Report and observation of my trip with the Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies at their Camp #1, Bryant Creek/ Assiniboine from Monday July 15 to Saturday July 20, 1991.
 
 

The following background information is provided for those who may wish to attend a Skyliners camp sometime in the future.

The process starts a day prior to departure with the dropping off of your duffel and attending an informal meeting and social in the evening in Banff.

The Skyliners offer five different camps to the same location each year. All are one week in duration and to satisfy Parks Canada they must rotate their camps and only revisit an area about every seven years. Through the introduction of new sites the Skyliners are striving to have a ten year cycle. To this end, next year’s camp will be in the Tombstone area of Peter Lougheed Park in Kananasksis Country.

Each camp is under the leadership of a host/hostess who is in charge of all operations and who is assisted by a music leader, hike leader and doctor along with volunteers who help with the day trips.

This year’s camp is located near the boundary of Banff and Mt. Assiniboine Parks some sixteen kms up Bryant Creek from the Mt. Shark/ Watridge Lake parking lot and trail head. The site is located near the top of a broad meadow surrounded by massive peaks, accessible passes and flowing mountain streams. Our trail is one of the main access routes to Mt. Assiniboine and is a multi-use one allowing for horse, foot and mountain bike usage. Our camp is about 5kms from Assiniboine Pass and it’s a further 5kms to the lodge and the trails from the lodge area. For the most part all of the routes are well established or have been taped by the pre camp party who arrive a couple of weeks before the first camp to ensure that everything is ready for the groups. This year because of lingering snow and wet conditions not all of the routes will be available to our group but they will be enjoyed by those attending later camps.

The camp this year is made up of eighteen large waterproof canvass tents capable of sleeping from three to five persons and comes equipped with a small pot belly stove and wood supply. Sleeping foamies are supplied but ground sheets and personal foamies are recommended. Primitive privies are scattered throughout the site. There is a tent shaped like a donut that serves as our meeting and evening campfire site. In addition, there is a dining hall/ kitchen and wash up area where hot water is available in the morning and before supper in the evening.

Meal times are posted and tea/coffee is available prior to meals and hot chocolate and cookies are served during the evening sing song. Lunches are bagged and contain either one or two sandwiches, cookies and fruit. You need to supply your own juices and trail mixes.

At the Sunday meeting each camper is given a set of camp rules, photocopy of the area with trails outlined and a brief idea of the trail in and what to expect. This camp has a full quota of sixty-nine including the hostess etc. There are many first timers and six repeats from my camp #2 last year at Molar Pass. There are twice as many females as males and ages range from fourteen to over seventy.

Accommodation in Banff on Sunday night is a must unless you live close by as all trips leave Banff early on Monday mornings.

There is no longer any overnight street parking allowed within the Banff town centre. There are two options -- ask your hotel for permission-- many are willing especially if you have booked accommodation for the following Saturday. The other option is to leave your vehicle at the Timberline towing compound where for a fee they will secure your car.

Take lots of clothes as the weather can be very changeable. You are allowed two large duffel bags and what ever you can carry in your day pack.

Don’t forget to include some refreshments and goodies for the happy hour which is held each evening before dinner and something for a skit on the final evening. You won’t be strange if you bring in a walk man for music or an umbrella which can also double as a walking stick.

Enough of the mundane details which you probably found repetitive if you read my account of last year’s trip to Molar Pass.

Now it’s time for the daily account of this week in the Canadian Rockies.
 
 

& DAY ONE MONDAY JULY 15, 1991         THE TRIP UP BRYANT CREEK AND INTO BASE CAMP

I am up before my wake up call, pack my day pack, secure the truck at the YWCA who were kind enough to let me store it on their lot for the week, have a quick breakfast at McDonald’s and arrive at the bus pick up point at the Banff Fire Hall by 7:30AM. This is earlier than usual but reflects the longer, slow drive to trail head and the long 16km walk into camp.

