Trip Report Details

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Trip Date: 11-Jul-2010
Activity: Trail Hike
Destination: Mt Burke

Report:

The weather looked a little ominous leaving Calgary but, as forecast, cleared somewhat by the time we arrived in our target area. En route a very large golden eagle was spotted in a tree next to the road west of Longview.

We started through quite lush meadows and headed to cross the creek to use the old road on the south side of the creek, which was running fairly well after the previous night’s rain. This turned out to be a little more challenging than expected as the rocks were quite slimy and slippery, even the dry looking ones. Further along when we crossed back there were similar conditions. But we all made it successfully and continued on to the trail up Mount Burke itself. The ascent through the trees was quite warm and the relatively high humidity (by Alberta standards!) made it a sweaty effort. Above treeline it was a little cooler account a westerly breeze as we headed up the bare slope:

above treeline on Burke

The views from the summit were a little hazy but the broken cloud layer only covered the very summits of the taller peaks of the High Rock Range to the west. Lunch was taken in the lee of the old fire lookout:

Lunch group on Mount Burke

It was a little cooler there so some layers were added to ward off a slightly chilly wind. After that it was a descent down over the spine of rock:

ridge on Mount Burke

and back into the forest. We chose the alternate trail on the north side of Salter Creek to avoid the stream crossings before regaining the meadow near the cars:

Returning from Mount Burke

There was 92% participation in electrolyte replenishing at the Black Diamond Hotel. Thanks to a great group of Nardi, Janice, Barbara, Mario, Bernard, Barbara, Carolyn, Aldis, Francisco, Kathy & Alicja. Ron, C/S/P.

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