Sated Craving

Yesterday was a day D for me. I finally acted upon my urges to answer the challenge of this "shark tooth" peak that is visible from pretty much everywhere in the vicinity of Kootenay Lake, B.C. I finally stood on top of Mt. Loki, 2,771 m, at the age of 75. I feel holier than Thou and like a real Kootenay man now.

And a challenge it was! First, I left home at 5 am and went south to catch a 6:30 ferry across the lake in Balfour.

Once on the other side of the lake, I drove north along the shore to the end of pavement and further on a dirt road. Then I entered onto a very rough logging road that zigzagged to about a 1000 m elevation.

There was the start of a primitive path leading to Mt. Loki. View west across Kootenay Lake.

The trailhead.

First, steeply up a dense dark forest of tall trees until it thinned up.

Next through garden patches of alpine meadow flowers.

Up, up, up to the col at the head of the valley.

A look back from the col to the west side of the lake with Kokanee Glacier. Hello Micha!

Reaching the col, I caught the first glimpse of the target peak.

Getting closer.

Alpine gardens everywhere along the traverse from the col to the mountain's ridge - Indian Paintbrush.

Blue Delphiniums.

More delphiniums.

Alpine Heather.

The hard scrambling is about to start.

Wow! still that high?

Another look back across the lake to Kokanee Glacier from the first false peak (there are three).

A close-up of Kokanee Glacier

Up another false summit.

It's a tough life up there. Yet, beauty prevails.

Up, up, up!

Two guys tackled the class 3 final climb to the very top before me. I met them on their descent.

Finally on top! The summit cairn.

Gorgeous views all around!

Milena called me looking at the mountain from Kaslo, just as I stood on its summit. The biggest challenge of all was the descent. It took me four hours. Once I sat in the Jeep, I could not get up. I returned home around ten.