A fine trip in great weather at a steady pace.

The crux of the day was getting together in the parking lot at Shouldice! There were at least six different groups were meeting at 8:00 and half the lot was barred off for an event later on. We did get it figured out before long. It's a short drive and we were all ready to leave Heart Creek parking lot at 9. The parking lot and start of the trail seemed basically unaffected by the floods earlier this summer but as we walked along we found ourselves bypassing a "Trail Closed for Remediation" sign and walking up Heart Creek. It seems that in reconstructing the popular Heart Creek trail they neglected to consider the almost as popular Heart Mtn trail. Nevertheless we easily crossed the creek and found ourselves at the signage at the bottom of the Heart Mtn ridge. From there we chugged up the ridge a pretty good pace (thank you all for keeping my preferred early return in mind). We stopped for a break before the crux and all got over that with little difficulty, the same applying to the gully just above.

Heading up "The Gully"

We took a short break at the top of what is now called Heart Mtn and a longer lunch break at the high point of the circuit, now called Mt Grant McEwan.


Lunch on the summit of Mt Grant McEwan

Ready to continue around the circuit

The descent along the ridge, and down through the trees as always seemed to take forever. Happily there is essentially no effect from the flooding on the trail across the bottom. We had thoughts of possibly having to make our way over to the highway.


Walking along the hydroline

We completed the circuit within a few minutes of six hours.

Many thanks to brand new Ramblers Ewa and Samuel , returning Rambler Nicole, very occasional Rambler Mary, and the more regular crew Jeannette, Lisa, Damian, David and Mel for joining me, Carl (C/S) and bumping up my average trip participation significantly.