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GR20 Day 7 Mt Ritondu

A race against the clouds.

Distance 6km, 850m of elevation gain and loss

We left our campsite still half set up, since we were going to be returning in a couple hours. Initially we were almost foiled because we could not figure out where the trail for Mount Ritondu left based on the guidebook’s description, but we scrambled up the hill until we hit a distinct line of cairns leading upwards. We climbed up into a grassy bowl and then followed steep zigzags requiring a bit of hands on scrambling, up the far side to a rocky gap. In front of us we could see a couple moving steadily, behind us we saw a group of four, but they abandoned their ascent at some point.

From the gap we could see jumbled rocks and a couple blue tarns. We climbed down and then boulder hopped up to a larger lake.

Skirted the lake and picked our way up a rubbly talus slope to the Lance,a huge rocky spire sitting in the centre of a gap.

The clouds were already closing in so we hurried up the last scramble to the peak, which was just below the cloud ceiling.

The peak afforded an amazing view of the lake below, with Ritondo forming a long rock wall around the lake. We turned around promptly, watching the clouds build up. The peak was complete with a lightning shelter, for unlucky hikers caught in a storm. After a hurried descent we packed up our campsite and opted to continue despite the threat of rain.

GR20 Day 7 Refuge de Pietra Piana toRefuge de l’Onda (Stage 8)

GR20 Home

bootwreckers

Instagram post 2188130011654162000_3141216150 Deep inside the Grand Canyon.

Walking along the Colorado River takes a big commitment, have to descend at least 1500m to access the water over sometimes challenging terrain.

Walking along the Beamer Trail, Eastern Grand Canyon.

#nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks
Instagram post 2184308311351191195_3141216150 Spent an amazing evening with several students at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory in Calgary.

Was a little cloudy, but they broke long enough to get a shot of building housing the Baker-Nunn telescope, you can make out Orion's Belt just above the building and the Pleiades Star Cluster high in the sky.

#outside, #hiking, #scrambler, #scrambling, #camping, #backpacking,
#adventure, #adventureoutside, #nature, #landscapephotography, #nobaddays, #adventureholiday, #hikingadventures, #astrophotography,  #ucalgary #rao #nightsky #nightskyphotography #rothneyastrophysicalobservatory #raoastronomy
Instagram post 2181442664552380788_3141216150 Reflections. On the way back from Mt Assiniboine caught the mountains reflecting in a small pond just before Baker Creek Campground.

Amazing trip, while very popular, camping at Allenby Junction Campground gave us lots of solitude.

Read about this trip and others on my website https://www.bootwreckers.com/mt-assiniboine-loop-banff-np/, or follow the link in my bio.

Banff NP
 #assiniboine #banff, #banffnationalpark, #banffcanada, #mybanff #hiking, #hikingadventures, #adventure, #adventureoutside, #adventureholiday, #nature, #reflectionphotography, #lake, #outside, #explore, #explorepage #reflections #nature #alberta #wilderness #wildernessculture #naturephotography #parkscanada  #alpine #alpinelakeswilderness
Instagram post 2174327611017531216_3141216150 One of my favourite places, the Grand Canyon. It is dominated by the Reds and browns, much the !any cactus plants when blooming can add a contrasting splash of colour.

Looking over the inner gorge from the Hermit Trail.

#nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation
Instagram post 2167283413521064942_3141216150 Winter is coming, thoughts turn back to summer hikes.

Hikers enjoying the peaceful scene, as the Spray River flows past Cone Mt, Banff National Park.

Daughter Emily holding onto Volcano of the @senioradventurepups, while Volcano enjoys a cool drink on a warm day hiking home from Mt Assiniboine. Follow the link to my website in my bio for a story of our hike

#nationalparks, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #parkscanada #parks #naturephotography #photography #amazingearth #backpacking #campingwithdogs #hikingwithdogs
Instagram post 2154797122321815791_3141216150 Went for a walk down by the river with the puppies (@senioradventurepups ) and snapped this photo of the Three Sisters Mountain.

Sometimes it is easy to forget what an amazing place it is I get to call home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Canmore, Alberta

#alberta, #albertaparks, #canmore,#canmorealberta #hikingwithdogs, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #hikes, #outside, #outsidethebox, #naturelovers, #wilderness, #snow, #trails, #campingwithdogs, #Alberta, #outsidethebox, #naturelovers, #wildplaces #threesisters
Instagram post 2150623889020313247_3141216150 Pulsatilla Pass, Banff National Park.

Looking north from Pulsatilla Pass, its namesake Lake in the foreground, leading into Wildflower Valley and Fossil Mountain in the distance.

#banff, #banffnationalpark, #banffcanada, #mybanff #hiking, #hikingadventures, #adventure, #adventureoutside, #adventureholiday, #nature, #reflectionphotography, #lake, #outside, #explore, #explorepage #reflections #nature #alberta #wilderness #wildernessculture #naturephotography #parkscanada  #alpine #alpinelakeswilderness
Instagram post 2145921943004894384_3141216150 I entered this photo in a recent photo contest for hiking the GR20 on @gr20.corse . The category was Red and White, because the blazes that mark the route are red and white.

Photo was taken on the first night on the trail, at Refuge d’Orto di u Piobbu. The Milky Way was prominent in the sky, and I got the red colour by shining the red lamp on my headlamp briefly on the tent.

I did not win, but got an honourable mention, I am pretty happy with that.

