Fly Hill Off-Trail hike on 5-Jul-2020

There was no lack of adventure on this day and to top it off we drove toward an intense funnel cloud on the way home.

Twenty minutes later Environment Canada issued a tornado warning.
Twenty minutes later Environment Canada issued a tornado warning.

Anyhow, Fly Hill has been dubbed as mean and although it provided a few challenges the area is vibrant with green meadows and many wildflowers. We couldn’t have asked for a better day, conditions were pristine. This hill is nestled west of Thunder Mountain and east of the Continental Divide. We left the cars around 9:45 a.m. armed with Bob Spirko’s GPS track and hiked along a road that led to a trail paralleling Racehorse Creek. Eventually we left the trail and bushwhacked up to the right where we came to an open slope. Continuing on we topped out on the first hill arriving at a bench with a spectacular view and opted for a break. We caught sight of a rock cliff in the distance that guarded our destination, Fly Hill. One Rambler decided to stay behind and two others joined them while the rest of us carried on. Two more hills and a few bushwhacks later we made it to the last open slope and looked up at the hill’s intimidating rock band. Despite its appearance, we easily found a way up to the ridge and carried onto the summit. We took a well deserved lunch and indulged in the view. On the way down we met up with the other Ramblers and were back at the cars at 6:45 p.m. Thank you Rosanne,Philip,Photini,Janice,Teresa,Cristina,Donna.for a spectacular day out. Yours truly, Christine c/s/p. Trip stats 13 km and 1,100 metres total elevation gain.

The trail drops down to Racehorse Creek.
The trail drops down to Racehorse Creek.

After the bushwhack we reached the first open slope.
After the bushwhack we reached the first open slope.

Nice place to take a break.
Nice place to take a break.

Ramblers in front of the rock band that dominates Fly Hills
Ramblers in front of the rock band that dominates Fly Hills

After another bushwhack we reach the open slopes to our hill.
After another bushwhack we reach the open slopes to our hill.

Roseanne below the rockband.
Roseanne below the rockband.

Philip and Donna make their way up the break.
Philip and Donna make their way up the break.

Summit ridge to Fly Hill.
Summit ridge to Fly Hill.

Tornado Mountain from the summit, is that a sign?
Tornado Mountain from the summit, is that a sign?

Lunch on Fly HIll's summit.
Lunch on Fly HIll's summit.

Going back along the ridge.
Going back along the ridge.

Ramblers in front of Thunder Mountain on the way down.
Ramblers in front of Thunder Mountain on the way down.

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