We climbed Mt Richardson in good conditions, but nasty weather rolled in from B.C. shortly after we summited.


Hidden Lake Junction, Mt Richardson in the background

Climbing from Hidden Lake to Richardson Col

Wally targeted a four-hour ascent from Fish Creek to the summit of Mt Richardson, and accomplished that along with the speedier hikers in the group. He continues to amaze us all with his enthusiasm and fitness.


Wally's fast group climbing towards the summit

The rest of us were on top within 15-30 minutes.


On the Summit of Mt. Richardson (storm rolling in)

The views from the top of this highest peak in the Skoki area were fantastic.


Mts Pika & Ptarmigan, Wall of Jericho, Hidden Lake, Merlin Lake, and Wally with Mt Hector

All the way up we kept a close eye on the weather. It was high overcast with sunny patches in Alberta, but clearly low clouds with rain across the continental divide. By the time we were all on top, that weather was fast approaching, And before Wally's preferred 60 minutes on the summit were over the temperature had dropped to 2 degrees, the wind was up, it was starting to snow, and the rest of us were all heading down. At least it wasn't as bad as for Peter's Alberta Centennial Mountain Expedition last year. This scribe's theory is that the unseasonable weather must be due to one or more of Barbara, Peter, or Peter's presence.
The weather did make us abandon plans to return via Little Richardson (Richardson Ridge to Lake Louise skiers). Luckily the precipitation remained limited until after we were back down to Hidden Lake, and we managed to wait out a heavy downpour in the comfort of the halfway house. By the time we were back at the cars, it was sunny again, but the peaks and upper ski slopes had significant accumulations of snow.

All in all, a very successful day.

Distance: about 19 km, Climb 1400 m, Time 8 1/2 hours.

Many thanks to coordinator Wally, participants: Alicja, Lorri, Barbara, Peter, Ivan, Laszlo, Michael, Peter and Carl (scribe).

Note that one car-load stopped for dinner at the Rose and Crown for dinner. On this particular day, the service was atrocious and the food indifferent.

Look Ma, no Avalanche Beacons!