Mount Miles III

August 11, 2012
 
Mountain height: 2470 m      
Elevation gain:    appoximately 1600 m
Ascent time:       approximately 6 hours
Descent time:     approximately 4 hours
 
Scrambling with Nicole and Tannis.
 
Exactly one year to the day that I placed the summit register on Mount Miles, I returned to visit the summit again. Sadly, the namesake of the mountain, Miles Krowicki passed away in late November of 2011 and so this repeat ascent was solely to honour my dear friend of over 30 years. Joining me were another dear friend, Nicole Lisafeld, and a blast from the past, Tannis Graham, a friend who went to high school with both Miles and me. Hats off to both ladies for accompanying me on this long and sometimes arduous trip that is far from a pushover and not for the inexperienced.
 
We didn’t have bikes with us and so we hiked up to Middle Kootenay Pass and then started the usually depressing 300 vertical metres descent down the other side. However, this day was filled with lively conversation, in fond memory of our friend, taking away every ounce of sting from the elevation loss.    
 
Leaving the trail, we then bushwhacked a short distance to the ascent drainage, where I was pleasantly surprised to see a similar snow cave to the one encountered a year earlier. This cave was considerably smaller, requiring almost no travel under sections of fully bridged snow. The best part of the ascent followed – a spectacular water-worn drainage of awesome rock that provides an equally awesome scrambling experience. I hoped Nicole and Tannis would like the drainage – they loved it!
 
Unfortunately, that awesome drainage all too quickly gives way to an infinitely longer section of tedious grassy slopes and then a grueling, steep slog up treadmill scree to the summit (there was little lively conversation for this part of the trip!).
 
(Eventually) we arrived at the summit, by then, all in great spirits. Checking the register, indicated that one had visited the summit since my last visit a year earlier (at least no one had signed the register) and so I gave the 2nd and 3rd recorded ascents of Mount Miles to Nicole and Tannis – they didn’t care in the least, and were just happy to be there to share in the tribute.
 
Our summit stay was as fantastic – meaningful and even surreal in many ways. In addition to a tremendous variety of goodies and treats, Tannis had also brought a recording of Talking Dog performing an instrumental Miles had written called Skylab – obviously based on the first space station placed into orbit around the Earth by the U.S. in 1973. We listened to the song and shared a few stories about Miles – I have had the privilege of knowing a few great human beings in my life and Miles sits humbly at the top of that list – a man who brought all those around him together, who connected and inspired others, a man with a pure, intrinsic love and passion for music and one who adored his family – a role model in every sense of the term.     
 
With a long descent ahead, we regrettably left the summit. Thankfully, getting down Mount Miles is a straightforward affair, the scree offering decent surfing and the water-worn gully pleasant scrambling. Even the elevation gain to get back to Middle Kootenay Pass seemed easy, as we now had the exciting ascent and summit stay to re-live. We arrived back at the car tired but exhilarated and humbled.
 
My sincerest thanks to Nicole and Tannis for accompanying me on this personal and important return to Mount Miles. A tremendous day out in honour of a tremendous man.     


Tannis and Nicole at Middle Kootenay Pass



Looking up the slopes of Middle Kootenay Mountain - still to this day one of my favourite winter ascents



Descending the other side of the Pass. Miles and Krowicki are dead ahead, but not before a 300 m elevation loss.



Looking up Mount Miles



The short stint of bushwhacking



The snow cave that isn't really a snow cave



The only section where the bridge was intact



Nicole emerges from the "cave"....



...and into the water-worn gully



Super FUN scrambling!
 











And super sweet rock!












End of the awesome gully. Booo!



The scree slog that follows



Tannis on the summit ridge. Krowicki Peak behind.



Nicole leads the way to the summit



Victory!






Nicole finds the summit register






And signs it



Me and Tannis at the summit of Miles



Admiring the views



Rainy Ridge (left) and Three Lakes Ridge



An interesting rock



Descending grass/scree terrain before reaching the water-worn-gully



Flower



The excellent view of Rainy's west ridge helps alleviate the tedium of re-ascending the trail to the Pass



Three Lakes Ridge again



Tannis, back at the Pass



Miles on Mount Kent
 
The End
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