Uma rests on the trail near the start of the hike through the forest. Our trail goes up through the trees ahead and then gains the ridge on the left side of the photo. The trail traverses the top of the ridge in the distance.
Maps at trail junctions help navigate through the labyrinth of mountain bike trails.
Looking back across the valley at the Three Sisters. Dan and I have climbed Big Sister, the furthest away. We want to climb Middle Sister this year. Little Sister is the most technical climb requiring ropes and will have to wait for a future year when our skills are more developed.
Our route goes up through the trees on the left side of the gully. Beyond the trees is a large scree slope out of sight from here.
The trail climbs steeply through forest. Switchback after switchback after switchback....
Emerging from the trees, the trail winds across the scree slope to the top of the ridge. The scree is steeper than it looks in this photo.
On the summit of Grotto Mountain.
That's five peaks done now. Only 17 more and I'll achieve my goal! Next weekend we are thinking of going up Sparrowhawk Mountain south of Canmore, another higher peak with a similar technical difficulty rating.