It was a great day for a hike to Moose Mountain, and we had a more entertaining lunch break than usual, as a sleek red helicopter landed to deliver some dignitaries to visit with the lookout man.


One minute--four Ramblers sitting on a helipad...

  


The next minute--INCOMING CHOPPER!

Coming in for the landing on the Moose Mountain helipad

We were just sitting on that pad a couple of minutes ago!

  


The chopper leaving the summit

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Final peak of Moose Mountain (from the black cloud it looks like Joe Btsplk of Lil' Abner must live nearby!)

 (Actually, the lookout man gave us adequate warning to get ourselves and our stuff off the pad, so there was no safety issue, but it was pretty exciting.)  We had all been on this peak numerous times, but as is the way with the lighting in the mountains, this time we noticed something we had always missed before--you get a great view of the Three Sisters from the peak.


The Three Sisters as seen from Moose Mountain, with the Rimwall just below on the left

 


Columbine near the treeline on Moose Mountain

 On the way down we spotted a nice patch of columbine in the "Brokeback Mountain meadows." (the area where the movie was filmed). 

We had to break out the rain gear for 5 minutes for a brief shower with some small hail, but then it got nice again.  At the bottom of the dreaded long climb up the big hill at the beginning of the trail, we discovered a "Surprise Trail" that followed the ridge in a much more scenic way (although it was a bit more of a climb) and provided a great view of the mountain.


The "Surprise Trail" climbs a little more than the boring big hill on the main road route, but is much more interesting.

Great view of Moose Mountain from the "Surprise Trail"

We left this mystery trail to drop back to the parking lot.  We were back to the cars by 3:30.  Four headed to Bragg Creek for ice cream cones after a great hike.  

Participants:  Margaret, Harold, Francisco and new member Lee on his very first RMRA hike--welcome, and we hope you enjoy many more!--and Carl, coordinator and scribe.