BOU AVENUE
Mount Aeneas And Pedley Ridge
After the worst night of our vacation camping at Dry Gulch Provincial Park just outside Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia (an inconsiderate family of yahoos were blasting heavy metal crap from their car stereo all night long right beside our tent), Kelly Wood and I packed up and left early on the morning of 18 August 2006 and drove up Windermere Creek valley to hike up Pedley Pass.  Still a bit sullen, we started up the trail at 8:56 AM, but by the time we reached Bumpy Meadows, the promise of a beautiful day in the mountains helped raise our spirits.  After reaching Pedley Pass at 9:58 AM, we headed southwest past a tarn into a basin to scramble up Mount Aeneas.  The access scree slope at the back of this basin looked too steep and loose for Kelly's liking, and she decided to wait while I continued on by myself.  After about 30 minutes of muddling up the scree slope, I emerged onto a surprisingly scenic plateau on the upper mountain.  Some more plodding and easy scrambling had me on the summit by 12:35 PM.  Inspired by the clear views all around and feeling energetic, I bagged a couple more sub-peaks to the northeast before returning to the basin and rejoining Kelly at 2:20 PM.  Together, we hiked back to Pedley Pass and climbed up Pedley Ridge, a short distance to the northeast.  After a nice break, we left Pedley Ridge at 4:23 PM and were back at the trailhead by 5:06 PM.  We ended the day and our vacation on a high note by soaking in the relaxing hot pools at Radium before having dinner and checking into a nice, quiet motel.
Apparently caused by frost heaving moist ground. Kelly crosses Bumpy Meadows.
The pass itself isn't very scenic--keep climbing! Kelly reaches 2256-metre Pedley Pass.
A rather complex-looking mountain. This is Mount Aeneas as seen from the ridge southwest of Pedley Pass.
This is actually one of the sub-peaks I would bag later in the day. A spectacular buttress towers above the entrance to the basin.
It is indeed loose and steep--not pleasant scrambling. This is the scree slope at the back of the basin.
A great place to wander and explore! Sonny climbs up above the plateau.  Two of the sub-peaks he would later bag are visible across the plateau.
The traverse of this ridge looks like a long adventure. This is the connecting ridge to Chisel Peak at far right.
Easy. Sonny scrambles up the west ridge of Mount Aeneas.
About 725 metres height gain from the trailhead. Sonny tags the cairn on the 2675-metre summit of Mount Aeneas.
Henry, Edward, Albert, George and Mary The Royal Group can be seen to the northeast.
Conditions were ideal this summer for climbing Mount Assiniboine. Mount Assiniboine is the most prominent peak to the north.
How could I pass up all these easy nubs?? Sonny approaches the first sub-peak to the northeast.
It is, but only marginally so. The second sub-peak looks a little more challenging.
Best scrambling of the day. Sonny scrambles up the second sub-peak.
It was more fun bagging this sub-peak than the real summit! Sonny celebrates atop the second sub-peak.
This is the same one as that seen in the sixth photo on this webpage. This is the third sub-peak that Sonny would climb.
Actually, I was far from content as I was sitting on a painfully pointy rock! Sonny sits contentedly on the third sub-peak.
It's funny how all these familiar peaks look strangely different from the west. Mount Joffre is another readily recognizable peak to the east.
Who knew such dull-looking heaps of rock could be fun? This is looking back at the first two sub-peaks and the true summit (right) from the third sub-peak.
The opposite ridges all look like fun scrambles. This is an aerial view of the tarn near the entrance to the basin.
I missed a couple of sub-peaks further west. Maybe next time... Sonny hikes up his fourth sub-peak on his way back to the basin.  The third sub-peak is behind him.
This tarn is actually difficult to spot from Pedley Ridge. Kelly approaches the tarn on her way back to Pedley Pass.  Pedley Ridge is visible in the distance at far right.
The ridge top is only a 15-minute walk from the pass. Kelly hikes up Pedley Ridge.
Actually, the views are only marginally better from the summit of Mount Aeneas. There is a large cairn marking the 2395-metre summit of Pedley Ridge.  Mount Aeneas (left) dominates the background.
A great way to end our 2006 summer vacation! Sonny and Kelly relax atop Pedley Ridge.