Temple 2.0

Guess who's back? 2 weeks ago was the prologue. Chalk it up to route scouting. Today I was back to let my feet do some talking.
Today's journey began just before sunrise. Yes I broke some rules (ok, laws) running up to Sentinel Pass all by my lonesome, but today I wasn't waiting for anyone/ anybear. Ascending while watching the sunrise over the Valley of the Ten Peaks was pretty righteous.

Mount Tuzo and Deltaform Mountains begin to hold some late summer snow as they get ready to monitor the touristas in larch valley.
At the 1/2 way point (the "pinnacle") I turn to gasp for air as the sun floods into Larch Valley and the Valley of the 10 peaks.

Next was the grey/ yellow bands and the endless slog up the ridge towards the peak. I attained the summit in 2hrs 21min and collapsed in a pile of rubble. A couple of selfies of me looking regal/ failing at handstands and I floated back to the car in a total 3hrs 47min. I'm claiming an unofficial speed record on this peak. Mostly because I don't think anyone else is stupid enough to attempt to run an 11,600ft peak.

Doesn't get much better than that! I'll give it a 9.5/10

Mount Rundle

Who doesn’t love waking up without an alarm? Rolling over and going back to sleep? Lounging in your pj’s and having a couple cups of coffee?

Meanwhile, the late summer sun is about to rise once again in the Rockies. Meanwhile, the creatures are stirring early with the fear of the looming winter a few weeks away.

Feeling lost in life? Want to find yourself? Head into the dark, quiet, cold woods alone. There’s no hiding from who you are. You’re all you have. Immediately, you leave the comfortable voices of others behind. The radio, the T.V., the iPhone. The only voice you’re left with is your own. Its fear that wakens the voice inside you. Its fear that helps you appreciate what and who you have in your life. Its fear that makes you feel alive. Maybe we all need to spend a little less time being comfortable.

I forgot my memory card for my running camera. Oh well, the photography is just a by product of the adventure.

Mount Rundle was a slog. A long approach in the woods followed by frozen scree and plenty of exposure. I summited in a heart pounding 1hr 56min. The wind howled at around 50km/ hr at the summit, so I didn't linger. Some treacherous descending along the fragmented rock was quite unpredictable, but I floated down in my usual run/ dance/ ski style. In total, the trip took 3hrs and 20min.

Here, the only photo of the day taken with my 5D of the summit of Rundle and the task of the day wrapped in cotton candy calling out to me.

“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships were made for”. Get out of your harbor. Open water is what your ship was made for.

Temple Mountain

I told you I was coming for you Temple...

Cascade Mountain

Stop looking at me Cascade! Seriously, this peak has been staring me down for a long time now and I have just plain had enough of it. This typically isn't prime trail running territory, however my legs were barking and needed to be let off leash. Was able to run the whole way to the Amphitheatre and combo run/ scrambled to the summit in 1hr 57min! For some arbitrary reason, I wanted to beat the 2hr mark, not like it means anything. Time for a granola bar and back to the car in 3hrs 45min. Legs and lungs felt amazing today and back to Calgary before my wife noticed I was gone.

Rockbound Lake - Castle Mountain

Today's route took me from Castle Junction, up to Rockbound Lake and up to towering Castle Mountain. Seeing as it was a Monday of a long weekend, I was startled that there were only found 5 cars in the parking lot when I arrived. I think a lot of people are put off by this trip due to the fact that it includes 16km's of trail in tree cover. I imagine the trails surrounding Lake Louise would be littered with day-trippers already.
Some quaint little trail details along the way. As I trotted by my attention was drawn to this young Aster getting to know this crotchety old tree stump.
As the trees break, you are faced with a shear wall of what I found out was primarily limestone. Impressive and menacing staring down on you.
Rockbound Lake is obviously a fitting name here. You as a visitor also feel bound to the lake by the cliff faces infront of you. Just off of camera right is a scree slope that you can use to ascend the rock wall.

Once I gained access to the cliff band, the fun began. It was running hedonism along the limestone and quartz shelf all the way to the summit. Here the whole route is exposed. The highway/ parking lot is just visible camera center. The route follows the valley up through the trees and deposits you at the lake. From there you ascend a steep scree slope camera left and gain the shelf. The summit of Castle mountain is camera right just before the isolated cone of rock named the Eisenhower.

Tried a pano here but my memory card wasn't cooperating and this is the only image I recorded from the summit. A good chunk of the Bow Range is in view and memories of past adventures at Lake Louise, Borgeau, Taylor Lake and Lake O'hara come flooding back as I refuel.
Temple Mountain is has pulled a cloud in front of it's east face hiding it from view. I think in my mind it's scared knowing it's next on my list. You can't hide Temple. I'm coming for you.

Healy Pass

It's official, the high alpine trail mashing season is here once again! I've been creeping on the webcams at Sunshine Village over the past 2 weeks and the meadows has gone from completely snow covered to open for business in that amount of time!

Got on the 8am Shuttle bus at Sunshine Village and gained my altitude the American way today. My route took me through Sunshine Meadows, along the Monarch Ramparts, up Healy Pass, down to Egypt Lake and return. Weather was perfect and some wildflowers were already out. I'm usually pretty nervous about Healy pass on my own, but I had my bells and whistle glowing red after a few km's. Great intro to what will hopefully be many trips into the high passes this year.

Rock Isle Lake is the destination for most on the bus. I felt guilty pulling the camera out this early into the run.

Of course the Prairie Crocus' are the first flowers to chase the summer snow away.

A look back down from Healy Pass towards Monarch and the Ramparts.

My destination for the day: Egypt/ Scarab Lakes

This proud little Glacier Lilly wins the blue ribbon for dopest flower of the day.

Inversion

36 and improving HS form! Maybe by 50, I'll have my one arm HS. Ya right.

Summit's of Mount Borgeau left and Heart Mountain Right. Granted it's pretty difficult to HS on sharp rocks. Well, that's my excuse for not extending my elbows and flexing my shoulders properly.