Spring flowers bring summer showers?!

Winter never seems to end in Canada but alas it's over. Spring quickly transitions into summer and here we are... its been a season of climbing trips, field school, book launches, flowers and reformers!

Eva checks out the Illecillewaet Glacier above Rogers Pass...

Skaha

Seems like ages ago now but the spring season kicked off with a nice climbing trip out to Skaha. Camping in the area isn't the best so the van got left at home and we packed up and headed out in the CRV

Started with a few days in Revelstoke which includes and obligatory stop at La Baguette for breakfast and croissants. Brian enjoys his breakfast

A day was spent climbing at WaterWorld, a couple hundred foot cliff that you have to rap into as the cliff comes straight out of the waters of Lake Revelstoke. Here comes Brian down and in!

While Eva climbs up and out!

and works her way to the top!

Did Brian make it out? 'Who knows / who cares' says the Giraffe. Looks like he might have had to swim out!

After a fun few days in Revy it was time to head to Skaha...

Eva having survived the lake has all the gear

while Brian gets ready to climb a crack

In the meantime Eva searches the guide for more cracks

and finds her own crack to climb

another crack...

one more...

another...

and one more...

while Eva was off climbing cracks Brian did find a sport route to try

While not climbing we enjoyed ice cream

some amazing Indian food

a little R&R

swimming

Sunset views from our balcony

and flowers

Wyoming

As May turned into June Brian and Teddy headed south back into the states while Eva prepared and headed out for field school. Where they did some vanlife camping by a lake.

Climbing at Ten Sleep

trying steep stuff...

Adam hiding from the rain at sinks

Camped by the river in Lander with other Vanlifers

Gloomy but pretty skies over the Winds

Approach at Wild Iris

Adam rapping in at Freemont canyon

Lots of time spent on the road

and impressive nights under the Milky Way

Brian attempts to ride his bike on a rainy day

all the while Teddy stays dry

and enjoys the views

did I mention flowers?

Revy & Banff

Upon Brian's return to Calgary Eva was ready for a trip too! So we unloaded and reloaded the Van for a week of exploring new things in Revelstoke and Banff. First stop was Victor lake wall just outside Revy for a nice 11 pitch route high above the Trans Canada Highway. Eva ready to go

The first 1/2 of the climb was a test of big toe strength as it was predominantly friction slab. Eva working her big toes...

higher up an arete gave Eva's toes a short break

At the top the wall steepens

having fun on Victor Lake Wall

Eva makes her way to the top

While Brian enjoys the view

Around Revy we found a new place to spend the night, a little swimming lake included

Enjoying dinner

Next morning we found some cracks to climb

and in the afternoon we spent time walking around high up in Revelstoke NP

Breakfast at la Baguette

Exploring the trails around Rogers Pass

heading up to the glaciers

crossing snow fields in June

what a view!

Eva admires a glacier

Brian gets ready to go swimming

Questioning his life choices Brian gets out of the cold water!

Eva enjoying more views

alas time to head down

and enjoy post adventure barbecue

Next it was time for a relaxing float down the Bow river between Castle Junction and Banff

floating

more floating

with a little paddling

followed with more BBQ

Did I mention swimming? Eva enjoying the solitude of Island Lake

Eva drying off after a dip in the Bow

Sunset on Castle mountain

and of course there were flowers!

Odds and Ends

Amongst all of this Eva managed to officially launch her book!

goes on tour

and becomes a bestseller

and teaches field school. Students searching for outcrop

"the rocks are over there!" exclaims the student with much glee

Actually it is the Mcconnell Thrust

students enjoying Moraine Lake

The Giraffe joins in on the fun

Eva adds a new member to the family - The Reformer

Brian decides to get into woodworking and makes a frame!

somewhere in all of this Eva finds another rock to climb

Teddy takes a much needed bath

So it goes for Brian and Eva in the spring and early summer 2023

Giraffe out!

Did I mention flowers???

Enough already! how do I turn this thing off...