By 8:00AM all sixty-nine of us are underway on two school bus instead of the usual highway coaches travelling through Canmore, up the Whitman Gap and down the Spray Lakes Road ( gravel - thus the school bus ) to our trail head at the Mt.Shark/ Watridge Lake parking lot.

After a nature break, the group split into three departing about fifteen minutes apart with the fastest group leaving first. I elect to join this group for a 10:00AM departure under the leadership of our camp co-hostess Wendy Aitkins of Calgary for the sixteen kms trek into camp.

The trail at the start is a wide gravel road with lot’s of ski touring signs that later reverts to a good bark mulch and gravel trail with bridges over all creeks and minimum elevation gain.

The noon hour finds our group at the Big Springs back country campsite which is the halfway point. Here we lunch, watch the some of the horses bringing our duffel pass us and flower gaze until the second group arrives.

The weather is cloudy with occasional sunny breaks but no rain. I am able to walk in shorts and T-shirt with only an occasional need for a sweat shirt. There are few mosquitoes around.

After our lunch break, we proceed along what seems to be several kms of flat trail before it becomes undulating as it nears the Owl Lakes junction and finally climbs moderately to the Marvel Creek turnoff. Here you get the first muted, cloud shrouded glimpse of the jewel of the Canadian Rockies, Mt. Assiniboine. Shortly the Bryant Creek Warden station and the turnoff for Marvel Lake and Wonder Pass are reached. The area has opened to a broad meadow with Bryant Creek flowing clearly through it. We are met at the Warden station by Dave Davies from Lethbridge who is our chief hiker leader who had stayed over from the pre camp group.

From the Warden station is is about 2kms to our camp and we have been passed by both mountain bikers and the horses carrying our duffel. While we are the first group our pace has been moderate and by 2:30PM we can see our camp ahead of us in the meadow. It is set against an impressive backdrop. There are high lofty peaks, lush valley meadows, lingering snow patches, puffy grey clouds and meandering streams. It is also threatening rain, a scenario that would face us every afternoon. We arrive outside camp at 3:00PM to wait for our hostess to cross the bridge and formally welcome us to Camp Bryant.

It had taken five easy hours to hike the sixteen kms into camp. The camp is laid out on a mostly level site near the top of a broad meadow in the upper Bryant Creek valley.

The tents are clustered in two and threes with the donut in the middle and the kitchen dining hall at the entrance and the biffies well off in the distance. Not all of the duffel has arrived but the one containing my happy hour supplies is in camp. As we await the other groups it starts to rain lightly so those present adjourn to the dining hall for hot tea, cookies and tent assignments.

I am assigned to Sunset Pass tent. My tent mates are Josef S and Robert I from Regina and Peter P from Toronto. It is the first camp for Robert and Peter while Josef was on Camp #2 at Molar Pass last year. Josef and Peter are retired while Robert works as a Librarian for the Sask. Government.

Despite the rain, the temperature is pleasant and an unofficial happy hour begins after Peter starts a fire to warm up our tent. There is a small water hole behind our tent which is just right for cooling my beer and pop. There are several beer drinkers and more imbibers overall than last year.

At 6:30PM, the dinner music starts and tonight’s menu consists of vegetable beef soup, chicken pieces done in a tomato sauce, rice, corn, and salad veggies of carrots, celery and radishes. There is also soya sauce and sweet pickles. Dessert is a coconut creme square.

After dinner I adjourn to arrange my bed, stoke up the fire and relax before attending the evening sing song and trail information session in the donut. This year we were asked to wear our favorite T- shirt which is used as a way of introducing ourselves to each other.

There are thirteen hiking options available in this area but because of weather, trail conditions and lingering snow, only seven will be offered this week.

From our camps location, there are three passes about five to seven kms distance and from 1000’ to 1500’ higher. These three passes provide access to all but one of our day hikes. Of the options for tomorrow, I am leaning towards Og Pass as it provides good views, flowers, ridges and scrambles etc.

I have trouble sleeping as the tent is far too hot and my bag starts to perspire. I get only about four hours of sleep.
 
