Exploring the Koots - 0729 - Mt Carlyle

A few days ago, while hiking to Texas Peak and Paddy's Peak, we had good views of Mt Carlyle. Actually, Mt Carlyle can be seen to the west from Kaslo with it's quite prominent twin peaks easily visible. It was decided that today would be a good day to tackle the peak so 3 of us met at Dan's place at 7 am.

First was the 2-hour vehicle access part of the trip, which involved driving towards New Denver, up to the historical mining town of Sandon and from there up the Carpenter Creek Road.

A few km up that track things became sufficiently overgrown that we switched to the mountain bikes. This went fine until we ran into significant avalanche debris, probably deposited 2 winters ago. After carting our bikes over a few piles of this, we abandoned the bikes and walked.

The track eventually led towards a low point on Mt Carlyle's SW flank where there had been mining activity over 100 years ago. Remains of old buildings and other mining debris still litter the scene here.

Past this col, the route followed Mt Carlyle's south side until the SE ridge was reached and from there it was merely a scramble over large, blocky granite to the summit.

Although light showers had accompanied us this far, we were treated to clearing skies and warmer temperatures once we reached the summit, and views improved accordingly. Ridges and familiar peaks were in all directions, including Kokanee Glacier Park to our south.

After enjoying the views and our lunch, we retraced our steps, taking some time to explore the old mine site. Distant thunder didn't materialize into anything and the truck was finally reached after about 6.5 hours of hiking. About a 10-hour day all in all.

A Week of Ups and Downs

A whole week of climbing up hills and down hills. The only way I really train....

I attended the ACC Saskatchewan Section's mountaineering camp where a few of us introduced relative beginners to the techniques of general mountaineering: glacier travel, scrambling, ropes, knots, route-finding, etc.

There were 21 of us at the camp and each morning we were up at 4 or 5 am so we could have our climb done before it got too hot later in the day. We were also trying to avoid soft, mushy snow as well. Our weather was mixed: we got chased off one ridge by a small thunder storm, two days were sunny and hot and the last day was showery and cool.

No sooner was I back home then I ran into one of my skiing friends and learned that they were heading to Jackson Basin the next day. Sounded like a chance to see some flowers and get some more exercise, so Catherine and I went along with the group.

The ridge at the south end of Jackson Basin is good for alpine flowers and the views were stellar in all directions - the Valhallas, the Purcells, Kokanee Glacier, and peaks closer to home as well. We all hiked up Texas Peak, a minor scramble at the end of the ridge. There was enough time after that peak to tackle another, and the next one on the ridge was Paddy's Peak, so off we went.

Paddy's Peak was a bit more difficult - big blocks of rock that made 2-handed scrambling and climbing necessary, and a narrow ridge with airy positions on both sides in places.

To get back to where Catherine had waited after completing Texas Peak, I had to climb yet another high point on the ridge and by this time, my legs were starting to feel the need for some rest. One thing you can say for the hills in the Kootenays is that they are steep.

Once back at the truck, it remained only to head back home for BBQed burgers and beers and that well-needed rest.

The Aging Process - Some Questions Answered

I was being amused the other day by following a FB exchange between a couple of former students of mine. The complaints revolved around sore backs, tired this and worn out that, and these kids are, well, just kids really. Youngsters. Still with lots of memory and drive, one would think. And they haven't passed the big four oh yet. So much to look forward to....

Not having finished the 6th decade myself just yet, I can't claim to be a complete expert on the subject, but I thought it worthwhile to share some insight into what's just over the horizon for these young whippersnappers in the belief that forewarned is forearmed. Or something like that. So, in no particular order....

The first thing I noticed happened many years ago, probably shortly after I turned 25. I realized that I wasn't able to stay up and party all night and head out on a long road trip the next day with a hangover. This was reinforced a few years later when I had a several-hour flight back home after significant party. Never again, I promised myself, and it was a promise I think I've managed to keep ever since. Life is tooooo short to feel that crappy.

Your eyesight will start to change, probably necessitating bi or tri-focals. With the new graduated lenses, you won't look like an old fogie, but YOU will notice. You may not be able to read with your glasses on, close work may be difficult, especially in low light situations. Personally, I have a large magnifier light at my workbench and it gets lots of use. You will also find that you can't stand bright sunshine without "shades" and a hat. Never used to bother me, but now....?

Your hearing acuity will likely decrease, especially if you're a male. This has both benefits and disadvantages which I will leave for you to discover.

You may find that you can't sleep as well. In fact, you may find yourself awake for 2 or 3 hours each night, this after falling asleep exhausted in the middle of a good book at 9 pm. Did I mention that late nights will probably become impossible? I've been known to nod off at any time after 8:30 pm. Is this the outcome of a low-stress lifestyle? Who knows, but my iPod gets much late-night use and I'm often awake, for the day, at 4 or 5 am. Sigh.

A related sleep issue seems to be connected to bathroom breaks, usually several of them, interspersed throughout the night. Your only solution seems to be semi-dehydration, otherwise, you kidneys have waaaay too much to do. If I'm at a backcountry hut or a hostel, I have to insist on a lower bunk near the door to facilitate my late-night excursions.

I've always been a list-maker, that being the only technique guaranteeing I'd be able to remember what jobs needed to be done. Develop this technique, because you will start to think you've lost your mind as you get older. That's probably slowly becoming true. The number of times I've gone to another part of the house (or to town) and been unable to recall why I was there.... Lists are the solution. Keep a clipboard handy. It's true what they say: "the mind goes first...".

You will develop more and more aches and pains, not all of them caused by your kids/spouse/job/government. Get used to it. Warm up gradually each day. Don't just charge off wildly into your work. Get a family doctor and make sure you find one who doesn't have a problem prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. I can supply a list on request. Convince yourself that the saying "Better living through Chemistry" is really true. Make sure your medical plan covers physiotherapist's services. Find a doctor and a physio who aren't going to tell you that just because you're over 45/50/55 that you have to scale back your activities to match your age. With all your other "issues", you don't need condescension to add to your humiliation.

Speaking of medical issues, if you're a guy, there will be age-related "tests" that your doctor will want to perform. Tests you never dreamed of when you were younger. Tests I won't mention here but will leave to your imagination. If you're a gal, you probably won't have much sympathy for guys on this one.

Well, that's a start. I can revisit this topic occasionally, as there are issues I haven't even touched yet, like lowered metabolic rate (meaning you can't eat as much as you'd like unless blimp is a word you want applied to your shape), sex drive (meh), ambition (who cares) and a possibility that you will start to like country music (arrrrgh). I haven't taken up golf, or shuffleboard, or cards, but I suppose I shouldn't rule them out, yet.

Exploring the Koots - 0708 - Mt Brennan Revisited

Almost a year ago, I had my first climb of Mt Brennan, one of the major peaks in this area. This year there were no grizzly tracks on the summit, but just in case, I brought reinforcements.

We're at the start of a minor heat wave this week. When you'e having daily highs of +34C, what better time to go climb a mountain. We did decide to leave early with the idea of getting some of the uphill done before the sun so Catherine and I picked up Stu at 5:30 am and were hiking by 6:15 am. We managed the first 600 meters of elevation gain to Lyle lakes before we were in full sun.

Once we left Lyle Lakes, the climb was mostly on moderate to steep firm snow slopes, definitely my preferred conditions for climbs like this one. A clear sky, that minor heat wave I mentioned and snow everywhere made for furnace-like temperatures, but we were on the summit before lunch. Time to take in some food, liquids and the views in all directions and it was time to start bouncing down the snow slopes and down the trail to the trail head.