Tuesday, 25 September 2018

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.

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