 Vermilion
Peak
- Canadian Rockies
Sunday July 27/2003
The day was clear so I decided to try the new car on the highway and
go to a peak that's always interested me, Vermilion Peak
I knew the peak was
centrally located in the valley occupied by the Kootenay River and
that the views of the surrounding peaks would be one of the best.
It didn't disappoint.
I got to the section
of road just below the avalanche chute at about 10:45 and was under
way by 11:06. It took me just over an hour to get above the two
minor rock bands. The summit ridge in just over two hours and the
summit at 2:45. Not bad.
View Vermilion Peak at Google Maps
The Summit of Vermilion Peak |
I got back to the car
and my chronometer said 4:32. That could be faster but then I
wouldn't be able to stop to take pictures of flowers and chase bees and
butterflies.
Vermilion Peak from the highway just before I climbed it |
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Vermilion Peak on fire just one month later. This fire was
huge and the highway was shut down for hours |
Vermilion Peak ranger station on the way up to the pass |
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The forest near
Vermilion Peak after the fire was through with it |
I could see the
valley of Hafner Creek in its entirety. It was looking not bad from
here but being down there two summers ago was different. It wasn't
that bad; would I do it again? Sure.
But it wouldn't be
the same, not like the first time.
Hafner Creek Panorama |
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Panorama of the valley of the Ten Peaks
Mount Temple on
the right |
Once I finished with
the movies and pictures I had some grub and drinks and then started
back down. The ridge coming back was easier. On the way up it
wasn't that bad but seeing it made me think, Oh.... now I have to
scramble.
The Goodsirs and the Paintpots |
|
5x zoom of the
Goodsirs |
After awhile though
the scrambling mode comes into play and it goes automatically.
Lower down, once I
got off of the ridge, I settled into the descent, and what should be
the easiest part of the day.
A Bee on a yellow flower |
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A Bee on a Thistle |
Every mountain is
different I find and the surprise this one had for me was four,...
count em four... falls onto my butt. The culprits were rocks hidden
branches and just bad luck. It was easy going but sometimes it just doesn't
matter, the mountain will just decided she's going to kick
your butt!
Almost Down |
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At the bottom of
the avalanche chute |
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8.5 MB MPG Movie
I explain what Hafner Creek is like |
CANADIAN MOUNTAIN PANORAMAS
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| Mountain / Image |
Java |
VRML |
Jpg |
Size |
34. Vermilion
Peak
 |
Java |
VRML |
JPG |
351k |
Famous Quotes <-- click
 t takes two people to ruin a
perfectly
good day.
First a person who says something downright nasty about you,
and second, a dear friend who makes sure you hear about it
immediately.
Source Unknown
 he
good days
weren't really so good, and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems.
Billy Joel
1949-, American Musician, Piano Man, Singer, Songwriter
©
CanadasMountains.com + Tim L. Helmer
Friday February 08, 2008 11:29 AM
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