 

DAY TWO TUESDAY JULY 16, 1991    THE TRIP TO OG PASS BUT WHERE IS WINDY RIDGE TRAIL

 

 Peter and Ron are up early and have a fire going as it is cold in the early morning light. Breakfast is at 7:30AM and will vary between oatmeal and creme of wheat with eggs, sausage or bacon . You are encouraged to eat as much as you like.

As the sun crests the ridge above camp shortly after 8:00AM, the scene in the meadow is awesome. The smoke from the tent stoves has bathed the valley in a gray mist while the on the peaks above the sun is radiating off Gilbraltar Rock. The camera buffs are taking full advantage of this opportunity.

Departure times for hikes are staggered by fifteen minutes to allow groups to gain some ground before the next group departs. This is particularity needed this year because all but one trip have common ground before branching off. I have chosen the Og Pass trail, an eleven mile round trip and sixteen hundred foot elevation climb into a long broad valley/pass with views and flowers. Departing at 8:45AM with co-hostess Judith M from Toronto leading, the trail at first travels along the Bryant Creek valley floor until the Assisiboine Pass junction is reached. Keeping left the trail climbs moderately for a km until the Allenby Pass junction branches off to the right. Continuing left the trail traverses a ridge of Og Mountain over a km of level terrain. This part of the trail is visible from the valley floor and smoke from our stoves can be seen below.

We can see Wendy A group working their way up towards Assisiboine Pass.

Continuing to climb and gradually turning towards Og Pass we pause at a well used rest stop where one would get views of the “Mountain” if it were clear. As it is, there is a great view of Mount Caultey, a ridge of which sits above our camp. There is also a close up view of Cave Mountain - so named for the many holes in the rock formation. After a short climb, the valley containing Og Pass is entered.

Og Pass is a broad valley over a km in length and up to one half km wide containing flowers in bloom, wandering streams that flow both east and west. It separates Og Mountain from Cave Mountain. The group slowly trods through the almost level trail to the B.C./Alberta border and our lunch break. Here we hope to find the trail and markings for a route up Windy Ridge which is suppose to start just before the boundary marker and be obvious to the naked eye. However no one can find the markers.

After discussion over lunch the group splits - some hardy types have decided to climb one of the open ridges in the Pass while the remainder will stroll through the Pass to a nearby knoll where we hope to get some better photos of the “Mountain”. It is on the way to this rocky knoll that I discovered the tapes and trail to Windy Ridge but by now it is too late to notify the others. The confusion occurred when the advance party were marking the route they were coming from the Assiniboine side through Og Pass and down to camp. In other words they were marking in the opposite direction that we are hiking so when they said markers were just before the Pass no one realized that they were referring to the B.C. side of the Pass

Those who proceeded to the rocky knolls were rewarded with fine views; an obscure view of Assiniboine, a good look towards the Nub and Nublet, Airplane meadows and the many peaks in the Sunshine Village area. It is now time to return to the pass and inform the others of our trail find and start the return trip.

One thing noted by Alec B from Ottawa while on the ridge above the Pass was that two different creeks flow out of Og Pass. One flows out of the Pass into Bryant Creek and eastward while the other flows down into B.C. to join the Columbia river system. It is truly a case of two oceans having a source only inches apart.

The views as we headed down the valley were better briefly. With Alec leading and Judith as the end person the pace quicken as we wanted to get back before the thundershower which started as we entered camp.

I rested and chatted with some from the other trips but most of the details would be provided during the nightly trip report. With many arriving back late and wanting to wash up attendance for happy hour was small.

Supper consists of chicken noodle and rice soup, pork chops, roasted potatoes with green beans and gravy. A lettuce, carrot and raisin salad is included . I skipped dessert determined not to gain weight like I did last year. The three beers during happy hour also seemed to have filled me.

Again Peter has gotten the fire going and seems to be able to master the stoves and wet wood. He also adjourns each morning to the all female tent next to us to light a fire under the occupants. A leak in the tent forced us to move away from the outer wall but this was nothing compared to the inhabitants of a brand new tent that apparently wasn’t waterproofed like it was supposed to be.

