Just about a perfect trip with nice temperatures, a cooling breeze, rams, views, spectacular flowers and a good workout with a great group of Ramblers.

We were the first group out from the parking lot at Highwood Pass and except for a group in the flats as we were at Grizzly Col, we saw and met no one else.  On the way up to the Col, we were treated with a view of a group of rams.


Bighorn rams on way to Grizzly Col

After a brief stop at the col, we headed up to Grizzly Ridge.  Then we headed down along the ridge for a few hundred meters before choosing the scree descent route into Paradise Valley.  As soon as we left the scree, we encountered spectacular and continuous flower displays the rest of the way down into the valley, across the valley meadows and much of the way up to Highwood Ridge.


Lush flowers greet us as we enter Paradise Valley

Did anyone bring their flower book?

Doug in Paradise Valley

 We had a second long break on the wide grassy/flowery bench below Highwood and then started the climb to Highwood.


Rest stop on the bench before the steep climb to Highwood Ridge

Scorpion weed with Bill and Bruce in the distance climbing to Highwood Ridge

 After the final push up to Highwood Ridge (about 360m vertical), we headed along the ridge to the North Summit and took our last fond views of Paradise Valley.


Descent route from Grizzly Ridge was the scree and grass ramp

Looking back into Paradise Valley as we climb to North Summit of Highwood

The trip took about 6.5 hours taking time to enjoy the flowers.  Bruce's GPS said we had gone a total of 999m.  We tried to get him to jump up onto some rocks to make it 1000m, but he declined.

Participants: ,Corey,Bruce,Sonja,Bill,Douglas C/S/P

---