A fall update of sorts
- brianzurek
- Oct 22
- 8 min read
Its a biggy, probably should have updated this thing earlier.... friends visited, Brian explored Northern BC (well actually probably never made it past 1/2 way to the border with the Yukon but it sure felt north to him), Brian went to Boston, Eva and Brian went to Valhalla Prov Park, Eva went to Japan, Brian went climbing and we shared a bunk in a hut with mouse. Thee end.
Ok now for as the kids like to say the deets.... I'll start with Valhalla as its the most action packed and finish with the nerdy tidbits that only nerds like Brian will find of interest - so buckle up bucko we're going for a ride!
Valhalla Prov Park (BC)
A wish of ours for several has been to go up to Valhalla Prov Park in BC and climb Mt Gimili. However, due to its short season (at least for the less adventurous like us) fires, snow, and bad timing have kept us away, well that is up till now! As August came to an end we had a short window between Brian returning from Boston and Eva starting classes - the weather looked good so we packed the CRV, left the stufties at home and made a quick dash for Slocan.
On the way out we found a nice unmarked, free rec site right on Slocan lake.
We had nice warm sunny weather - which of course meant time for a swim!
Before heading up to the trailhead the next day we of couse had to make an obligatory stop at the local bakery
Rumor has it the trailhead is overrun with rabid porcupines thats like to eat brake hose lines and other parts of the underbelly of ones vehicle - hence the need to porcupine proof the car
After that it was a nice gradual hike through the woods and up into the alpine to our campsite below mt Gimili
As we hiked out of the trees the views opened up
As we were camping we could take our time
As we got closer Gimili towers above us
That said it was nice to get to camp
As the season was getting late most the water sources were drying up - lucky for us someone cleared a hole to some running water
Camp set and water got it the rest of the evening was ours to enjoy
As an easy day came to an end we were treated with a phenomenal sunset
Being the middle of the week we were super lucky to have the place almost to ourselves.
At night the stars were amazing
we were lucky to have such beautiful night
That said morning comes as it always does
and someone said we were here to climb
Some of us were more eager to get going than others...
After a cup of coffee Brian was ready to go
Rumor has it the first pitch was the crux, Brian could maybe have used another cup of coffee
While Brian floundered, Eva cruised through the crux with ease
Having thought he had crushed the crux, Brian was preplexed by the 3rd pitch - "you sure this isn't the crux" he shouted
Eva as usual is completely unfazed
"Wait somebody said the roof on the seventh pitch was the crux" - Brian proclaimed
At the top
After a nice break at the top to take in the views we started the scramble back to camp
the views, the weather and the company - we were so so lucky to have had the route to ourselves.
what an amazing place
Happy to be back at camp we relaxed, ate some food and enjoyed the remainder of the day
As the day wore on more people showed up at camp - I think the route had 5 parties the next day
From camp we can look back and see where we went.
After another night it was time to pack up
and head on out
All down hill this time
One last look back as we leave the park
On the way home we made a pitstop in Castlegar for Indian food!
and why not get a few more pitches in while we are at it...
Eva styling up the route
On the way out we stopped to visit a colleague / friend of Eva's who has a cabin on the opposite side of the lake from the road which is only accessible by boat
We were treated to an amazing night in an amazing place - truely feeling blessed.
That said it was eventually time to head home - this time we crossed the lake on a ferry - was it an amazing ferry? Thats probably pushing it too far! But it is supposedly the worlds largest free inlands ferry - pretty cool!
Brian enjoys the view and fresh air
Of course we finsih the trip how we started the trip - with a swim!
Eva has a friend visit
This summer Eva had a special guest from Germany come and visit - her friend Katy
They had many adventures together crossing the Rockies - here they are in Peter Lougheed Prov Park.
Preparing for the their next phase in adventure-ship
Brian was lucky enough to join for a few days
The day was perfect for a quick romp up Mount Indefatigable
the way up envolves 10 or so pitches of friction slab climbing
While hard on the toes the views are amazingly worth it!
As a party of 3 we moved along with ease
Eventually as the clouds started to roll in the slabs made way for talus and scree
and just like that we were heading back down
The next day could have been a rest day but instead we went to a local crag
For a weekend treat the 3 of us went to a local small town (Strathmore) rodeo for the day
A local rodeo speciality are the chuckwagon races
Being a smaller local rodeo means it comes with its own flare and charm
Plus good seats that don't break the bank
While back home in Calagry we took advantage of a productive garden season
Brian goes on adventures in BC
While Eva was either working / traveling / playing with her friends Brian made a few jaunts across the provincial border into BC.
A trip north
Having never really been north of Jasper Brian wanted to see more of the north - how far north of north could he go? A long way, or so he thought, there is still along way to go until he hits the Yukon! So was he really south of north?!
Main towns along the way included Jasper, Valemount, Mcbride, Pricne George, Mackenzie and Dawson Creek
I'ver said it before but I will say it again, BC has some amazing free places to camp!
Valemount is known for its downhill mountain biking, being pig headed, Brian chose to ride up just as much as down
The region is also filled with endless miles of gravel roads
Another view from another free campsite
Camping (for free!) above the town of McBride
At night the stars came out and perfectly aligned with the town
Further on Brian found, you guessed it, another beautiful free spot to camp - he had this peaceful lake all to himself
Guess what? More endless gravel roads...
Mackenzie turned out to be the unsuspecting star of the trip
In the end Brian thought he was north of north only to realize he only made it as far as mile zero of the Alaska highway... so he was just north?
Climbing in Kootenays
Later in the fall Brian headed over to Cranbrook and Castlegar for a little taste of climbing in the east and west Kootenays.
The kootenays present a nice change from climbing the fractured limestone of the Rockies
This trip was primarily focused on exploring new places
The area is under a boom of climbing development with new areas and routes opening regularly
Fun climbing in unique settings
Brian did bring his bike but having climbed almost every day found very little time to ride
Being fall the colors were a changing
Best of all Castlegar was having a burger month promotion at participating restaurants - only $18!
All the rest
Yoho
As the summer came to an end we made for a quick excursion to Yoho NP
What started as a nice fall day quickly turned into a winter-wonderland overnight - thankfully we had a night booked in a hut
Morning brings clear blue-bird skies
As the sun rises over the snow capped peaks
the fresh snow made for pretty contrast to the not yet frozen mountains
A short hike into the alpine makes for a surreal landscape
Amazing how peaceful and quite a little snow makes the landscape feel
but can also feel so dramatic at same time
Packrafting
We had dreams, we had plans but in the end we floated the Bow from Bowmont, past downtown to the Harvie Passage.
Not having had enough adventure for the summer, Eva faced the dreaded rapids of the Harvie Passage like a champ!
Brian goes to Boston, Eva goes to Japan
Brian spent some time in Boston to visit his mom and sister
Meanwhile Eva had a conference in Japan!
Garden flowers
The garden this year was super productive - the tomatos and rasberries went absolulely crazy! This year I thought it would be fun to look at the side attraction the flowers
Astrophotography
I haven't gotten out as much as I would like this fall but so far I have managed to get to few shots of the Elephant Trunk nebula, the Andromeda galaxy and the North American Nebula
October is also the month Comet C/2025 A6 Lemon made an appearance in the westren sky
And thats it - you made it this far? If only, like in his dissertation, hide a ten note in the back to reward anyone for making this far!
T&G out!
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