Summer Vacation through the interior of BC

Milky Way, northern lights and Andromeda galaxy over Beaverhead Lake

Summer started out rough - we both caught a nasty case of Covid and were confined to bed and deep fatigue for almost a month (at least it felt like it!)

That's a positive test result!

Starting to recover we opted for a short 2 week jaunt into central BC to try and hit up some climbing areas that we have driven by / heard about / simply wondered about but never been. It was a good trip to disconnect, read some books, eat some, swim in some lakes and maybe do a little climbing.

route

The trip mainly consisted of 3 parts - the Okanagan Valley (known for their cherries), Marble Canyon (known for long multipitch climbs) and Revelstoke (known for being the land where every white middle to upper classer brings 'the stoke').

First night - spent literally next to the river

Eva admires a waterfall

waterfall

baby waterfall

the river

it rained

Part I - the Okanagan Valley

Cherries

Besides stopping for cherries - multiple times - we checked out three climbing spots new to us: Cougar Canyon, Aberdeen Columns and Cedar Mt.

It would seem no one took any pictures of Cougar Canyon - so you know it might not really have happened. Its just a pile of old Gneiss hidden in the woods above Vernon - so let's not worry too much about it.

Next up Aberdeen Columns - basalt columns high up in the hills above Vernon allows us to play around on some cracks

Eva scrambles up to the base of the columns

racks up

and takes off!

all smiles

up she comes

perfect hands

not all cracks are created equal

this one is a little thinner

Not always crack

Oh yeah let's not forget Brian is here too!

off he goes!

A nice camping spot next to lake

the lake

Brian gets ready for a new day

Next stop Cedar Mt

Eva ready to take on the mountain

off she goes

followed by Brian

Eva Finds something to grab onto

Getting steep near the top!

Eva all smiles after a nice romp up to the top

Another night another campsite

Eva prepares a veggie stick for the grill - yes those are cherries...

and gets creative with the radish

gets ready for a celebratory swim

and reflects on another day complete

Part II Marble Canyon

Having driven by multiple times but having always been literally driven away by the heat we finally made it to Marble Canyon. Marble Canyon is known for its long limestone multipitch routes!

A new area, a new lake

T&G approved

all the while Eva enjoys some solitude and a good book

Brian says let's go rock climbing!

so he finds a rock to climb

and up we go

Brian aims for the horizon

More climbing

pitch 433 done, only 2 more to go!

if you look closely you can see the van

slab

Brian afraid of what comes next chooses not to open his eyes

what comes next

Eva cruises thru with ease

More slab...

find Eva find the van

there she is!

I thought there were only 2 pitches left?!

what ever pitch that was - finally at the top!

Celebratory selfie!

Back at camp Brian sorts the gear

and enjoys some bacon!

while Eva enjoys a swim

having conquered another mountain its time to pack up and move on...

Part III - Revelstoke to Spillimachaan to home

time to leave Marble Canyon and start our slow return home - first stop tacos!

Eva enjoys a veggie taco

Brian prefers to hear his Moo or Oink

Next stop swimming

Selfie

Brian as usual thinks he is much cooler than he really is - might need to take it easy on the bacon there bud....

Third stop fruit stand

What is a fruit vs what is a vegetable?

Finding a place to spend the night

another night spent under the stars and the Milky Way

Climbing time

more climbing

Brian says its too hot to climb - lets go swimming!

Another night under the stars and the Milky Way

Eva enjoys a peaceful morning

and a casual stroll

Before leaving Revelstoke we stop and check out the dam

Where Brian learns to have fun with electricity

One last stop for Pizza at La Baguette

Next stop Spillimachaan....

One last campsite - this time we sleep under funky clouds

where we make some new friends

A chatty groundhog or should I say mountainhog?

Dragon fly

That said we are not here to make friends - we are here to climb!

Brian ropes up

and finds a crack to climb

Eva climbs too!

and once again nears the top

the top

is she belaying or taking in the view?

the view

Eventually all good things come to an end and its time to head home

Eva poses for end of trip photo

a selfie better captures the moment

Part IV - Postscript Calgary

Being overachievers once back home we decide to get one more climb in...

approach

Looking pretty

Eva contemplates where to go next

mantles up

Brian soon follows

all the while happy to be climbing

And thats how it goes

T&G out!