Pedley Pass
This was probably our most exciting trail as it follows a ridge, sometimes with steep drops on either or both sides. We got to the trail late, as usual, because we have to have two cups of coffee in the morning, read and catch up on social media and the online newspapers. So, we didn't arrive until 12 noon. Only one other couple arrived at about the same time and after seeing them in the parking lot, we wouldn't see them again. We're rather slow and steady you see.
Surprisingly, Harold from the previous nights bat count was sitting at a picnic table, he and other volunteers had just completed constructing. You see there's a local trail organisation that's responsible for maintaining local trails. Pedley Pass is Harold's. Now, he and two others were celebrating their new construction with a few Fernie IPAs. He asked if we were doing the loop. The trail doesn't indicate a loop but we said yes anyway. He suggested we start on the trail to our left as they had recently built switchbacks to make the climb a bit easier.
Before heading up the dogs took a quick dip in the creek. As we were unlikely to find anymore water on the trail, we each took a container of the liquid each for the dogs and Gatorade for ourselves. A few switchbacks up, we ran into another one of the bat counters from the night before. He was shirtless, skinny, very fit guy about our age with whom we'd enjoyed quite a long conversation the night before. He carried a trenching tool and was accompanied by another gentleman of some kind of German extraction judging by his accent. I complemented them on the trail and they told us to join the group on Facebook which we (Nicola) subsequently did.
About an hour later, (I'm guessing), we emerged from the trees onto a scree slope with what I can assume are normally impressive views of mountains and valleys in the distance. Unfortunately today, they were smudged with a layers of smoke that provided more hazy vistas than vivid. The trail turns from a northerly direction to south and from here we could see the ridge we were to climb and follow for what I would judge to be a couple of kilometres. The ridge lies at about 2300 metres, the peak at Pedley Pass 2420.
Obviously, we hadn't climbed this distance in a couple of hours. AllTrails estimates the elevation gain to be 551 metres. Much of the other gain is made in a vehicle, preferably of the high clearance, 4 wheel drive variety. The ideal for me would be a Toyota Tacoma but, given the price tag, that's not going to happen unless we win the lottery.
As soon as we cleared the trees, the marmots began to whistle causing our dogs to go nuts chasing them half-way down the slope. As a consequence, we had to put them back on the leash. Of course, they tugged feverishly every time they heard a whistle. Going was slow as most steps required concentration to prevent any slipping or twisting from occurring. Eventually, we reached the far end of the ridge and what is known as Pedley Pass. There, under a tree, Nicola found a memorial plaque to an older gentleman who'd died in 2003 (the early 2000s). The epitaph states that he loved the mountains.
We rested behind a stubby tree for shade from the wind. The dogs had some water and doggy treats and we drank Gatorade with our granola bar. Then, we began our long journey down to the car. The trail was steep and, being an old guy, one I'd rather have gone up than down. We passed the cut-off trail to the tarn which I understand is the name of an alpine lake. The sign said it was a little over one kilometre. Considering it was almost 6:00, we decided that we'd visit the tarn at another time.
Smoky view from the the ridge and Pedley Pass.
Rock slides almost reached the trail from the mountain peaks that line the trail on the way down. We walked through the bumpy meadows which is kind of interesting believed to have been created by frost heaves, picturesque covered in low-lying, shamrock green shrubbery punctuated by leafy, magenta petals of the ubiquitous fireweed.
After the meadows, we followed a few more steep switchbacks, then the trial turned north and we were back at the parking lot. Last people to start, last to end. A rather exhausting but exhilarating day on the trail.
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| Pedley Pass Trail Route |
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