Just another pleasant fall day in Alberta... you know, complete with snow squalls, 60km wind gusts, and minus temperatures in the Highwood area of Kananaskis. We saw the uncertain weather forecast for Saturday, so decided to tackle an easy peak. There were literally hundreds of hikers in Arethusa Cirque out hunting for Larches, those golden hued conifers that will shed all their needles in the next couple days. But once we started the ascent up the ridge to Little Arethusa peak, we left the crowds behind, and would have the entire summit to ourselves, owing to the wind.
September in AB... a crapshoot for weather.
Last of the larches. These colours will likely be gone by next weekend.
The base of the cirque was muddy and slick, and got progressively more wintery as we ascended.
Gaining elevation above the cirque, this was where we broke away from the crowds.
The colour of the golden larches really popped when contrasted against the wintery backdrop of the Highwood area, as the sun peaked out intermittently.
A nice calm fall day… no adverse conditions whatsoever…
See? Perfectly calm.
Summit Brew: Duclaw Brewing Sour Me Unicorn Farts Glittered Sour Ale. Disclosure: It was so cold and windy up top, I saved the beer for after we got home.
Conditions got briefly worse as we prepared to descend. A wall of snow swept in, and pelted us with sideways blowing snow pellets that hurt your face.
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