The rain continues to fall as the evening ceremonies begin. At the campfire, all new members of the Skyliners are presented with their membership cards as they have now completed one full hike with the club.

One of the proposed trips tomorrow is a “rekkie” to a valley in a bowl on Mt.Mercer across from the camp. There is no known trail but the route appears to be open with a climb up a slate/shale face to a valley of unknown treasure.

Tonight I slept better as we let the heat subside. I am warm in my down bag but others are anywhere from cool to cold and take advantage of some of the extra blankets and sleeping bags that are brought into camp each year.
 
 

DAY THREE WEDNESDAY JULY 17, 1996                     AN EVENTFUL DAY AND JOURNEY INTO                     THE UNKNOWN WORLD OF MT. MERCER

It was an eventful day!

Up at the usual early hour - the fire is going - I don’t feel too energetic - must have mid week blues - weather looks promising - some blue sky and clouds - I have four sausages and two fried eggs for breakfast.

Being an adventurous individual I elect to join four others for an exploratory trip into the Mercer Creek valley above and across from the camp. I will be hiking with Dave D, our chief hike master, Wendy A, Michael S our camp doctor from Halifax and his fiancé Gini S from Copper Cliff, Ont.

Mercer Creek runs down from Mercer Mountain and joins Bryant Creek just downstream from our camp and line of sight indicates the right side of the creek bed is a possible route as a waterfall and small canyon near the top make it impossible to follow the stream bed straight up or to follow on the left hand side.

The first part of our route finding takes us through forest to the foot of a large rock slope comprised of easy to climb slate/shale rock. It requires a scramble up this rock for a thousand foot elevation gain where we hope to be able to drop down into an unexplored valley containing a meadow and meandering creek situated between Mt. Mercer on the right and Allenby Peak on the left.

One of the requirements of a rekkie trip is to tape the route as we ascend and then change it on the descent if necessary. Our first fifteen minutes were spent wandering through the light forest cover which we didn’t tape on the ascent and for which we would be cursing on the descent.

Now comes the test of our stamina and will power: the climb up the rock slope. The footing is solid and the rock is firm as we climb for an hour to a point just below a rock ledge. Here the rock becomes looser and causes me some traction problems so I retreat to a safer, lower point to the left. This lower route all would take as it isn’t necessary to climb so high to access the valley. During a good rest break we admire the views -- the camp clearly visible far below -- Assiniboine Pass but not the mountain itself which is blocked by the massif of Mt. Cautley. We have reached this viewpoint in a little over an hour but could not yet see what lies ahead in the valley. Climbing up a treeless slope we tape only a few entry and exit points as we passed a well defined game trail which would be of significance later. We had gained perhaps sixteen hundred feet in elevation and had hiked probably only a couple of kms.

After our rest, we proceed towards the creek and waterfall we are well above and see the valley for the first time. It appears to have everything -- meadows -- streams -- waterfall -- snow fields -- flowers -- towering peaks but we weren’t there for we had to scramble down a couple of hundred feet to the valley floor. The view is majestic and Wendy nicknames it Magic Valley and I guess that is how all of us felt at that moment. We had discovered in less than two hours, a hiking gem for other Skyliners to visit over the next five weeks. This valley will give the explorer in all of us lots of time to discover the various nooks and crannies of this Rockies wonderland. We felt like kids with a brand new toy.

The small meadow we first entered is virtually flat and appears to have been recently mowed. Thus I aptly name it “ lawn mower meadow” . The grass and alpine meadows are neat and trim and many of the rocks in the valley are as flat as a kitchen table.

Looking up the valley wall one sees the rocky ledges of Allenby and Mercer -- Mercer creek cascading down the valley in a series of waterfalls and small clumps of trees which provide shelter from the wind and weather throughout the day. We are in no hurry. Lawn mower meadow is perhaps a half a kilometer long and less wide carpet of all that is good about nature. We admire the flowers and rock formation as we proceed up to a clump of trees and our lunch break.

