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.
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