A mixed bag day with variable weather, but overall quite satisfying. We drove out through occasional rain showers but it was dry for the start of the hike. The trail junction was reached in about an hour and we proceeded up North Buller Creek. Some evidence of last year’s floods were seen but many places seemed unaffected:


waterfall on North Buller Creek

As we approached the steep slope to the pass the weather to the west looked ominous. By the time we got to the pass it was quite windy & cold, however just dropping down the east side a couple of metres got us out of the wind. As there was rain and graupel spattering down, we decided to drop to the bottom of the slope for lunch. Curtains of light snow followed us down the slope:


Advancing before the snow

At lunch, Kathy & Mario’s thermos of hot coffee was eyed enviously by the other participants. The rest of huddled with our cold drinks:


Is she hiding an espresso maker under there?

As we were getting ready to head off, the squall decided to move on and patches of blue sky started to appear. So we headed up the ridge to the east of the pass and came across a sizeable excavation- something had moved a lot of dirt and rock:


Anybody home? perhaps Mr. Badger

At the top we enjoyed some beautiful views of the surrounding terrain:


Ribbon Lake & Mt. Kidd

Buller Pass in distance

Then we lost a bunch of altitude to get down to the Buller Pass trail where we made it all up again on the climb to the pass. It was a popular spot with a few groups there. With thicker clouds approaching from the west we skittered down from the pass, but the only result was a few sprinkles which soon ceased. The trail lower down passed through a burnt area:


Nancy, Barb & Kathy in the burnt forest

And lower down the sun came out which made for a pleasant walk through the prescribed burn where fireweed and other flowers have flourished with the forest canopy removed. Five stopped off in Canmore for dinner on the way home.

Thanks for joining me go to Mario, Mary, Douglas, Sid, Dianna, Nancy, Barbara & Kathy (photos). Ron C/S/P.

Fauna report: Flock of gray crowned rosy finches, a pipit bobbing its tail, 4 bighorns on the Canmore Hill road & a dozen bighorns in the meadows esst of North Buller Pass:

Bighorns near N.Buller Pass

Flora report: lots of flowers still blooming, notably much roseroot and mountain fireweed turning fall colours:


roseroot on North Buller Pass

More roseroot east of Buller Pass

Fall colours: mountain fireweed