Headed out from the Stoney trail parking area under blue skies. The trail did have some muddy sections from the recent rain, but overall the trail conditions were quite reasonable. After cycling to the base of Mary Barclay mountain, we ditched our bikes in the woods and headed up the South ridge.


The summit block of Mary Barclay Mountain in the morning light

Heading up the lower ridge of Mary Barclay under blue skies

Our blues skies began to disappear as we preceded up the ridge as a band of low clouds moved in from the NW.


Male Blue Grouse 'presenting' on the ridge

John and Inge heading up to a cloud covered summit block

The solid limestone on the summit block made for very pleasant scrambling. Views were limited as we preceded higher up the summit block


Inge and Damian climbing the crux in the mist

Last few steps to the summit cairn

We spent a pleasant half hour having lunch and world problem solving on the summit - given that we were sitting in clouds


No views on the summit of Mary Barclay Mt today

To complete the loop we traversed West and headed down a South facing scree slope. There was one tricky cliff band section on the descent route, which required care.


Negotiating the tricky cliff band section of the descent route

We descended to Lorette Creek and followed the creek and intermittent game trails back to the bikes. Of course the blue skies returned shortly after we began our descent off the West ridge.


David fording Lorette Creek on the way back

After a pleasant cycle on a drier trail, we were back at our vehicles by 3 PM. Total elevation gain was 850 metres and total hiking/scrambling distance (not counting the cycling sections) was 6.3 km. Thanks to David, Bill, Inge, Damian and John for joining me Kevin (S/C) on this pleasant cycling/scrambling day in the mountains.