Trip Report Details

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Trip Date: 12-Jul-2010
Activity: Scramble
Destination: Rimwall Summit - Attempt

Report:

We got about 70% of the way up before wind & rain & thunderstorms made a retreat advisable. At least we weren't hit by the massive hail that fell in Calgary.
The trip started off well with us seeing deer, coyote, sheep, goat and moose before we even started!

A goat and a sheep at Goat Crk parking

Moose on Smith-Dorrien road

We started up the West Wind Pass trail at around 10:30, with hopes of making the summit and being back down to the trees before serious rain or thunder and lightning. There was some flagging that seemed to indicate a trail well lower than expected from reading Kane's description. The flagging probably related more to pine beetle control but the route up worked out quite well.

Nice smiles above Spray Lake

We were up above the treeline and onto a good ridge leading to the summit without any scrambling or descending.

Above the treeline on the ridge to Rimwall Summit

Unfortunately the weather continued to get worse and we worried about thunder nearing. So we ducked off the ridge to wait a bit and consider our options.

Ducking into shelter

When the lightning to thunder times dropped below 5 seconds we decided enough was enough and descended a scree trail and slippery slabby rocks down to below treeline. We had a short scrambly downclimb to get off one cliffband and down to the West Wind Pass trail. When the sun came out for a bit we took another break.

Hannah, Florence, Wallace, Carl, Christine and Adrian during a sunny break

We were back at the cars by 2:00 and proceeded to the Drake to drown our sorrows.
Many thanks to Christine, Florence, Hannah, Adrian and Wallace for joining me, Carl (C/S). Sorry about the weather.

Adrian's YouTube video

PS Unbeknown to us, Rambler Mary-Jane and a friend were well ahead of us and summitted just ahead of the storm. Congratulations!

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