We tried to lose things on this trip. I tried to lose my wife's car in the parking lot by leaving it unlocked with the trunk open and Jeannine tried to lose us coming off the ridge down to Boom lake. Fortunately France and Francisco noticed the insecure car and locked it (thanks!). Jeannine also reunited with us on the Boom lake trail.

With just two of us faced with what would have been a lonely car shuttle on the Protection - Rockbound trip we joined up with Francisco's trip on an enjoyable ridge walk just the other side of the Bow valley. Nice but steep trail initially to a high point and then off trail / easy scrambling over big blocks up to the ridge.The big blocks were stable for the most part though occasionally one did move. Indeed later in the day one of the group, wearing gloves, did get cut by a moving boulder. The cut was not too deep but might have been worse if not for the gloves.

Blocky terrain on Bell ridge

Mount Bell

Nice views back to the always impressive glaciation of Ball and Stanley, in front the Boom glacier, the back side of Quadra and Bident and to the north and west Hector and the Slate range. Across the valley was the Protection - TV peak ridge we saved for another day. We had a couple of lunch stops on a couple of bumps on the ridge. The last lunch spot being the high point at around 8900' across the valley of Lake O'Brien from Mount Bell.

Bell ridge

Bell ridge summit group

We dropped down to the low point in the col between our high point and Mount Bell and took the avalanche chute from there. Somewhere on this section Jeannine got separated from us and took another chute down. The main group ended up with a bit of a bushwhack along the Boom lake shore which Jeannine avoided.

Descending Bell ridge to Boom lake

Starting to see fall colours

A note for future folks on this trip would be to take the avalanche chute ending in a pile of boulders in Boom lake. Thanks to coordinator Francisco, Marietta, France,Peter and Jeannine from scribe John for keeping things "found" and an enjoyable day.