The Tower (3,124 m) wejście solo, Aug 15/20

Pomimo tego że, namawiałem kilku potencjalnych "górołazów", to nie udało mi się zwerbować partnera do wejścia na tą górę. Postanowiłem więc, wybrać się samemu. Nie jest to rozsądne, ani też zbyt przyjemne, aby wędrować w wysokie góry samemu. Miałem jednak powód aby wejść na tą górę.

W poprzednich latach zdobyłem kilka wysokich (ponad 3,000 m) gór w Kananaskis Range. The Tower była ostatnią z tych gór, o wysokości ponad 3,000 m. Więc motywowało mnie to do zdobycia tej ostatniej, wysokiej góry.

Jasper, Jasper in my Heart

Morro Peak, Bald Hills and Maligne Canyon

Another unplanned trip to the Rockies.

First adventure is to summit the Morro Peak (1675m). 

Mt. Loki Solo

19 August 2020

Mt. Loki, 2771 m, is a prominent mountain in Central Kootenay Valley, near Kaslo, in British Columbia. According to Norse mythology, Loki is a "trickster god," a shape-shifter, luring everybody with his beauty, eluding by his proximity, while being quite harsh on those who approach him hastily. 

Old Fort Point with the Sirens

Being quite spent after Roche Bonhomme the previous day, I opted for an easier day. 5 km long, with 120 m altitude gain Old Fort Point trail appeared perfect. For this trip I was joined by Three Sirens - Ania, Dusia and Bosnia - or to be precise, by two Sirens and one Sex Bombshell!

Roche Bonhomme, or a Good Old Hubby

Roche Bonhomme, 2498 m, is a popular mountain near Jasper, in Jasper National Park. The name is often translated from French as meaning "Rock of an Old Good Fellow." In a book describing the trail to the mountain (unfortunately, I didn't record the author), it is referred to as "off-trail hike," with round-trip distance of 10 km, and altitude gain of 1300 m. As my story will try to illustrate, only the last information is correct.

We parked at Maligne Canyon parking lot and looked into the trail description to identify the beginning of the trail.

My companions were lovely Ela and Basia, along with the Club Harpagons: Mike, Piotr and Roman. Though somewhat confused after a hot night, we quickly established that the description was incorrect. It asked us to "walk back on Maligne Lake Road for 350 m." In fact, the beginning of the trail is about 300 m UP the road, not down.

Off to the mountains or Kelly's Bathtub.

Deprived of the mountains by COVID-19 for so long, we left toward Jasper on Friday, 14 August, as early in the morning as possible. Nine persons took advantage of this opportunity, under the overall leadership of Mike Alexander.

Blessed by excellent weather, we stopped at Kelly's Bathtub in Switzer Provincial Park near Hinton. I knew this place from the time of living in that community about 20 years ago. Being small, and (almost) separated from other bodies of water, Kelly's Bathtub typically is much warmer than other mountain or foothills lakes. 

Piotr impressed everybody by having a beer right away, Polish-style - from a towel!

Barbara and the Whistlers

On this trip we were joined by our good friend Barbara (Basia). It was Basia's first trip with our Club and she was such a welcome addition to our group with her cheerful personality and positive attitude. Unequivocally we decided that Basia is the only Real Man in our group. Not only that she drives a real Jeep 4X4, but she also drinks whiskey, and on top of all that, we found out very soon that she was the only person in our group that had, what Hemingway called, Los Cojones.

After the trip to Roche Bonhomme most people were just barely dragging their butts in the morning, but Basia announced cheerfully that we should join her on the trip to The Whistlers.

Only two people agreed to join her, thinking quite naively that Basia would allow us to take the Sky Tram, but she would have none of that.