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Home»Trip Report Albums»Assiniboine Provincial Park»Simpson Ridge (Click to Load Album)

Oh my! This is the very start of the valley south of Police Meadows. Not much of a trail going on here.The first few avalanche slopes aren't horrible.Things ratchet up a bit.Things ratchet up a bit.The stream running down the center of the valley is energetic and wide in places.Deviating out of the main valley below and heading for a traverse above it to avoid possible terrain issues.The terrain is steep, covered in alders and shrubs up to 7 feet tall and full of old and new avalanche debris.The terrain is steep, covered in alders and shrubs up to 7 feet tall and full of old and new avalanche debris.Not everyone is cut out for this type II fun. It's not easy and remember - there's absolutely ZERO guarantees that our planned route will even result in a summit at the end of all the suffering.Learning once again to slow down and be "one with the bushes".Finding small open areas is like finding precious treasure - the pace quickens and smiles appear.The waterfall beckons from afar. There's a lot more hardship to go before we get to enjoy it though.The problem with avalanche debris and trees on avalanche slopes is that they all lean downhill.Remnant patches of avalanche snow helped on some sections.The lovely waterfall and its charming atmosphere made us forget our predicament and tired bodies and minds for a few minutes.It's moments like this that keep me exploring the Rockies lesser known peaks and valleys.It's moments like this that keep me exploring the Rockies lesser known peaks and valleys.There are no signs of the pending weather moving in as we ascend beside the falls and look back over our approach valley.We started with a rising traverse along a lower cliff band to access the upper Krummholtz forest.
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