While eating lunch we spot another waterfall cascading down a narrow break in the rock which by late summer will be down to a trickle. The weather has held off so far. We continue to explore cascading waterfalls up to a twin stream let flowing down a series of rocky and heather slopes to a high point and the source of Mercer Creek. We have climb perhaps five hundred feet from the valley floor and are at the valley wall -- a nearly impassable point between Allenby and Mercer. It may be possible to cross over a flank of Allenby to the pass on the other side but that will be a trip for more experienced climbers.

Mercer’s Creek source is in a small cirque that is still snow covered but has broken open in the middle providing an interesting scenario of melting snow and a creek in its infancy flowing out of it which allows the adventurous Doc to drop into the middle and wade through two inch deep water and provide us with an interesting photo. The terrain is still open with lots of scrambling up nearby ridges possible and we catch a glimpse of Assiniboine as clouds continue to obscure its snow covered peak.

I rest and admire the views down the valley while Gina, Dave and Wendy explore a nearby ridge which is easily accessible but didn’t provide any other hiking options. Meanwhile Doc Mike has taken off up a slope on the Allenby side hoping to reach the high point and its views into Allenby Pass but the rock at the top proved to be too loose for secure footing and nothing to grab onto so he enjoyed a glorious glissade down the slope and rejoined the rest of us.

As the saying goes, all good things must end as it was time to start back, so we kept to the Allenby side of the valley to enjoy some different flowers and several glissades down lingering snow patches. Back at the valley floor we hope to find and mark a better route down the mountain. There is no need to tape anywhere in the valley because of the open terrain . As we leave the meadows several good game trails seem to head around the shoulder and onto the rock . This path was the one we ignored on the way up.

Up until now the weather had behaved -- a little cool, some sunny periods, a light breeze but as anyone who hikes in the Rockies knows can change on short notice and such was the case today. When we left the meadow the weather was deteriorating but we hoped it would hold off until we got back to camp. It didn’t! In the space of forty five minutes the bangs of approaching thunder and ominous clouds were over Assiniboine and moving rapidly. The storm was upon us as we started down the rock face. No time to pick and choose a route, it was get down into the safety of the trees as fast as possible.

We made it safely down admist the hail, wind, thunder and lightning and despite concerns with my footing only slipped once on the wet rocks. We made it down in about twenty minutes but remember we hadn’t taped our return route through the trees. We were in no danger as all you had to do was follow the creek but you still needed to mark it for the next group.

We also hadn’t stopped to put on our rain gear. We are soaked to the skin. We finally found the tape leading into the forest and with wet trembling hands taped a route through the trees and finally made camp very wet at 3:45PM.

One piece of good fortune did befall me as Rob was already back and had a fire going. It was a pleasure to be able to get out of the wet clothes and into some dry ones. My body is sore and hurting from some cuts and scrapes as I was hiking in short pants which can be much more comfortable when proceeding through wet underbrush. The rain ended shortly after as groups of wet hikers returned to camp.

It was dry for happy hour and the beer went down real well. Our exploits were inquired about by many who seemed interested in doing this trip later in the week.

By dinner time the tent is hot and I’m warm. All those extra clothes I brought this year are paying off as I haven’t caught a cold like last year.

Dinner is soup, roast beef chunks, boiled potatoes, green beans and a lemon tart for dessert.

Trying to write this diary and suffocate in the tent is impossible so I await until campfire time to complete the journal but the donut is right outside our tent so the music is loud and because of our location it is light until 10:30PM.

This evening marks the half way point of this years camp and the following are some observations based on last years camp and my expectations for this years.
 
 
 

Camp layout: much better than last year.

Camp scenery: equal to Molar -- less meadow flowers but more vistas.

Food: as good as always and lots of it.

Hikes: hikes are longer than Molar and less selection due to wet conditions.

Weather: worse than Molar -- can only hope for improvement.

Hostess: Different in character than Elsie but just as competent and able.

People: no large groups means more intermingling - more drinkers and less characters.

Tomorrow’s trip will be to Assiniboine Lodge as it is the last time it may be offered.

