The Pedley Pass Trail is one of the best hikes in the East Kootenays area.   By driving backroads to 1980 m (6500 feet) into the Stanford Range the trail quickly climbs into subalpine meadows and larch forests.    From Highway 93 near Invermere, we took the Windermere Loop Road and then turned onto the Wesroc Mine Road passing the gypsum mine and continued on up the Windermere Creek Valley to a signed trailhead.    Trails go east or west and a loop is possible.

 

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The trail is signed with maps and route markers along the way.   Our thanks to the Summit Trail Markers Society.

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In 1.3 km, we climbed out of the forest into subalpine meadows where larches provided fall color.

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A spur trail leads over to an alpine tarn in a cirque below Mount Aeneas, a good spot for a break.   The trail to Mount Aeneas continues on with a scramble up a couloir to the summit

 

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We retraced our steps back to the main trail, then continued east up to the top of Pedley Ridge.   This is a fine viewpoint and a good spot for lunch.   To the north, the trail continues on along the rim in a semi-circle above treeline.

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The trail was easy to follow and new views opened up with each new crest along the way.

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The views to the north was along the ridge, and then along the Stanford Range with the Kootenay River to the east.

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Several ridges invited more exploration, but we stuck to the main trail which wound down to the trailhead.

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This may be our favorite trail of 2019.   Other hikes had their own rewards, view, varied terrain, creeks, airy summits, challenging routes, and so on, but the access to the alpine was excellent and the trail design was perfect for a day of hiking in the Kootenay Ranges.

We passed by the trailhead to Swansea Mountain which we also hiked in May.   Radium is a great basecamp for hiking in the area and we have a number of additional hikes on our list for next year – Diana Lake, Kindersley Summit, and various route in the Bugaboos.