Vimy Ridge/Peak November 11, 2016

A few years ago I had the idea that I should hike Vimy Peak/Ridge on Remembrance Day.  Well a few years passed with some miserably cold and snowy Novembers.  Then 2016 came and the weather was terrific and there was little snow in Waterton.  So my faithful hiking partner (my son) and I headed out Remembrance Day morning.  We had to bike the first about 7 km on the trail and then we headed up to Vimy Peak.  I had wanted to reach the summit by 11:11 am so that we could have our own little Remembrance Day ceremony at the top.  I had packed a portable Bluetooth speaker and brought some poppies and my Canadian Flag.  We got to the summit by about 11:08 and got all the stuff out and had our little ceremony.  As I was playing Last Post on my speakers I looked at my clock and it was exactly 11:11 and even 11 seconds! The wind was about the only thing that spoiled this perfect moment.  We played Last Post, had a moment of silence and then I even played the Rouse to end it off.  We then took a few pictures with the flag and poppies and then left a poppy on the summit and one in the register.  The flag I took on this summit I have had in my possession for 20 years and it has gone with me everywhere (I got the flag from a government program in 1996 where Sheila Copps initiated a program to promote patriotism and gave away free Canada flags).  I have had it pinned up in every place I've lived in the last 20 years.  So I took it off the wall the night before and flew it proudly today on Vimy Peak.  Well after this we ate some lunch and headed over to Vimy Ridge.  The ridge traverse was good except it was some of the strongest winds I've had in Waterton.  Luckily the ridge wasn't very hazardous to traverse.  We eventually summited Vimy Ridge (Arras Peak) (which was the only true summit I didn't have proof that I had done before, ie. a picture as evidence) and headed back to our bikes.  We got back to our vehicle just as the sun was setting on the horizon.  We started driving home when I noticed that in the rear view mirror the sun was setting on Vimy Peak.  So I stopped the vehicle and got a nice sunset picture on Vimy Peak, a fitting end to a great day.  These were summits 21 and 22 for the year.

The sunrise on Chief Mountain on our way to Vimy

On the bike ride we scared off this herd of elk twice

Crossing the stream

Beautiful morning in Waterton

If you didn't have to bike to here the hike up Vimy would be very short

We saw a bunch of fresh tracks in the mud on the trail on the way up but luckily never saw any bears, check out the claw prints on that bear

Beautiful view from Vimy, one of my favorites but the poppy adds the finishing touch to this days view

Carter holding the flag for a picture

Now my turn to get a flag picture, summit #1 for the day

Now we both had to have a picture, luckily I had my trusty little tri-pod

Another view from Vimy

Looking towards our next goal for the day Vimy Ridge (located in the upper left had corner of picture)

Neat little window on the way to Vimy Ridge

Spectacular views of Crypt Lake

Crazy flat rock we found.  It was so smooth, like waking on a floor

Summit #2 for the day Vimy Ridge (Arras Peak)

My proof I finally got a picture on this summit

Another crazy flat rock that was smooth like the floor of a house

Coming down from Vimy Ridge looking towards Vimy Peak.  Notice the bowl full of snow, we got close to it and I bet a lot of snow accumulates in that bowl in the winter

Happy to be finished biking!

Sunset on the silhouette of Vimy Peak

Panorama on Vimy Peak

Video on Vimy Peak

Map My Hike Track of Hike

Panorama on Vimy Ridge (Arras Peak)

Video on Vimy Ridge (Arras Peak)