Early going double-track, just beyond the trailhead at Cameron Lake
"There's only one hill, Rob," coached Ian. Repeatedly. It begins.
Sneaking peeks at the Georgia Strait and Coast Mountains
The canopy closing in, just beyond the lower intersection of the Lookout and CPR Trails
The views northeast from the lookout
And west, yielding the first views of the objective
Logging road interregnum
Ascending the old ski runs
Leaving the artifacts of human involvement behind
Early going on the final climb, with the ground ascended laid out behind
Climbing this gully is off the main route, not strictly necessary, and in other conditions, to be avoided, but presented with safe consolidated snow, we couldn't not give Rob a little feel for alpinism on his maiden trip into the Island Alpine
It's a bit of magic seeing a friend see the Island Alpine for the first time
Cokely's summit, rather aesthetic but for its adornments
The Mount Arrowsmith massif and Jewel Lake
Westward view over the Alberni Inlet towards the Mackenzie Range and beyond to the Pacific Ocean
Early going descending the upper reaches of the CPR Trail
The old growth along the CPR Trail smacks me in the face every single time I run through it
Big trees beget big conversations?
The train heading home
Back to the beginning and the payoff: Cameron Lake