The weather was ideal, there were almost no bugs, and the scenery in the upper Misty Basin was some of the most exquisite anywhere in the Rockies, providing abundant reward for our longish (28km, 3,700 feet of elevation gain, 10.5 hours) walk in the Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park.

Starting up Mist Creek from Highway 40, we motored in cool of the morning to Rickerts Pass, then, aside from intrepid Peter, who didn’t take any short cuts, followed the initial bypass around the first top of Storm Ridge (which, luckily, today did not live up to its name). We lunched on top #2, the large hill ahead.

A stunning view opened up to top #1, Rickerts Pass and Mist Ridge.

After a lunch in mild weather, we started down to the low point before top #3.

On top #3, the high point, Francisco, Peter, Janice and Emily posed for a summit picture.

We then descended to the last col. We declined the last bit of ridge right up to the wall of Storm Mountain, and headed down to Misty Basin.

This was a good thing, as the day was long enough as it was, but also, we did not further disturb the herd of 30 mountain sheep we had been “herding” right from top #1.

We followed the good sheep trails to the valley, where we found a beautiful, hidden campsite, complete with a sheltered hollow, fire pit and a store of firewood. A good trail led out to the Mist Creek trail. We were all back to the cars by 8, and four stopped in Yum Yums at Black Diamond for juicy hamburgers. On the road we saw eight deer. Carl, coordinator and scribe.