#gr20, #gr20corsica🏞️, #corsica,  #outside, #hiking, #scrambler, #scrambling, #camping, #backpacking,
#adventure, #adventureoutside, #nature, #landscapephotography, #nobaddays, #adventureholiday, #hikingadventures, #zpacks, #zpacksduplex, #milkyway  #teamzpacks #northernlights #auroraborealis
Instagram post 2137364245841908432_3141216150 I had an Aurora alert a couple days before our trip to Floe Lake, so after taking pictures of the Milky Way over the Rockwall to the south, I looked north and saw the Aurora Borealis and the Milky Way🤩

Floe Lake, Kootenay NP

#outside, #hiking, #scrambler, #scrambling, #camping, #backpacking,
#adventure, #adventureoutside, #nature, #landscapephotography, #nobaddays, #adventureholiday, #hikingadventures, #astrophotography, #milkyway #kootenaylife #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark #nationalparks
#parkscanada #northernlights #aurora #auroras
Instagram post 2134666322507061101_3141216150 Sunrise on the Rockwall, Floe Lake, Kootenay NP

#parkscanada #camping #reflection #reflections #sunrise 
#outside #kootenaynationalpark #columbiavalley #travelphotography #travelcolumbiavalley #nature #naturephotography #bowvalleynetwork #nationalparks #parks #earth #morningmotivation #backpacking #camping⛺ #morningsun
Instagram post 2127829021411816473_3141216150 Sunrise reflections at Floe Lake, Kootenay NP.

The calm before the storm, on our hike out we had two thunderstorms.

Was a beautiful morning with the orange glow off the mountains and the smooth water.

#parkscanada #camping #reflection #reflections #sunrise 
#outside #kootenaynationalpark #columbiavalley #travelphotography #travelcolumbiavalley #nature #naturephotography #bowvalleynetwork #nationalparks #parks
Instagram post 2124465532857295717_3141216150 Milky Way over the Rockwall at Floe Lake, Kootenay NP

#reflections, #reflectionphotography, #outside, #hiking, #scrambler, #scrambling, #camping, #backpacking,
#adventure, #adventureoutside, #nature, #landscapephotography, #nobaddays, #adventureholiday, #hikingadventures, #astrophotography, #milkyway #kootenaylife #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark #nationalparks
#parkscanada
Instagram post 2116967594832910271_3141216150 The Sphinx reflecting in Egypt Lake, Banff NP.

Was a great three trip with my dog Volcano (@senioradventurepups), weather was spectacular and met many nice people along the way.

#outside #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, 
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunrise #alpine #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography #alpinelake #amazingearth #morningmotivation #travelcanada #explorerockies
#travelcanada #mountainstories #explorecanada #theearthoutdoors #paradisecanada #banff
Instagram post 2104150584365238508_3141216150 Marvel Lake Banff NP

Woke up at Marvel Campground and hiked th 1.2km to the lake and had breakfast.

The reflection was amazing early in th morning. But glad we hustled, as th wind picked up after about 15 minutes and took away the mirror finish.

#outside #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, 
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunrise #alpine #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography #alpinelake #amazingearth #morningmotivation #travelcanada #explorerockies
#travelcanada #mountainstories #explorecanada #theearthoutdoors #paradisecanada
Instagram post 2099172299986257416_3141216150 Baker Lake, Banff NP

Amazing morning at Baker Lake, mirror smooth finish on the lake. Was a great start to our last day on the trail.

Sawback trail, Moose Meadows to Fish Creek Parking lot.

With @kbsymington 
#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunstar #sun #lake #sunrise #alpin #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography
Instagram post 2096821076746485953_3141216150 Double Sun Star.

Baker Lake, Banff NP.

Brilliant morning at Baker Lake to finish off a 4 day trip from Moose Meadows to Lake Louise.

Rained to start the trip, but the lakes and alpine vistas made all the mud and slop a distant memory.

Amazing trip with @kbsymington 
#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunstar #sun #lake #sunrise #alpin #scenery #sceneryphotography
Instagram post 2090964095779346995_3141216150 It been the wettest spring/summer that I can remember. Never seen the land so green, or the flowers so vibrant.

Indian Paintbrush on the trail to Mystic Lake, Banff NP.

#banff, #banffnationalpark, #banffcanada, #mybanff #hiking, #hikingadventures, #adventure, #adventureoutside, #adventureholiday, #nature, #reflectionphotography, #lake, #outside, #explore, #explorepage #reflections #nature #alberta #wilderness #wildernessculture #naturephotography #parkscanada #flowers #flowerphotography #naturephoto
Instagram post 2088980100522898335_3141216150 Mystic Lake, Banff NP.

An amazing alpine lake, nestled in a small valley, roughly 18km hike.

Early morning, no wind, mirror smooth lake, amazing reflection .

#banff, #banffnationalpark, #banffcanada, #mybanff #hiking, #hikingadventures, #adventure, #adventureoutside, #adventureholiday, #nature, #reflectionphotography, #lake, #outside, #explore, #explorepage #reflections #nature #alberta #wilderness #wildernessculture #naturephotography #parkscanada
Instagram post 2076482315647135138_3141216150 A quick climb from Spanish Bottom on the Colorado River leads you to the Doll House (apparently named by cowboys travelling through the area long ago)

It is a visual feast with a variety of shapes and different shades of red, orange, browns and tans.

Need to work in more time to explore on my next trip.

#nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #canyonlands #canyonlandsnationalpark #nationalparksweek #rightnow
Instagram post 2071609897371725510_3141216150 The patterns in embedded in the sand looks like waves frozen in time.

Mesmerising place, we spent several hours exploring, would like to go back and revisit and find some new places.

Coyote Butte South.

Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona

#nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #familytime #coyotebuttes #vermillioncliffs #blm
#utah #hikeutah #sandstone #exploreeverything #nature #earthexperience #earthfocus #public #arizona #hikearizona
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