*I hope people use their own wise judgement when hiking always plan ahead and be prepared. One should never go beyond their abilities.*

Over the years I've had a few goals my first was to Summit all the Peaks of Waterton. Here is My Waterton Summit List I completed that goal on September 26, 2016.

My next goal I'm still working on and that is to summit the 6 10,000 foot Summmits of Glacier National Park. I have one left Kintla.

My 2018 Goal that I accomplished was to summit 40 peaks in my 40th year and that I finished on September 26, 2018.

Not sure what will be my next goal, once Glacier's Summits are done?

I commonly use 3 Hashtags on my social media. The first one is #itookthepathlesstraveledby which is to reference this blog. The next two relate to my father and grandfather who were also hikers. #milesformarkellingson is to remember my
Dad, Mark Ellingson and #dustfromthetrailandhowitsettledonme is to remember my Grandfather Earl Ellingson

June 05, 2020

Mount Alderson June 3, 2020 Waterton Lakes National Park

So another year another season of hiking on Wednesday's.  Today Alderson was chosen and if conditions were right maybe an attempt at the ABC of Waterton (Alderson, Buchanan, Carthew).  Well the conditions were too snowy and ABC from Cameron falls is a huge day.  Maybe wait and do the ABC once Cameron Lake road opens up.  Anyways we had a big group and made pretty good time.  We ran into a few obstacles along the way (mostly snow related) but eventually got on top.  There is something special about snow covered vistas.  Also looking down on lakes that were still partially frozen was just spectacular.  It has been almost 9 years since I did Alderson and it definitely did't disappoint.  The skies were clear the only downside of the day was the wind which wasn't terrible but annoying and made it a little cool.  

First Obstacle of the day

At times we were walking on at least 4-6 feet of compacted snow

The Alderson Lake Campsite turn off sign completely covered in snow

Heading up some snow above Alderson Lake

This waterfall was larger than mid summer

Probably our biggest and steepest snow climb of the day, on the way down we got to test out our ice axes and practice self arresting

I think this was a closed trail sign from before the Kenow Fire...not to many people up here since then

Middle Carthew Lake almost completely frozen still

A longer but less steep snow pack above middle Carthew Lake

Looking down on Middle Carthew Lake and Buchanan Ridge and Peak in the background

Carter on top of Alderson looking down on the valley below.  Carter just received his LDS mission call to Canada Toronto Mission to leave in September...he's excited

Summit Photo

This nasty hat has been on many hikes and he said he will probably retire it after this day

Bertha Lake still partially frozen down below as well

Found a windless spot and took this picture of the rest of the ABC hike peaks, Carthew on left and Buchanan Ridge int he middle and Buchanan peak on right

One last view of Alderson Lake on our way down

Photo Sphere on top


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