Scouring the map late September I found something new! I protected wilderness area located in the very heart of the Purcell Mountains. But getting there was an interesting feat of risk, requiring off trail scrambling. After stopping in Cranbrook and Kimberley B.C. and talking to multiple locals the information we received on this place was less than helpful. In fact it kind of made me feel worse as the only reports said the last they heard was that the access road was burmed. Which made this a wild risk as I had to drive 60km of gravel before even accessing the access road! But I looked at my buddy and said “let’s do this”! And we were off, flying down the gravel in my Subaru.
Well that access road was less than ideal but I made it all the way to the trailhead! Shortly after starting the steep “man way” climb up it began raining on us. Then, thirty minutes before sunset it stopped and the sun tried to peak though the clouds. Soon the light began to get magical just as we opened up out of the lodgepole and other pine and came into a massive forest of alpine larch! I scanned the scene in front of me knowing I had to find a composition of interest fast. And thats when I spotted it! A massive old growth larch twisting out of a large field of boulders! Scrambling up with my pack I camped at this tree as the colors of the sun exploded on me. Beautiful things don’t ask for attention and the risk was completely worth it. Even if we had to hike the rest of the way in the dark, off trail to our destination.
I have other image of this tree if this one does not suit you. For limited edition Lumachrome Dibond acrylic prints of this please contact Brandon directly.
Scouring the map late September I found something new! I protected wilderness area located in the very heart of the Purcell Mountains. But getting there was an interesting feat of risk, requiring off trail scrambling. After stopping in Cranbrook and Kimberley B.C. and talking to multiple locals the information we received on this place was less than helpful. In fact it kind of made me feel worse as the only reports said the last they heard was that the access road was burmed. Which made this a wild risk as I had to drive 60km of gravel before even accessing the access road! But I looked at my buddy and said “let’s do this”! And we were off, flying down the gravel in my Subaru.
Well that access road was less than ideal but I made it all the way to the trailhead! Shortly after starting the steep “man way” climb up it began raining on us. Then, thirty minutes before sunset it stopped and the sun tried to peak though the clouds. Soon the light began to get magical just as we opened up out of the lodgepole and other pine and came into a massive forest of alpine larch! I scanned the scene in front of me knowing I had to find a composition of interest fast. And thats when I spotted it! A massive old growth larch twisting out of a large field of boulders! Scrambling up with my pack I camped at this tree as the colors of the sun exploded on me. Beautiful things don’t ask for attention and the risk was completely worth it. Even if we had to hike the rest of the way in the dark, off trail to our destination.
I have other image of this tree if this one does not suit you. For limited edition Lumachrome Dibond acrylic prints of this please contact Brandon directly.
