Summer 2003 - Special Edition
Newstand Price $3.95 Canada $5.95
Albert-Edward Success
| Six AM. A gentle mist carressed the flower filled meadows of Paradise, the only sounds the trickle of a fresh mountain stream, plaintive song of the Varied Thrush. A tranquility soon to be shattered by the excited giggles of six members of the OFBA Alpine Club. The next 12.5 hours were filled with burps, farts and endless renditions and permutations of the same three jokes (all related to bodily functions). A simple, cheerful group indeed. |
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Team members: Victor "Pickle" Tymoshuk, Neil "Shaggy" Paterson, Guy "Cabablairo" Paterson (no relation), Mark "Mr. T" Tatchell, Chris "Cobra" Shepard, and the OFBA's media and public relations consultant Paul "Paulo" Nicholson "So you know Kung Foo! Monkey Style? Dragon Style? Show me." - Victor Tymoshuk |
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Helen
McKenzie Meadows
Trailhead - Circlet Lake (cont.)
The occasional lumbering horsefly joined in the fun. Several were dispatched but not before removing pieces of flesh from a couple of the members. This section of the hike is rolling terrain and although it seems as though you are climbing, by the time you get to Circlet Lake you have lost most of the altitude you have gained over the past three hours. We reached the lake, with the peleton intact, just as a couple of groups were leaving. We were able to appropriate some of the more deluxe campsites and set up camp. After a bit of relaxation we got our gear ready and began the final ascent. Spirits were high.
Shaggy
making a slushy
Back at Camp
Unbeknownst to the group Cobra had snuck in 6 beer into his pack and before the ascent had surreptitiously put them in the lake to cool. As soon as we reached camp the beer was retrieved. In addition Mr. T produced a flask of Bourbon, Paulo pulled out a couple of Cubans and some Crown Royal, Shaggy and Pickle pulled out pulled outn some other stuff. no tesxt no text no test no text no text,no test no test . Dinner featured an exciting moment when Mr. T's stove started pouring flaming gas over the cooking platform. A delicious meal of chow mein noodles with ham and zucchini and spaghetti a-la-Pickle was served and soon afterwards we retired to the tents for a well deserved sleep. Blair and Mr. T. slept head to toe. Neil and Pickle were unwilling to discuss their sleeping arrangements. The next morning we dragged our aching bodies back to the trailhead. A good time was had by all.
THE END
Trip Summary:
Leave Mt. Washington Trailhead: 6:00 AM
Arrive Base Camp: Circlet Lake 9:00 AM
Leave Base Camp for Albert Edward 10:30 AM
Arrive at Summit 2:30 PM
Leave Summit 3:30
Back
at
Basecamp 6:30
Gleeful
summit team 
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Our
Quarry
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Trailhead - Circlet Lake |
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| The trip began at a furious pace with Cabablairo breaking off the front within the first K. The peleton would have nothing off it, however, and he was soon reeled in. The first few K are boardwalk and chip trail lulling one into the belief that you are in for a pleasant walk through the park. At Lake Helen McKenzie you leave the freeway and the journey begins to show its teeth |
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After passing the lake we climbed the first headwall to the plateau. We stopped for a break by the Ranger's cabin and were soon swarmed by hoards of hungry mosies. The rangers cabin has been located right beside a number of small ponds which provide an ideal environment for mosquito reproduction. Applications of quantities of 100% DEET helped to keep the swarms at bay. |
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Climbing
the Headwall
Circlet Lake - Summit:
The trail immediately starts climbing a steep headwall to a beautiful little ridge-top covered with tarns, snow patches and alpine meadows. After a kilometer or so along the meadow another climb brings you to the summit ridge. From here it's a couple of hours of rock, scree and snow right to the top. As we climbed higher the views got better and the air got thinner. In a couple of hours we were on the final steep section. Shaggy and Pickle who had taken the lead on the final pitch, made the noble gesture and allowed old Cobra to reach the summit first. After an hour lounging at the summit we sauntered back to base camp.
Gaining
the summit ridge
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Classifieds:
HULA GIRL 2001 model gently used Mild UV damage (excellent spring) C/W 1993 NISSAN AXXESS $8800 oboFor details call Shaggy at 595-0031
