Trekking with Nicola (and the dogs)

This hike is 8.7 kilometres up and down with a 950 metre elevation gain. It was brutal perhaps because we weren't in the most ideal condition. (Although ideal condition would be someone considerably younger than us.) Some say the hike should take 4.5 hours. We took nearly seven. Basically, it's a very steady uphill trail the whole way that begins through a wooded forest with lots of blown down trees. An avalanche chute provides terrific terrain where wildflowers such as fireweed, Indian paintbrush, cow parsnip could thrive. The trail then returns to a wooded area and then opens up into another avalanche shoot. This one we climbed up and this one was filled with marmots. (At least that's what I think they are.) Their high pitched squeaks drive the dogs nuts and they'll chase them up to 100 metres up or down a steep slope resulting in extreme panting particularly by Pippa. The colour of the flowers became increasingly more vivid as we neared the top. The tiny blue flow...