Today, Peter, Sheila, Ann, Ralph and I were the first people this year to go up Idaho Peak – we did it the long way – from the Wakefield side. Seven hours of hiking and about 1300 – 1400 metres elevation. And they weren’t easy metres. (we had to start below the parking lot – although we – mostly Peter – did fix the blowdown before heading back – all clear now)

We thought there wouldn’t be a lot of snow. Boy! Were we wrong!

We were pretty fine until we got to the ice gully. Yeah – we were not lucky: it was full of snow – happily, snow and not ice. Peter got out his ice axe and dug steps. I came up behind and stamped out the steps. And we all got across. Yay! That was the hardest part right?

Wrong.

The snow had formed high ridges and some really tricky and unpleasant passages as we got higher. We made it to the parking lot and then we thought we might be in the clear.

We were not. There was a lot of snow on the trail.

But we made it and had a lovely sunny, warm lunch on top and singed the register – first of the year!

So that was cool.

And we had a ptarmigan on the trail who kept walking in front of us and refused to move off the trail.

And we had huge bear prints in the snow.

It was all madly cool.

A great day!