EGYPT LAKE BACKPACK

AUGUST 4 - 7 1986

DAY ONE MONDAY AUGUST 4, 1986

THE TRIP INTO EGYPT LAKE

After having discussed our trip itinerary the night before Des , Mary and Dennis break camp at Johnson Canyon and head for the Sunshine Ski Hill parking lot. One of the things discussed the previous night was whether to take the chair lift up to Sunshine Meadows and hike into Egypt Lake from high ground but Dennis made it abundantly clear that he was a chicken and wouldn’t ride the chairlift even if it meant that he had to walk alone the long slog up from the parking lot to our first night camp at Egypt Lake.

After sorting out our food and what clothes to take or leave behind we head out on the Healy Creek trail towards Healy Pass - a distance of about 7 and 1/2 miles and an elevation gain of about 2000’. The first 5 and 1/2 kms were easy - gentle climbs - little in the way of views and an occasional meadow.

We spot a small brown grizzly across Healy Creek from the trail. While it didn’t spot us and no obvious signs of it having been on the trail we warned people coming down from Healy for safety’s sake.

At KM 5.5 there is a nice campsite and a trail junction leading to Simpson Pass and Sunshine Village. The next 2.2KM was steep and tiring as we start the climb into Healy Pass. The steepest of the trail was offset somewhat by the improving views and so were the people on the trail coming down. The Egypt Lake area is one of the most popular day and backpack locales in all of Banff Park so we are unlikely to have the place to ourselves as we have had on some of our previous backpacking adventures. We are amazed by the number of people descending and imagine what a zoo it must have been over the weekend at Egypt Lake. It is the end of a holiday weekend in both Alberta and B.C. Only a handful of people are going up the trail with us and most of them are only day hikers.

Finally at KM 7.7 we break out into wide open views, meadows and even more mosquitoes. Ahead of us some 1.4KM’s lies Healy Pass - our highest elevation of the day. After a lunch break we start the climb up to the Pass - it is hot going but we finally make it - the views are awesome - Assiniboine - Sunshine - Mt Ball - the lakes around Egypt - and four little tarns nestled in Healy Pass.

While Des and Mary elect to have a longer rest break I start the final 3.4KM’s down to the campsite at Egypt Lake. While the views are splendid the trail was a real bumber - a 1500’ drop in 3.4Km’s - something that we will have to climb on our way back.

Finally reach the Warden station and then the campsite and shelter - because of the popularity of this area - Parks Canada has tried to mitigate the damage to the sensitive environment by controlling the number of people who can camp in the area at any one time and provide backcountry amenties such as cooking shelters, bear food storage bin and proper outdoor biffies.

There are three tents and a some others have chosen to sleep in the shelter. Right on schedule at 4PM Des and Mary show up - we take some time choosing a campsite because we want one that is open and windy - so the bugs will be less of a problem. Finally have tent pitched in open field by 5PM and Des now starts supper but first it’s time for our happy hour - I really have gone overboard this year and have brought my Walkman and I do get some stations - I won’t be bored.

Supper was shrimp and clam chowder - a new mixture - pea soup and chocolate granola bars.

This year because we are staying put and day hiking from Egypt Lake we all have brought a few luxury items - like scotch - volka - walkman’s etc.

None of us are too impressed with the area around the campsite - perhaps we are spoiled from our solitude and more wilderness adventure of the past ten years.

Mary and I walk to Egypt lake before sunset - it looks different from Healy Pass.

Tomorrow - a hike to the nearby lakes

Today’s recap:

Distance hiked: 7.5 Miles

Campsite location: Egypt Meadows - Banff National Park.

Elevation of camp: 6500’

DAY TWO TUESDAY AUGUST 5, 1986

Today started early around 4:15AM when it started to downpour - while it is to be a leisure day I didn’t expect Des to have breakfast in bed for me at 8AM - around 10AM I rise and shine. It has stopped raining and the sun is trying to shine - the tent is starting to dry out. Around noon we start lunch and it starts to rain again - it is going to be one of those day . I have moved in the cabin/shelter where the fire is going and it is nice and warm. Hopefully it will clear up later as forecast by the Calgary weather office although the weather in the mountains can be very fickle - sun and dry when its wet in Calgary and vica-versa - but it has yet to clear.

The happy hour for Des and Mary is about to begin and despite the weather Des’ supper is unbeatable - 2 packages of Instant Ground Beef - dried mushrooms - let them sit to dissolve - bring to simmer - add Lipton Pasta Noodles and cook some more - served topped with Parmasean Cheese and have instant maple walnut pudding for desert.

