Eagle Mountain (Nordegg)

 

From the left: Piotr, Bożenna, Ewa, Marianna, Elżbieta, Nicholas (Germany), Zbyszek.
Front row: Marek, Barbara, Roman. Taking picture: Andy.

We started the hike to the Eagle Mountain, 5 km east of Nordegg, as a whole group of 11 participants. The hike is considered to be hard. It has 15.1 km with  844 m of altitude gain. 

In fact, we were shortly split into two groups. The Sturm Group, led by Roman ...

... was flying fast, reportedly incited by Roman's constant warnings about the afternoon storm. 

They swallowed the terrain like hungry wolves ... 

... barely being able to notice some interesting "monuments of nature." 

They surely enjoyed themselves ... 

... and the views from the top toward Nordegg. 

At the same time, the Relaxed Group consisting of Bożenna, Marianna, Pani Kierowniczka, and this writer, took a more leisury pace, allowing us to notice strange (fallic) objects on the way. 

Elzbieta hiked quite strongly in spite of a slight cough. But it worsened later and, unfortunately, eliminated her from the next day activities. 

After doing maybe three quarters of the route and gaining approximately 500 meters of altitude, we rested ... 

... and then hiked back. 

These carpets of white flowers were strangely inviting to lay down on them and have a nap. 

Having some advantage on time, we cooled down at this shallow creek. "Marianna w kąpieli?"

Elżbieta also couldn't resist, but perhaps this was what made her condition worse. Notice "sexy podkolanówki!"

Roman's warnings of the afternoon storm were not unfounded. 

Luckily, we reached the cars before is started to rain. 

Nicholas, a visitor from Germany, appeared quite happy with his experience. So was Ewa! (short) 

Back at Shunda Creek Hostel, which we all had to admit - has much improved after the renovations, we spent some time with the (semi) open fire ... 

... and were visited by Maria and Marian who camped in the vicinity, but didn't hike with us. Lucky Andy - finally someone took a picture of him! 

Elżbieta's "botwinka" (borszcz) was excellent that night and saved my life. I didn't have too much to eat, and more so, after drinking close to a bottle of wine, I didn't feel "like cooking." If it was not for frequent urinations that night, I could say, I "slept like a baby!"

(Thanks to other participants for permission to use their photos.) 

(PR)