It was a cloudy start to the hike after driving through a rain shower at the edge of the mountains. But as it turned out, rain gear was never required. First up was the hour long walk up the power road under the cloud:


Hiking up under the power line - Rosanne & Nancy

After a hydration break we continued away from the power line up the road, then starting the real work up the trail:


Working harder - the steep part above the road.

By then there were patches of sun and we were able to enjoy the riot of colourful flowers throughout the ascent meadows. Just around noon we achieved the southeast summit, which was the chosen lunch spot:


Reward: the lunch spot on the southeast peak of Pigeon. Pigeon main peak in left background.

After a leisurely lunch we headed off down the scree slope to take on the main summit:


Across the meadows after descending from Southeast Pigeon

There was time there for another long break and we checked out across the Wind Valley to see if we could spot our compatriots on Wind Tower:


YooHoo! can't quite see Teresa's group on Wind Tower (Old Goat behind)

We may have seen them through binoculars, but they were hidden for picture-taking. Also from the summit, a bighorn sheep was spotted down the north slope from the summit, it was just hanging out relaxing in the sun:


Telephoto of bighorn sheep below the summit of Pigeon Mountain

Then it was down the main trail that was another feast of alpine flowers, e.g. :


Slender blue beardtongue (Penstemon procerus)

There were also a few interesting fauna spotted:


Fox Sparrow (Passarella iliaca) on subalpine fir with female fir flowers

A dozen Anicia Checkerspot (Euphydryas anicia) from above

Anicia Checkerspot (Euphydryas anicia), underside of wing.

Common alpine (Erebia epipsodea)

Thanks to everyone for making this a great trip: Nancy, Barbara, Brenda, Janet, Kathy, Lenard, Corey, Bruce, David, Carl, Evan, Mario, Bill (photos), Aldis, Philip, Rosanne, Barbara, and welcome to new trial member Elaine. Ron, C/S/P.