#tenpeaks

[sweet-tea-studios-blog]

While our little town is stunning all year long, there is a particularly magical time here when snow still rests on the peaks and wildflowers grow on the ground. Taylor + Sean timed their engagement session perfectly, and they couldn’t be any cuter together! We are already so excited for their wedding next summer, which is going to have a lot of love and a ton of laughter! Cheers you two!!

[czysnaps-blog]

5am morning trip to Moraine Lake. Enough said 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 . . . #morainelake #banff #alberta #canada #canada150 #canadianrockies #dawn #sunrise #tenpeaks #gorgeous #landscape #earlybird #4am #wakeupcall #worthit #allthecolors #views #summer #landscape #photography #nikon #sleeklens #35mm (at Moraine Lake)

[copperheadquaker]

#Sopris #TenPeaks

[emrosedee-blog]

The snow is gone, the days are getting warmer, and the sun is rising sooner everyday!! * I can’t wait until Moraine Lake opens again!! We plan to do a lot more hiking and adventuring this year, so long as my back can handle it. But even if we can’t, just escaping to the Rockies for some fresh air and scenic views is enough to rejuvenate the soul!! * * * * * #albertaviews #dailviewalberta #moraine #morainelake #mymoraine #mybanff #banffnationalpark #scenic #canada #travelalberta #explorealberta #imagesofcanada #alberta #earthpix #earthofficial #ourplanetdaily #earthcapture #natgeoyourshot #wildernessculture #myalberta #mountains #tenpeaks #valleyofthetenpeaks (at Moraine Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvy9euwlPnR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ra9rwy0y4rkr

[trailcatjim-blog]

High Giant Traverse and Buck Mountain

Sep 28 - Oct 1, 2011 

Buck Mountain (8550')

The "High Giant Traverse" is a splendid sub-alpine traverse from Buck Creek Pass to High Pass to Little Giant Pass, with some options for route variation through the middle portion. Kevin W, Kevin K, Doug, Steve, Deb, and Eileen joined me for a particularly scenic version that passes through the exquisite meadows of Louis Creek Basin. We experienced a wide range of weather and suffered a few injuries along the way but had a great time overall.

Day 1: After dropping a vehicle at the Little Giant Trailhead beside the Chiwawa River, we started hiking from the Buck Creek Trailhead at Trinity. The trail had been nicely maintained, and the day was sunny with a touch of autumn coolness in the air. What was lacking, however, was a touch of autumn color in the forest; all the leaves seem to be running several weeks behind their normal color-changing schedule this year. Nonetheless, the views of green slopes rising up to meet snow-dusted north-facing cliffs was quite striking. We rolled into camp at Buck Creek Pass in late afternoon (6.1 hours from car) and made camp in a group area near one other tent. A cold northeasterly wind whipped through our campsite all night long.

Day 2: The morning was clear, windy, and cold. After breaking camp, we backpacked southward up the old High Pass Trail, which winds high around the side of Liberty Cap and provides stellar views. Glacier Peak flaunted her fresh coat of white paint, while Tenpeak Mountain harbored dabs of white in its shadowed recesses. Clark Mountain and its retinue of lower DaKobed peaks dominated the southern view. The trail died out in the talus and rock-hard snowfields of High Pass (crampons were handy here). We contoured through the pass and under Mt. Berge before angling up to the ridge crest just south of Point 7839. A final bit of Class 3 scrambling led to a faint ridgeline saddle, from which there is an easy walk-off descent into Louis Creek Basin.

We all relaxed and hurried down to find a campsite in the basin.. Naturally, this seemingly harmless terrain is where somebody would get injured: Halfway down, Kevin W slipped on an unstable rock, put out an arm to stop his fall, and landed sharply on his left hand, which responded with a distinct "POP" emanating from his left wrist. Suspecting either a sprain or a break (it turned out to be the latter), we all gathered to administer first aid. Kevin gamely spent the rest of the trip wearing a toothbrush splint, bandage wrap, and arm sling. Being a competitive triathlete, he was able to power through without complaining or even missing a beat. Once down in the basin (8.0 hours from Buck Creek Pass), we all set up camp on an inviting pumice saddle with views to the north and south.

Day 3: Our plan this morning was to strike camp, stash backpacks, climb Buck Mountain, and return to our stash by lunchtime. We headed up the mountain's broad western slope, gradually working left to the west ridge. Unfortunately, this easy ridge ended abruptly at a western horn feature that would involve some steep Class 3-4 scrambling. We did get a nice look at the very impressive north face and north ridge before detouring back down and over to the mid-west slope. Once in the distinctive upper cirque, which has the appearance of a "flying bridge" on a boat, it was a bit confusing as to where the actual summit is located. We opted to scramble up the middle of the long crest and were pleased to find a register at the highest point (3.1 hours from camp). Surprisingly, the register dated all the way back to 1980, so I was able to find my entry from a 1984 ascent. I would have thought a desirable mountain like this sees more climbs, but perhaps the somewhat complicated approach turns away many casual scramblers.

Spurred by some recent climber's chatter regarding which of the three principal ridge points is highest, I had brought with me a professional-quality hand transit in order to settle the issue. Several of us took turns sighting through the transit, and we all agreed that our own position (the "middle summit") was higher than the "north summit" (Point 8528) and "south summit" by a decisive margin of 20 feet or more. Therefore, if the north summit triangulation is correct, the middle summit probably has an elevation close to 8550 feet.

