Leon Turnbull Photography

Well we just got back from our summer vacation to Canada. No waterfalls seen up there, though not for lack of trying.

It was just me and the kids visiting my family up there, as my wife had to stay home this year, unfortunately. On one day, we decided to go up to the top of magnificent Old Glory, myself, my sister Tania, brother in law Lynal, son Jadon (13), and niece Hannah (13). It is the highest and most prominent peak in the Rossland Range area, 7800 ft. high. The hike is about 6.5 miles one way up, with a gain of 3200 ft. (actually 3700 ft. total elevation was hiked due to one annoying downward stretch). Jadon thought it was a lot more difficult than our recent Eastern Sierra hike, though I did not think so (but it is too difficult to compare the two hikes because they are not similar). Hannah, meanwhile, essentially ran up and down the mountain once she got going (she did not want to go at first). There were quite a few wildflowers still out on the mountain, though definitely past peak. It would be awesome when the flowers are in full bloom up there. I had a tiny bit of cloud cover so I managed to get this photo (handheld, no tripod – shame on me). Once at the top, we all enjoyed the glorious views around us: the ski hill on one side, Nancy Greene Lake on another, the city of Trail on another, and a huge cliff on the last side. Both Jadon and Hannah ran down the mountain together getting way ahead of the rest of us, which was highly disturbing to us, especially since they went the wrong way down. We were going to take a short cut, but they did not wait for us at the junction, and ended up going down the very long way. But we had no idea which way they went, so while Tania and Lynal went down the short way, I went the long way, running down the trail to catch up to them. I eventually caught up to them. I was not pleased, I had not wanted to hike 13 miles that day. Did they not know this was grizzly bear and cougar territory? Ah, teenagers. What can you do?

On the way down, I saw one old timer hiking up the mountain. He was not going the long, easy way around to the top (which is along the ridge on the south side). Instead he was going straight up the east face (the one seen in this photo). It looked crazy and far too cliffy to me when I examined it but he insisted there was a good route up that way. Yeah, right. Ok good luck with that old man. I think I might try it some day, though. Ha!

Old Glory was initially named (likely) by Americans back in the Gold Rush days in the late 1800s. In those days, Americans thought British Columbia was going to become part of the Union. It did not, of course. Nonetheless, I have always loved the name of this mountain. It seems so appropriately named, being the most prominent and magnificent peak in the region. It looks so old and majestic and alone. From 1944-68 it was the site of the highest weather station in the world. These incredible men lived up on top of the mountain year round. You can see some remains of the house, but not very much is left. I just cannot imagine being up there in the cold deep winter, or during a summer lightning storm. It is pure nuts. I am currently reading a book called (strangely enough) Old Glory, written by one of these men, Ron Walker. It is a fascinating and humorous history of the mountain, and highly recommended, especially if you are an old Rosslander, like myself.

Once we all safely (and without being eaten by a grizzly) got back down to the car, we were all very happy to go to the Colander in Trail for dinner. Simply put: the best spaghetti on Earth. Yumm!