Now for some hot chocolate and then off to bed as I’m tired and sore.
 
 

DAY FOUR THURSDAY JULY 18, 1991         MY JOURNEY TO ASSINIBOINE LODGE AND BACK

Before going to bed last night I resolved to do an easier trip because my body is sore and hurting. While the distance to Assiniboine Lodge is about twenty kms the trail is not difficult as both mountain bikers and horse use it so it can’t be too hard for a weary hiker.

About the only choice our leader, Judith had to make was whether to take the old horse trail with its one interesting ford of Bryant Creek or the drier but longer hiker route up to the Pass. Judith elected the longer route which seemed to take forever to wind up the valley and into the Pass which was reached before noon. At the Pass a B.C. Parks crew is erecting a new welcome to Assiniboine Park sign and its regulation concerning mountain bikes within the Park -- NOT PERMITTED.

There are only six of us and as the only male was asked to be the end person. From the Pass we drop down a couple of hundred feet to the edge of the grassy O’Brien meadows where we stop for lunch. It is our intention to have tea and cookies at Assiniboine Lodge later in the afternoon and where we hope to meet up with a group of hikers who are doing the long three passes loop of Marvel - Wonder and Assiniboine and who left very early this morning.

O’Brien meadows is the route used to access Mt. Cautley and the Assiniboine - Og Pass loop. Assiniboine is still obscured in clouds but the close up views of the Nub, Nublet and Mt. Cautley are much clearer. After lunch we head for Lake Magog and hopefully a close up view of the mountain. The two and one half kms walk to the lake is easy as most of the area around the core of the park is located on a broad, level plateau except for the climb up to the various lakes that dot the landscape. After admiring the views around Lake Magog we adjourn indoors for some tea, cookies and home baking delights. We meet the group during the long loop and except for a few snow patches at Wonder Pass they had made very good time.

At 2:15PM we start the return journey over the same route and put on the foul weather gear as rain is imminent. I have brought my large golf umbrella which was put to good use half and hour later as the rain started and continued on and off all the way back to camp. As is Judith’s custom the end person gets to lead the group back into camp so with about two km to go I lead and provide the trip report later in the evening.

We arrive back in camp around 5:00PM to a warming sun but I am still sore and have the Doc check out my cuts and bruises and he reassures me that I am still quite fit for hiking, if I so desire.

I get some hot water, have a shave and wash and feel much better. Because of the sunshine, the happy hour is held outdoors and most of the beer drinkers join in and discuss the days events.

Dinner is beef barley soup, roast ham, macaroni, carrots along with celery and cold carrots. Dessert is fudge brownies .

I have hiked about 20 kms and at the campfire we are asked to conserve wood as there is a quota for the entire summer and we are going through far too much because of the weather.

Tomorrow either a short trip to Marvel Lake or a day in camp. Stay tuned.
 
 

It was a good day. It started the night before when my wish for a short trip was answered when Teri W announced she would be leading a slow and easy to Marvel Lake leaving later in the morning and returning early. After watching the other groups depart including twenty three for the slog up Mercer we left at 9:30AM. There are nineteen in all - seventeen females save for Peter and myself. Once again I am the end person for if I am not leading I might as well be the end person as I can’t seem to enjoy a pace from any other position.

The group leisurely strolls down the trail and in fifty minutes has reached the Warden station and the junction for the Marvel Lake trail. We laze under the sunny skies and enjoy a long separation break. Crossing Bryant Creek on a sturdy log bridge and traversing a wet meadow the trail enters light forest cover until another trail junction is encountered. This upper trail heads along the ridge above the lake and eventually climbs to Wonder Pass. We take the lower trail and drop steeply to the wonderful confines of Marvel Lake. Along the way, many stopped to admire the flowers for in our midst are several of the Skyliners best alpine flower experts.

It is only 11:15AM as we unstrap the packs and settle into exploring the area around the lake. Once again the weather is fickle. Leaving camp it was mostly sunny and warm but by now it is cloudy and much cooler. The sweaters and rain jackets are brought out but aren’t needed as the threatening clouds passed without dropping any moisture.

