Flower Ridge Backpack

I returned to Flower Ridge and did an overnight backpack since the day hike which I had done on July 23^rd resulted in poor photos due to bright sunlight. The day hike took me 4 hours to reach the lower ridge top but now with a 30 lb pack I was surprised to reach the same area in 2.5 hours. I must be getting in really good shape and having a month holiday allows me a lot of time for hiking and photographing.

The hike up was easier since a lot of snow has melted and the path was clearly defined until near the lower ridge. The clouds kept the temperature down at a nice cool ambience so the hike up was pleasant but it was already 14*C when I started my climb up the steep trail and I was soaked from sweat.

I was expecting not much biting insects but the blackflies were out and so was the odd mosquito. I got bitten quite a few times as I didn’t rely on mosquito repellant unless I really had to because it smells too much.

A lot of snow has melted under the hot sun but lots remain on the higher ridge. The source of water I was counting on had dried up but there was a large depression filled with snow and melting around the edge to provide a pool of water not far from where I set up camp. 

 Filtering water

 

There were a lot of dead bleached tree trunks nearby and I used one with a high limb to string up my food sack out of reach of animals. 

 Hoisting my food bag out of reach from animals

 

It’s amazing how fast some bushes, free of snow, had grown leaves since my last visit. But there was still a lot of small trees and bushes under snow and some just clear of snow are showing buds only.

Flower Ridge is slowly making up for its name. There were red paintbrush, spreading phlox and lupines in places. Not much so far but there brilliant colors really stand out. 

 Spreading Phlox and Lupines

 

After I set up my tent, I did a lot of exploring around the lower reaches of the rocky ridge. The light was subdued so photographing the landscape was good. 

 Rocky Landscape

There was mist rising and dark threatening clouds drifting by but surprisingly no rain. 

 Mountains shrouded in low clouds

 

There wasn’t too much to do except pass the time and wait for dusk and hopefully a good sunset. When it came time to prepare supper, I cooked and ate far from my tent to prevent lingering odors around camp. 

 Cooking dinner

 

A couple of Whiskey Jacks (Canada Jay) dropped by for handouts but I had none to give. The rest of the time was spent photographing the light on the mountain shining through the clouds. The lack of wind made taking pictures of trees and shrubs easier. When the sun came out behind the clouds for several minutes, the heat was stifling hot. I was glad about the clouds.

It was a very peaceful evening. Quiet and no one around except the pesky blackflies. They seem to be around at all hours of the day.

Trying to get a good night sleep is difficult on the bumpy ground and thin mattress not to mention the lack of pillow. In the pitch black of night, there were thousands of visible stars and the orange lights of Westmin Mine below occupying the valley at the south end of Buttle Lake. The early morning hours was cool due to the lack of cloud cover and the condensation on the tent was heavy.

I got up around 5 am and got prepared for photography in the subdued light. 

 Early morning hours before sunrise

 

I couldn’t believe there was a few mosquitoes buzzing me already. I walked around a took a few shots of the sun hitting Mt. Myra and the surrounding peaks before heading out at 6:30 am for the upper ridge. 

 Mt Myra at sunrise

The water source which I used yesterday had a thin film of ice which surprised me because there was just condensation everywhere else.

I followed the path in places and someone’s old footsteps on the snow. There were a pink flagging ribbons but for the most part it was just a matter of heading up the steep snow covered slope till I reached the top. The snow was crusty and icy in spots but for the most part just the right consistency to dig my boots in for traction. The sun was out and the light was blinding on the snow. I am still surprised to see deer prints in the snow this high up from the valley bottom. One footprint I wasn’t quite sure of; it looked like an elk print.

There wasn’t anymore human prints in the snow which meant that I am the only one who has hiked this far to date. Once I made it to the top of the bump, I can see the mountains all around. 

 The views from ridge top

 

There is snow everywhere and some lakes are just starting to melt. 

 A small lake just melting

 

I continued on by hiking down the rocky knoll and continuing along the ridge. This trip is also a reconnaissance trip to scout out potential areas to camp and I found quite a few on the exposed rocky areas which are free of snow. There is just enough space for a tent on the flat areas and water source in a depression from the melting snow. Looking back, I can see the main knoll I just came down and the forested ridge leading down to the lower hump which I am camped.

Looking back to the forested 'bump' ahead (where I am camped). Buttle Lake in the distance (looking north) 

I hung around until 2 pm before heading back to camp and packing up. Clouds were drifting in and I was anxious to get back down. 

 Hiking along the ridge top

The hike back down was uneventful; 2 hours downhill at a steady pace. It was time for me to rest up for a couple of days then back into the mountains for another backpack.