine contrasted with the super healthy and abundant Douglas fir.

The views from the ridge filled us beyond words.

Every view was similar but different.

When we were near the final summit a snow-capped mountain appeared in the distant horizon.
Which one?

We never tired of the views from the ridge but it was time to come down.

At the creek again,well before us, Herm stopped to study the narrow leafed poplar in detail at his leisure.

72. Mt. Lady Macdonald

Distance: 6.6 km
Elevation gain: 917 m

Thursday, September 6, the smoke had thinned significantly, forecast was 28* and sunny so we eagerly set out for Lady Mac, expecting a steep climb and ready to take our time.
We could see the profile from below so we had an idea what to expect.

The heli-pad, our destination, was near the end of where the shoulder meets the sharper rise to the summit.
The views were beautiful the whole way up and various mountains clearly identifiable.
Grotto Mountain (not done)

Three Sisters, not done yet, and Ha Ling peak on the right.

The trail up was easy to follow until we got to the rocks and then we had to pick our own way.

Thankfully, we reached the heli-pad soon after.

One o'clock, time for lunch. Our time to climb was only 15 minutes longer than the book suggested for strong climbers so we were very pleased with our strength.

From here we had a good view of Canmore, the road up to Goat Creek and Mt. Rundle.

We also had a good view of the trail up to the summit but had already decided not to do it even though various others were.

This picture didn't show the steepness.
We turned around and took the trail down.

We followed the beaten trail through the rocks this time so it was much easier.

It was a beautiful hike, we saw 2 deer and listened to various birds and many crows along the way. We were satisfied not to have reached the peak, especially for the next few days when my thighs screamed as I tried to go down stairs.