Hiking up the trail with the high point (GR071616) ahead that we ascend on the return.
Victoria Ridge After reading Andrew Nugara's website account of Victoria Ridge, we've been meaning to see this colorful ridge ourselves. We planned to hike the trail to the summit and then follow the ridge to the col next to Victoria Peak. From the col we could take the trail back. Starting from the gate, we walked to the end of the road and then continued down the trail. After passing Victoria Peak the trail leaves the valley and begins climbing. The trail climbed for a long time and we wondered if we were on the right path until we reached a fork. We took the left trail: the right must go to Victoria Peak. We continued up the trail which cuts high on the slopes of the ridge providing good views. However, we were mostly focused on the summit in front of us. Eventually we reached a col and from there followed the trail along the ridge top. We reached the summit with great anticipation only to find it was a false summit! The true summit was ten minutes away and 30 m higher. Four hours and 13 km after starting out, we reached the true summit. We didn't stay at the top long because of high winds. While trying to photograph a panorama I lost my balance several times even though I braced against a rock. Once we finished taking pictures we headed back to the col. At the col we left the trail and ascended the ridge. We were expecting colorful scenery and weren't disappointed. As we followed the ridge the scenery and colours kept changing. We reached the high point at GR071616 and took in the ridge that swung around to Victoria Peak. Unfortunately Dinah's feet were causing her grief and we decided against continuing to the col. Hiking for Dinah had been uncomfortable since after doing St. Eloi Mountain the day before, but now the pain had become unbearable. We retreated back down the high point and dropped down to the main trail. The trail to the summit is surprisingly good and I highly recommend it as a hike. But returning on the ridge exposes one to the most vivid colours of Victoria Ridge. |
Hiking up the trail with the high point (GR071616)
ahead that we ascend on the return.
The trail begins to climb steeply here.
The trail loops to the drainage to the right before cutting
across the
scree below the height point (mouse over).
Following the trail in the scree below the height point. Victoria Peak can
be reached
from the
col (red scree).
Good
views of our surroundings from the trail
The trail
leads to the false summit.
We stop to look at Castle Peak.
Trail goes through some woods before the false summit
Heading up
the false summit
Almost on the true summit
From the
true summit we start back to the false summit.
Had I first checked this photo from my Pincher Ridge trip I would
have seen
the true
summit behind the false summit.
The connecting ridge between the true and false summits is quite broad.
Bulls eye on Pincher Ridge (mouse over to back up)
Starting up the ridge from the col
Heading to the high point
Landscape appears alien here
Pincher Ridge
After reaching the highpoint ahead we descended from the the col on
the right.
View from the high point
The view back along the ridge that appeared so colorful from the other end,
is
strangely dull.
Panorama from the summit
82 G/8 Beaver Mines/82 G1 Sage Creek