During our summit stay, the sky had gotten very dark, and a series of rain showers started shortly after we began descending. We retrieved backpacks at our campsite, then leisurely hiked southward. This gave us an opportunity to enjoy the wondrous expanse of Louis Creek Basin, with its manicured meadows, gently rolling pumice fields, meandering streams, and groves of larch trees. After previous separate trips, Steve and I had independently proclaimed this to be the finest meadow basin in the Cascades; now we are more convinced than before!

At the basin's southernmost edge, where Louis Creek tumbles down a high cliff, we hiked up a grassy rise overlooking the legendary Napeequa Valley. The patchwork of trees, brushes, heather, grasses, and other vegetation presented innumerable shades of green, contrasted by bands of gray and white rock. We descended to the right (west) and picked up an old sheep path. This crude path led us down a steep slope, over a small shoulder, then down another steeper slope. When the path faded in a wide slope of monster ferns, we all slipped and stumbled downhill, with one-armed Kevin W in the lead. The well-defined Napeequa Valley Trail was a welcome sight after getting soaked in the ferns. We hiked down-valley 1.5 miles to the Boulder Pass Trail junction (3.8 hours from basin camp). A nearby gravel bar provided a welcome campsite for the night---much to the chagrin of two other campers who apparently thought they had reserved the entire valley for themselves.

Day 4: Following a night of intermittent rain, we all crowded into Doug's large pyramid tent for breakfast. Then, in between showers, we hurriedly packed up and began our hike out. The valley trail was brushy and muddy, and sadly lacking in maintenance. The 2000-foot ascent up to Little Giant Pass followed an equally neglected and partially eroded trail, but we had no problems staying on track the entire way. After crossing over the pass, the trail widens and has been extensively re-built in many places. Our excellent sub-alpine trek ended with an easy ford of the Chiwawa River and a short stroll up to the Little Giant Trailhead (5.5 hours from valley camp).

Approx. Stats: 30 miles traveled, 11,300 feet gained, 11,500 feet lost. 

Cirque Mountain from grassy trail on Liberty Cap 

Hiking toward High Pass 

Cirque Mountain and Triad Lake with Steve and Glacier Peak 

Luahna Peak and Chalangin Peak above High Pass 

Buck Mountain and Louis Creek Basin from Berge Ridge 

Fortress Mountain from Louis Creek camp 

Louis Creek Basin 

Clark Mountain from Louis Creek Basin 

North and middle peaks of Buck Mountain 

Scrambling to Buck Mountain summit 

Colorful group in Louis Creek Basin 

Napeequa Valley from Louis Creek

[jay-oh-are-dee]

Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks, never gets old. #MoraineLake #valleyofthetenpeaks #lake #trees #mountain #gopro #blue #sky #sunshine #snow #autumn #moraine #tenpeaks #mountains (at Moraine Lake)

[travel-canada]

Valley of the ten peaks,Canada.

[onehikeaweek]

Tenpeak Slam via White River / 經白河上十指滿貫

Tenpeak Slam via White River / 經白河上十指滿貫

Tenpeak Mountain from the west peak

See more trip photos here.

It was fun to visit Trappers Peak and X Mountain last weekend finally. Then this week it was back to the big mountains.

Due to the lack of maintenance, the section of the White River Trail past Boulder Creek was beyond brushy. I read several negative reviews from people who probably haven’t dealt with it much in the past. So…

[sweet-tea-studios-blog]

3/3:

Rachel + Ian’s elopement had 360° views of stunning mountains! And with gray clouds that held off the rain for the ceremony, we couldn’t have asked for a more dramatic sky or backdrop! We were so excited to be a part of such an awesome couple’s special day - congrats you two!

Venue: Crested Butte Mountain Resort | Flowers: From the Ground Up Flowers | Wedding Dress: Shop: The Sentimentalist | Designer: Carol Hannah | Hair: Bella Voi Salon | Groom’s Suit: Banana Republic

[wanderlostfrontiers]

#Moraine Lake, #Banff National Park, #Canada. "A #Lake that definitely needs no introduction, Moraine Lake leaves me speechless every time." - Callum Snape #morainelake #nationalpark #alberta #outdoor #nature #parconazionale #landscape #panorama #TenPeaks #valley #hiking #reflection #trekking #mountains #backpacking #america #northamerica #wilderness #wild #traveler #hiker #travel #traveling #viaggiare #wanderlust #Wanderlost (at Moraine Lake)

[fotochoice]

Moraine lake vista #morainelake #canada #rockies #fotochoice #nature #beauty #photooftheday #all_shots #tenpeaks

[the-prospect]

Valley of the Ten Peaks, Lake Louise, AB.

[sweet-tea-studios-blog]

2/3: Rachel + Ian’s mountain-top ceremony was surrounded by stunning views and a small gathering of family and friends. The best part of the day though was the couple’s undeniable love for each other. Stay tuned for more photos from their beautiful elopement! 

Venue: Crested Butte Mountain Resort | Flowers: From the Ground Up Flowers | Wedding Dress: Shop: The Sentimentalist | Designer: Carol Hannah | Hair: Bella Voi Salon | Groom’s Suit: Banana Republic

[sweet-tea-studios-blog]

2/3: After raining all morning, when it came time for Lauren + Rick’s ceremony, the skies parted and the clouds created one of the most stunning backgrounds we’ve ever seen! These two gorgeous people (inside and out) are so deserving of the happiness that surrounded them on their special day! Stay tuned for part 3 (the party!) coming up soon! 

[sweet-tea-studios-blog]

3/3: With details like a bicycle wheel place card station to a cookie table (all home made!) in lieu of a cake, Meredith + Jake’s day was on point and totally them. We loved celebrating with these incredible people, and we are so happy to share a handful of their photos! Scroll down to see parts 1 & 2 of their day! Congratulations you two!