Our trailhead for the hike into Allenby pass is once again located at Mt. Shark parking lot on the Smith-Dorrien trail in Kananaskis Country. It was our trail head for both my 1991 Bryant Creek and 1994 Owl Lake Skyliners camps. If I thought those were long treks - this one is even more challenging - its 22 KM and 1400’ elevation gain - almost all of it in the last five KM’s.
    At 9:30AM we arrive at the trail head - the weather is sunny and hot and it is estimated that it will take us around 6 - 7 hours to complete the trip in.
    This year I don't go in with the first group but elect to be the assistant day leader for the third group under the leadership of Peter K .

    We are under way at 10:00AM under a hot blazing sun - I am wearing my light hiking boots and hope to be able to go all the way to camp with them -- they are more comfortable than my regular boots and the trail is okay for even running shoes.
    Because of the heat the pace is slow - as mentioned earlier I have done the first 16 KMs of this trail twice before so I know what to expect as far as terrain is concerned.
    We have a 1/2 hour lunch break at the Big Springs wilderness camp before proceeding onto the ranger station at KM 14 where we will have a one hour break - it is very hot - I drank a litre and a half of water at this rest stop.

    After leaving the ranger station we start to climb gradually up Bryant Creek to the Og/Allenby Pass junction, passing our campsite of 1991 which this year is being used as a base camp for the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. This easily becomes the toughest five KM that I have done in a long time - while the climb is a gradual ascent the combination of the heat and the long walk has slowed every body down plus my boots are starting to hurt as we have left the soft bark mulch of the Bryant Creek trail for the more natural rocky terrain of the national parks.
    After 6 and 3/4 hours of hiking we reached the turnoff into camp - which is situation in a nice dry meadow about 1 KM in from the main Allenby Pass trail - I am bushed and beat and one heal and little toe is sore. If you subtract the time we stopped for breaks our actual time was around 5 and 1/2 hours which for 22 KM would be a fairly good clip.
    As we enter camp we are welcomed by Virginia K - once again our hostess on Camp 4 - I am assigned to Yoho tent which I will be sharing with Gary and Sam S from the Vancouver area. Gary’s nephew and friends are in the tent next door- a couple of them work for Microsoft so all my computer problems will be solved.

    Weather sunny and hot as we head for our destination of Allenby Pass. There are fourteen of us and I am assisted by George G who is taking a lot of notes as he is involved with the Alberta chapter of the Trans. Canada Trail foundation who are trying to pick the best route through the Rockies.
    Departure time 9:20AM
    Return time 2:20PM
    Distanced hiked 9 KM plus wandering in the pass.

  We will have two hours to explore this broad open area - which contains fossil beds and several small knolls - there is little in the way of shelter from the sun and wind - unlike last year at Molar - there are only a spattering of flowers but there are impressive mountain views.
    We are all now free to explore the area - so I continue through the pass for a short distance before it starts the steep descent and its 34 KM trek to Banff. I then turn left and follow the broad ridge around, over and through several other meadows and fossil beds etc.

    On the upward climb to the pass several of us in addition to been able to see the camp far below noticed what looked like a nice meadow and which looks feasible to access from the other side of the pass.
    After packing up at 1:00PM and getting agreement from the others I start across the pass and notice what looks like a discernible trail and several rock cairns which eventually lead us down the steep rocky slope of the pass and into the meadow we had seen from above - we are able to follow an old trail all the way back to within a few hundred meters of the trail into camp. It turns out that this trail was the original route up to the pass and would become the preferred exit route for most groups doing Allenby Pass throughout the week.
    From the notes in the log book none of the other groups had come out that way - too bad because there is a great display of wild flowers - enough to prompt an alpine flower walk later in the week.
    A happy hour got started at around 4:45PM and continued to supper at 6:15PM - our meal time have changed slightly - breakfast earlier and dinner later to reflect the longer hike times for many of the groups.
    Tomorrow I hope to lead a trip to Allenby Lake

      Weather - sunny and hot
       I had hoped to go to Allenby lake today which is a short 5KM round trip from camp but with only one other person interested I ended up tail ending for Len B's #2 group going to the pass - we were treated to an expert lecture on the fossils in the pass from Adam H who is our resident geologist and on the return trip the group splits and I lead 6 others back to camp via the route discovered yesterday.

