After taking an extended break on the second high point, Eva, Aga, Zosia and I backtracked to the aforementioned 4-way junction.  As shown on the map at the trailhead, the crossroad here drops down the east side of the ridge into Camp Creek valley, and on paper at least, this appeared to be an easier return route than climbing back over the first high point.  When we were chatting with the hunter, he strongly discouraged us from taking this alternate route back, but our preference for loops and a curiosity to explore were hard to resist.  Initially, we dropped off the crest of Miles Coulee Ridge as expected, but the road then makes an inexplicable turn to the north going up and over a high shoulder and then connecting with a similarly undulating cut line heading east.  Even when we finally dropped down to Camp Creek valley, the road heading south still had some challenging creek crossings and an irritating number of uphill sections.  As such, the hike out was far from trivial and felt both long and wearisome.  Ultimately, we closed our loop at the split, and though we still had some distance and elevation gain left to the trailhead, familiarity with the road already traveled somehow made the remainder of our egress feel less stressful.

	A red fox roams a field beside the road to Bob Creek Staging Area. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Eva follows Aga and Zosia on a dirt road at the start of the trip.
	The group reaches a gate at the boundary for Bob Creek Wildland.
	The group gets its first glimpse of Miles Coulee Ridge in the distance.
	Eva, Zosia and Aga conquer a conspicuous erratic near the south end of Miles Coulee Ridge.
	Eva tries to keep her feet dry while crossing Camp Creek.
	The group takes a short cut by climbing this spur ridge which will eventually connect to the main ridge.
	As Aga and Eva ascend the spur ridge, Thunder Mountain can be seen through the gap at right.
	Eva pauses at this clearing just before advancing to the main spine of Miles Coulee Ridge which can be seen in the background.
	The group gains the main spine of Miles Coulee Ridge.  The south end of Whaleback Ridge is visible on the left horizon.

 

The views get better as the group climbs further up the ridge.

 

	The final approach to the first high point is easy.  The group aims to extend the hike to the distant bump at centre.
	On the first high point (1815 metres), the group meets a hunter scouting for game.

 

Although the group is aiming for the highest bump at left, the other lower bumps all look appealing to climb.

 

	The route to the highest bump (right) follows the continuation of the ridge beyond the slight dip ahead.
	Here is a look back at the first high point of Miles Coulee Ridge.
	The group climbs up the final rise before the top of the highest bump.
	Aga, Zosia, Eva and Sonny stand on the second high point (1988 metres).
	Here is the view to the southwest from the second high point.

 

Peaks along the Continental Divide are barely visible behind the unnamed ridge to the west.

 

	The forested ridges to the north are probably seldom hiked.
	The trailhead seems hopelessly far away as the group descends from the second high point.
	The group takes an alternate route back to the trailhead by following this road that drops off the east side of the ridge.
	After a convoluted descent off the ridge, Aga appears to be home free, but the hike out Camp Creek valley is not as straightforward as it appears.

 

The wide open spaces of Bob Creek Wildland help alleviate some of the weariness of the long hike out.

 

	A garter snake slithers along the same road leading to the trailhead. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance:  22.9 kilometres Round-Trip Time:  10 hours 1 minute Cumulative Elevation Gain:  897 metres GPX Data