Mount Kidd Outlier worthy of framing

I have a small notebook that is in my purse at all times.  It is a place where I jot down thoughts as I think of them, and the thoughts are of mostly peaks, passes, lakes, mountains that I want to visit one day.  One site that I follow, he calls this type of thing his "wish list".  I flipped back through the earlier pages and a few years ago, I jotted down Guinn's Pass & Mt Kidd Outlier. It peaked my interest once again and I thought there is no time like the present to get on up there.

This is what I mean by being "worthy of framing"!

With Saturday being a day planned full with life's happenings, Sunday was the get on up there day for this weekend.  When doing my home work and checking my many sources for forecasts, I could find no two the same.   This summer I have been spoilled with being in the right area of the vast playground at the right time for awesome weather.  Today seemed like that trend could end.  The fog was dense as we hiked along the Galatea Creek Trail.

We made excellent time getting to the junction for our turn off for the Guinn's Pass Trail.  The air was still and heavy, it was actually hot and humid and so very damp.  We could see nothing and the thought went through my mind is this steep gnarly climb up through the gully even worth it.  As we came out of the forest and we were nearing the Pass,  tiny bits of peaks began to peek through.

Our pace slowed down considerably as we kept performing 360 degree turns ooooohing and aaaaahing at what was developing right before our eyes.  We reached Guinn's Pass as the fog that remained was all below us and grey clouds were above us.

framed by fog and cloud

Autumn is in the air as seen from the ground cover color.

Our destination appears in the air too, that high peak in the middle.

We finally reached Mount Kidd Outlier.  It was simple to get to from Guinn's Pass.

We scooted on down the other side of it for an optimal dining location.  There was more flat room for the six of us to spread out and get comfy.  This was my lunch time view.  I watched the fog and clouds roll in and out offering up various views of peaks peeking through.

After lunch, we spent a little time taking photos.  

Bits of blue began to show through.  

Looking off towards Buller Pass.

Ribbon Lake is down below somewhere.

I had numerous summit shots taken.

I opt to share this one.

the six of us

looking back at Mount Kidd South Summit 

resting on the love seat

We aimed for Guinn's Pass again on our way down to take a couple of minutes before entering back into the dense fog.  The Pass is in the center with fog on either side of it.  More and more blue began to appear and it made for a photographers' dream.

descending into the fog

Before being fully enveloped in the fog, I took one last look back to snap one last shot.

There were still loads of widflowers along the steep rocky gully.  It was past prime time for them but they added color to an otherwise brownish area.  My friends are colorful too.  The fog stayed with us the entire way down the Guinn's Pass Trail and even along the Galatea Creek Trail.  When we arrived back at the parking lot, the tips of the surrounding peaks were still hidden.

Along the Galatea Creek Trail we met up with the Search and Rescue group.  I felt mixed emotions seeing them at first, thinking they may be officially performing what they are trained to do meaning someone was in need, and then it was comforting to think maybe they were there for someone who needed them. That was until we took a few minutes to chat and find out they were training and practicing.  As I found out, one member is a loyal follower of my blog.  It was so nice to meet you today.  Thank you to each and every one of you and all other members of all Search and Rescue teams for doing what you do.  

If life's happenings were not taking place on Saturday, I would have been up on this Pass and Outlier. While it might have been a good day, I have a sense it would not have been as frame worthy as today was.  Also, I would not have had the opportunity to share the Saturday with these friends as the majority all had other plans in place.  I like how life at times has a way of playing out perfectly.  In all its' fog and eeriness, today was picture perfect, enough so that I had to frame it!