    We also found time to play in a snow bank in the pass and met up with 10 mountain bikers who are doing the 60 KM loop from Mt. Shark trail head back to Banff via Allenby Pass. Their next 10 - 15 KM will be brutal as the trail plunges steeply and is known to be quite muddy.
    We return to camp about 2:45PM - I shave and get cleaned up and feel better after doing so.
Some of the creative types in camp had actual created a small swimming hole in the creek where we can cool off - no soaps or shampoos are allowed in any lakes or streams but you can certainly take a bucket of water back to your tent and wash yourself and depending on your modesty level at the wash up area. Several have brought portable showers into camp with them and many also haul in lawn chairs with their day packs.
    While many of the other trips are fairly long most groups are getting back around 5 PM thereby giving them plenty of time to partake in the happy hour rituals and judging by the amount of booze in camp I am surprised that the horses didn't go on strike because of the sheer weight of the booze.

    Tomorrow - another attempt at the lake.

    Weather is sunny but threatening clouds are looming
    Destination - Allenby Lake
    Distance - 5 KM round trip
    Departure time - 9:30
    Return time - 2:30
    # in Group - 3

    While four is usually considered the minimum number for a Skyliners group to go I was allowed to undertake this hike with less than the required number because of the short distance involved and the fact that the camp doctor and his wife would be joining me.
    If any one has ever hiked with Doc. Boon you will know that he is a very skilled wilderness outdoor type and a billy goat on the trail.
    The trip to the lake, while short involves a fair climb on a adequate trail through sub - alpine forest before breaking out into a rocky meadow that included many different varieties of alpine wild flowers - continuing up this rocky meadow we finally reach the upper end of the lake - there is a small knoll to the left which we climb that contains a couple of small tarns and trees for shelter which provided us with our a good place for our lunch break - as the weather is starting to rain lightly we don't stay too long here but explore several nooks and crannies around the lake.

    The alpine wildflowers in this little hidden valley were among the best that I saw during my weeks stay at Allenby Pass. Here's a couple more photos of the alpine beauty of the area.

    We slowly work out way back to camp where despite the cooler weather another big crowd gathers for happy hour - One thing about happy hours - the closer you get to the end of the week the better the live entertainment becomes as who wants to weigh down the horses on the return trip.
   The alpine wildflowers in this little hidden valley were among the best that I saw during our entire week stay at Allenby Pass. Here's a couple of more photos to
    One thing that I haven't mentioned is the fact that I am not feeling to good - the usual camp chills but also a foot which is bothering me. Unless some easy trips are planned tomorrow I may elect to stay in camp and rest up for the trip out on Saturday.

    As I alluded to in yesterdays entry I opted to stay in camp and rest up - many of the groups wanted to get one more trip into Assiniboine or Og Pass before the week is over and one group did go only flower glazing or wildflower watching.

    About 5 of us elected to stay in camp - rest up - read a book - write our diaries - eat our lunches - talk with the camp manager etc. - the day actually goes fairly fast and before you knew it was time for one last short happy hour and then the traditional roast beef dinner with all the trimmings - this years food quality was better than last years - new camp cook seems to make the difference - later its the traditional close to camp - skit night where the creative juices of the group are put on display and there are some really creative people in camp - skits about the biffies, about each other - about just about anything and everything before winding up for the evening around 10:00 AM
    Tomorrow the long trip out.

    We awake to some fresh snow on the local peaks caused by the cold front that went through the region last night. This provides an eerie morning scene as we await departure back down to civilization.

     After getting our duffel packed up and ready for the wranglers to mount on the horses we were treated to a breakfast of french toast - which is one of my favorites as I am not too keen on eggs and bacon everyday.
    Soon it was time to start the trek out - The weather has cleared but is much cooler than the past few days and with the downhill slog done at the start it is sure to be a much better trip out - surprisingly after hearing about the foot problems of the previous camps we had very little trouble - whether we heeded the medics advise or the fact that we are a very experienced group I don't know.
    While I started out in third group by the time we reached the wilderness campsite I had caught up with the first group and subsequently a number of us speedy types  were given permission to proceed on our own pace provided we knew where to make the right turn and not end up on the wrong side of Spray lake as someone did the previous week. This didn't happen and  I was the first out to the parking lot. Most of the hikers arrive at trail head  ahead of the busses. The out trip took a little over 5 and 1/2 hours and the cooler but sunny weather was an asset.

    Board the busses - journey back to Banff - get my room at the Y - check to see that my truck is okay - have a quick shower and then join the group for a beer at the Rose and Crown - later a pizza - what else - some more beer - off to bed and back to Vancouver on Sunday.

    Next Year - hopefully Tombstone Lakes - otherwise Sunset Pass in the north end of Banff Park.

    Ed note - Alberta forestry won’t give permission to return to Tombstone Lakes so it will be Sunset Pass - which is okay as I haven't been there yet - but that’s a story for next year.

    Photos and text copyrighted by Dennis M Baher, aka the Urban trekker.com. If you wish to link to this page or want further information about the Skyline Hikers please:   e mail the urban trekker  - permission will probably be granted.