Odlum Ridge

It's that time of year where I'd normally have switched from hiking into snowshoes.  Highwood Pass already had a big dump of snow, and I know of people who've turned around in the parking lots at PLPP due to too much snow for hiking.  But a few of us thought that we should try for just one (or two or three) more hikes.  We're protesting; we don't want to use those snowshoes yet. 

Odlum Ridge was a perfect pick.  We brought our snowshoes to the trailhead as we didn't know what conditions would be like, but left them behind.  We were greeted with warm weather, blue skies, fall colour in the grasses, and a completely snow-free ascent to gain the ridge.  With the Highwood River at the beginning, we brought water crossing shoes.  Three opted to wade across, while I (not so gracefully) wedged my way across a couple of logs.  There was a deep channel of water below, so even though the logs were perfectly stable for walking, the thought of a potential fall into deep water made me stay low.  We gained views quite quickly and were in awe in every direction.  You can see all the way down to the Livingstone, into BC to the west, beyond Mist Mountain and Tombstone to the north, and the Elbow to the east.  What a treat for a fall day!  Now we want another peak for next weekend, and beyond that I suspect x-country season may be here.