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Jasper, ab
Canada
1032 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 06:37 AM
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Fiddle (Whitehorse) pass was the very first hike I ever did in the Rockies after I arrived here 32 years ago, so it has a very special place in my heart. I still remember reading in the trail guide the word "solitude" and "rarely visited" and that's what drew me to this place. It hasn't changed in all these years. I had to get far away from the crazy crowds in Jasper this long weekend so I headed to Cadomin. Although the campground near the TH was full, I never saw a soul on the entire trip, except one small group of backpackers at one of the backcountry camps. We exchanged pleasantries and I never saw them again. Fiddle Pass isn't the most beautiful pass in the Rockies, it doesn't have the giant snow capped mountains, or the big glacier views, or the shimmering torquoise lakes, but it is beautiful to me and you get the sense of solitude like few other places. It's a 15 km hike to the top of the pass and from there I climbed through a beautiful meadow and then up a high ridge to 2500 meters.
These are pictures of Whitehorse Creek very close to the start of the hike, just passed the provincial campsite
  
Some more views on the way up to the pass
   
I am on the meadows here approaching the pass.
   
I am about half a KM away from the pass when I see this. Instantly I knew what it was
I watched him for quite a while. I ascertained that there were no cubs around and that there wasn't a kill, so I approached to within 200 meters or so. It was windy and the wind was blowing towards me, so he wasn't going to be able to smell me. As I approached I started talking in my normal voice, but he didn't hear. I watched him dig for rodents. It was very exciting watching him go about his business
  
After a while, probably 15 minutes I decided to whistle, now he heard me.
And then he did what they always do under these circumstances, at least with me they do this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lobo2727/3785109894/
Sorry for the poor quality as I have never videoed anything before
Anyway, that was that. Although he was heading to the upper meadow that I was heading to, I never saw him again.
Here are the rest of the shots from the upper meadows and ridge
                     
The hike was about 32 kms, about 1200 meters in elevation gain in brutal heat and swarming horseflies. They are nasty creatures that take chunks out of you, but it was a very rewarding day |
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877 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 08:45 AM
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| Great pics lobo, nice video of the bear. Seems like an appropriate event to mark your return to Fiddle Pass. I understand you can bike the first 6-7 km, is that right? |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
840 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 08:58 AM
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Yes, this pass convey the sense of solitude. A great place to visit on a long weekend  |
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Calgary, alberta
Canada
670 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 10:14 AM
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That grizzly video was great, thanks for sharing |
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Vancouver, B.C.
Canada
80 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 11:21 AM
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| Very interesting TR, lobo, and nice pictures. Thats really an area, you wont find any crowds. Looks very remote ;-) |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1032 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 1:10 PM
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Thanks for the nice comments.
Dav, the trail to Fiddle Pass branches off at about KM 7 off the trail to Whitehorse Falls. It's 12 kms to Whitehorse falls and you can bike it. If you're hardcore you can ride up to the pass, but I wouldn't recommend it. The trail to the falls is an old seismic line. I walked yesterday as my bike is in the shop. |
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Penhold, Alberta
Canada
2014 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 1:28 PM
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Nice looking area Lobo. I was wondering why you were saying, "come" in the video. You didn't really want him to come back I'm sure! |
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1705 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2009 : 7:25 PM
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| I would have let the bear be, but to each their own I guess. Great photos! |
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Alberta-based choss climbin', flame throwin', rappel lovin', ass talkin' hater who doesn't like "Gumby" for a descriptor
6302 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2009 : 7:48 PM
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| Awesome!!! |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1032 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2009 : 8:01 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Sodbuster
I would have let the bear be, but to each their own I guess. Great photos!
I thought about leaving the bear undisturbed. I watched it for 45 min from different distances, hoping that he would move off on his own. I came a long way to climb that ridge and the reality of it is, that if you don't want to scare an animal than none of us should be in the mountains. On that day alone I scared up a herd of elk, a fox, the sheep in that picture moved off. That marmot in the picture ran off as many others up there did and I killed a bunch of horseflies. And on top of that, that small group of backpackers were heading to Miette Hotsprings and would have passed by there too. Every single hike I do have signs of griz, so what does one do? And just because you don't see a bear or another animal on a given day doesn't mean that you haven't scared one off. But, I do feel bad about whistling and calling the bear after he started to run, I shouldn't have done that |
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1705 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2009 : 8:20 PM
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Just so long as you kill your share of horse-flies you're fine by me I guess I didn't interprete from your report that you needed to hike that direction.
I actually commented to my wife that I'm glad there are still bears in the Rockies and that many people are 'scared' of them. The more populated parts of our parks are too busy this time of year to be enjoyable and for the most part I think the bears have become accustomed to working around a few backpackers / hikers in the more remote areas. |
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Coffee swillin', wine lovin', Owl fearin' Andie McDowell stunt double, who sports retro gear
Vancouver, BC
5468 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2009 : 12:06 AM
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| Stunning pics!!! |
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Topic |
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a hike, a pass, a ridge, a griz@ Fiddle Pass, AB
