I don’t think I’ll be able to convey in words the emotions that marked this day.
The plan was essentially to summit Mont Cautley. This peak culminates at 2880 meters, which means we’ll have to climb 750 meters from our base camp. This is more elevation gain than the well-known Saint-Anne or Tremblant ski resorts in Quebec, which is considerable.
The task wasn’t easy but well worth the effort. We first hiked through alpine meadows that had nothing to envy to the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. They are renown to be quite spectacular. Also, last winter’s heavy snowfalls combined with a warm summer made for more flowers than usual. Grandiose!
We then started the climb proper. A hard trek with many creek crossings and snowfields. We stop a few times to catch our breath, then we climb again. And we climb. And we climb. Slowly but surely, a few neighboring summits start to appear. Young and old are overtaken with joy. We almost have to pinch ourselves to make sure we’re not dreaming!
We finally get to the summit crest. On one side, Bryant Creek Valley where we hiked the days before. On the other, the meadows surrounding the Assiniboine massif. We’re literally on the border of Alberta and British Columbia. It’s like we have a foot in each province because the crest we’re walking on serves as the border between the two. Fascinating (like Charles Tysserre would surely say)!
The summit is finally within reach… A few more steps and we’re there!…
Finally, it’s done! We hug, congratulate each other and are very proud! It’s a celebration on the summit! And then, surprise (at least for me); everybody starts to sing “Happy birthday Jean-Charles’’. Indeed, today is my birthday. I’m really and sincerely touched, it’s assuredly the most exotic happy birthday that’s ever been song to me. At 2880 meters of altitude, with a 360 degrees view of the Rockies, under beautiful skies and, most of all, surrounded by fantastic people. A very beautiful moment. I will never forget my 24th birthday (Well, ok, 38th birthday…).
We’re comfy on the summit but once the lunch is eaten we have to get down. The weather is cool up there. Among other things we’ll hike down in scree for the most part, a sort of gravel you could almost ski on. Memorable! We walk through superb meadows and get back to base camp. We’re exhausted but proud and happy from our achievement.
Another nice surprise was waiting for me at basecamp. François, the Foundation’s general manager, had decided to stay behind to nurse his aging, more than five decades old knees. Zoé and Laurence had also chosen to rest since we’ll be hiking another summit tomorrow. They took advantage of my absence to make a twig sculpture representing me ( quite life-like I must say!) and a ‘’Bonne fête JC’’ made with pine cones. To top it all, they made (what I thought was) a necklace that they hung at the entrance of the cabin. It was a nice, earth-warming thought. Untill I tried to take the aforementioned necklace that was tied to a bucket of water that fell on me! We had a good laugh, me included.
We finished the afternoon by a bath in Magog Lake, still as cold as before. What a nice feeling to take off these layers soaked in sweat, sunscreen, bug spray…let’s be honest here: grimy is the word!
To my delight, I was treated to an excellent birthday cake topped with candles that I blew out all in one breath. Then, at night,we proceeded to make a half-way talk circle, like we do on all expeditions. All the participants had a chance to check their progress on their objectives and their fears. All seems well and everybody is excited about tomorrow’s summit!
PS: Thanks for your comments on my posts and pictures, it’s really appreciated. Thanks also to François Berthelot and Claire Grenon for putting everything online and translating from French to English.