Around 8PM the skies start to lighten - it looks like it might clear up.

I am cold so I spend some time in the cabin with our South African friends who thank me for keeping the fire going for them . Turn in early - bag is damp but hope weather does clear up.

DAY THREE WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6, 1986

Des is up early and it’s clear and frosty - we will hike today to Scarab and Mummy Lake then onto Whistling Pass.

The trip to Scarab is a moderate climb on the way to Whistling Pass - at around the 1.5Km mark a trail branches down through meadows to the Lake. It is nestled among peaks and is the starting point for the climb to Mummy Lake - a distance of about .8Km - the last little bit is up and over some loose rock.

This gives us the opportunity for our first lunch break of the day - we can see Whistling Pass in the distance while another unmarked pass lies above us which Mary feels from looking at the topo map could lead to Talc Lake, Redearth Pass and back to Egypt Lake. Dennis volunteers to do a rekkie up to the top of the Pass. It took twenty minutes of tough climbing over loose talus rock to the reach the summit and a further ten minutes along a broad ridge before Talc lake is visible - the round trip is certainly feasible and it’s probably best to stay high and saunter down the forested ridge to the lake rather than over the boulders coming off the pass.

On my way out I manage to lose my sunglasses and the route I have chosen down is steeper and with more loose rack than my approach path. I can see Des and Mary and invite them up - Des declines - Mary starts up and I rejoin her later at Scarab Lake.

By the way - when you cross this pass that leads to Talc Lake you cross over the Continental Divide and back into B.C. as the Egypt Lake area sits near the western boundary of Banff National Park.

We proceed on and up to Whistling Pass - where it is warm and windy and no mosquitoes which is a very welcome relief from the aerial assault we are facing each night at the campsite. The views are impressive - Haiduk Lake below us - the Mt Ball group surrounds us as well as the views back from whence we came.

It’s time now for our second lunch break of the day - I have nut mix and decline a peanut butter and honey ry bread sandwich.

A little before 3PM we start back - Des and Mary count the wildflowers while I leisurely make my way back to camp. Because this area is so heavily used and has lot’s of people on the trails we are not staying together for all ascepts of each day’s events but rather ensuring that we know what each of us is doing and that we will be back at a certain point at a specific time. At 3:40PM arrive back in camp.

It’s great to get the boot’s off - the tent opened up and air out my sleeping bag. So as I change into my shorts I need to put on a massive dose of insect repellant as the mosquitoes are very active. A few more people have arrived - a least two more tents and two others in the shelter.

While Mary fills our drink bottles it’s close to happy hour and time for Des’ nightly gourmet freeze dried meal. Tonight it is a chicken stew creation. Over happy hour we discuss our further staying. There is a feeling that we aren’t enjoying the area as much as we thought plus Des’ legs are bothering him. I personally would like to stay one more day particularily since the weather is forecast to improve but after our happy hour clear thought the decision to made to go out tomorrow and then do some day hiking from a base campsite in the Banff - Lake Louise area.

Our hoped for route out is to stay high and come out via Sunshine Village and then down to the car.

DAY FOUR THRSDAY AUGUST 7, 1986

Up early - frost again means trying to dry tent and fly out before heading out - by 9AM we are ready to move out via our inbound route - Healy Pass - It is the quickest way out - I sense that Des can’t take the long climbs anymore and remember from the first day my reference that it’s 3.4 km from our campsite at Egypt to the top of Healy Pass - only this time it’s all uphill. It took us from one to one and one quarter hours to reach the top - I will let you guess who made it in one hour and for some reason the uphill wasn’t as bad as I envisioned it would be.

From Healy Pass it’s all downhill to our lunch stop at campsite at the 5.5KM mark and from there we proceed out to our car at trailhead. It has taken us four hours to hike out.

From the Healy Pass trailhead parking lot we proceed to the Johnston Canyon campsite - there’s plenty of room and showers too. I notice that my back is sore and hope that it isn’t much more than a few strained under used muscles.

Supper is still freezed dried - chili prepared Des’ way - it wasn’t the greatest but it did hit the spot.

For all intents and purposes our trip is over for another year as tomorrow will see us head in different directions.

Ed notes: As this trip report was being retyped in 1997 it should be noted that this trip marked the end of an era for the three of us - for it was our last trip together but we do still remain freinds and talk to one another every now and then.

Both Des and Mary are now in their seventies - Mary still goes to Natural History Society annual camps