It was a clear blue sky as we headed up the from the Rowe Lakes trailhead. Not far along the trail there was a grouse that was just a couple of metres from the trail; it stood very still so that many didn't notice it as they passed:


grouse beside the trail

Along the way there was lots of vegetation and it seems it is a good year for bear grass and by the stream there was pink monkey flower:


closeup of Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax)

Pink monkey flower (mimulus lewisii)

The group moved along and we were at the junction to lower Rowe Lake in about an hour. We continued to the cirque and it was a hot, steady climb up the shadeless trail as it gained altitude:


Lineham Ridge trail in the cirque

At the col there was a bit of a breeze as we regrouped and took a snack break:


Snack break at the switchback, Mount Lineham in distance

From here half the group decided to forego the incremental 200 metre elevation gain to the peak and took the main trail west to the summit of Lineham Ridge. While there, they witnessed a backpacker put his pack down and it promptly started rolling down the steep slope. It didn't stop until it had descended about 250 vertical metres.Not much fun to have to redo those metres on a hot day with a heavy pack. The rest of the group headed to the peak, enjoying the view of the Lineham Lakes basin to the north:


Lineham Lakes in front of Mt Blakiston

There is a rough trail up to the summit which was steep but fairly easy to ascend:


Looking back down the ridge route from the summit of Mount Lineham

From there the views are great, which made for a spectacular, if windy, lunch spot:


Summit view south to Cameron Lake on left and Rowe Lakes closer

A windy lunch at the summit: Carolyn, Bruce, John, Nancy, John & guest Amanda

On the way down you had to be careful to not get too low and off the trail back, as there are game trails and scrambler exit trails that descend steeply, as a couple of participants found to their detriment; the only cost was some extra distance and unpleasant sidehilling. We regrouped further down in the cirque in a nice meadow that offered floral abundance:


Big Mountain Gentians (Gentiana calycosa)

Bear grass meadows in the Lineham cirque

The last stop was a side trip to lower Rowe Lake where a few dipped their feet in the lake, and one participant (who is always prepared for such eventualities) was able to really cool off:


Cooling off, as demonstrated by Barbara in Lower Rowe Lake

The trek out was uneventful and we were grateful it is shady most of the way. Thanks everybody for a great hike and welcome to their first Rambler hike to Amanda, George, Joanne, Steve, and Piper the dog.

Participants: Ron (C/S/P), Francisco, guest Maria, Nancy, Brenda (photo), Aldis, David, Ginger, Margo, George, John, Barb, Bruce, John, Carolyn, guest Amanda, Barbara, Joanne and Steve.