As usual the views of Assiniboine are restricted but several of the surrounding peaks -- Wonder, Lucette, Aye are clearly visible. There are three people across the lake fishing just above the posted boundary and I wonder if they crossed on the log jam at the lake’s outlet and if the three mountain bikes in the bushes are theirs.

During our stroll along the lakeshore more species of alpine flowers were discovered as was a beautiful waterfall just below the outlet. Several other people who arrived via mountain bikes are also impressed by the beauty of the area. It is easy to see why this area is so heavily visited by people using various forms of transportation.

At 12:30PM the return journey is underway and a deer is spotted at the Warden Station which gets the cameras a clicking. Arriving back at camp at 2:30PM it only takes one half hour before the afternoon thundershower starts to wetten everything but we are nice and dry inside our tents. There is now a large puddle in the middle of the dining tent where the water poured through a roof seam. Another job for the camp crew before the next camp.

The other groups are returning and here’s a summary of their trips.
 

Allenby Pass -- four ladies came within one hundred yards of a small cinnamon grizzly.

Mercer Creek --twenty - three weren’t thrilled with the ascent/descent but agree that “Magic Valley” is the best hike and scenery covered this week.

Marvel lake/ Wonder pass/Lodge Loop -- two groups -- one fast, one slow, rated best loop in the area and not too strenuous despite the distance.

Nub and Nublet -- two did this one.

As it is the last night in camp it is traditional skit night when we get to act out our impressions of the week etc. which provide plenty of thrills. While not participating in a skit I do contribute both my walk man and umbrella which will be used for a skit highlighting modern hiking gear as part of a men’s fashion show.

The dinner bell is ringing just as I finish packing and tiding up the tent so I will have my duffel ready for tomorrow’s trip out. The roast beef dinner comes with all the trimmings. After being cooked in the oven the beef is then loaded on the barbecue pit for an hour to add some additional flavor. The beef is served with baked potatoes, baked beans and veggies. Dessert is cake with real icing and I go back for seconds for the first time this week.

Now for a report on skits. They are varied and humorous. From salutes to our hike leaders, a look at wildlife in the area, to a mock wedding for the Doc and his fiance, to a rap music session , to the finale of a men’s hiking fashion show featuring Dave and Alec.

Looking outside for one final evening I am reminded of the greatness of the wilderness. There is fresh snow on the peaks from the thunder showers but it is melting from the warmth of the evening sun. A beautiful sunset unfolds as the peaks down the valley radiate in the evenings last glimmer of light.

As you would expect the weather appears to be improving just as it is time to head back to civilization

Tomorrow -- the pack up and trip out.
 
 

DAY SIX SATURDAY JULY 20, 1991                       THE LAST DAY AND THE TRIP OUT

It’s going home day and as is routine you pack up early before breakfast and watch the wranglers start loading your duffel according to weight and size. After watching this process a couple of times you start to appreciate why they request that your bags be a certain size as it is much easier for the horses to carry. I was fortunate enough to be able to get a photo of both of my bags being loaded and noted with satisfaction that the horse that had the empties seemed to sense that it was twenty pounds lighter.

For breakfast we had a treat and one of my favorites -- French toast and lot’s of syrup plus the regular menu.

You leave camp in the opposite order than you arrive -- slowest leaving first and fastest last with the Doc always being in the last group to treat any problems that may occur on the trip out. This year there are only some sore feet and scrapes but nothing like the serious knee problems of last year. The slow group left at 9:00Am for the ten mile and five hour trip out to the buses.

The weather is cloudy and cool as the last group of eight speedsters leaves shortly after 10:00AM and by 11:30AM we had arrived at the lunch stop at Big Springs campsite where the slow group had just left and the middle group just arrived. Needless to say I had made good time. While Wendy is suppose to lead us out she has given the task to Dick Neal so she can stay behind and ensure that everything is okay back at camp. Dick hikes at my pace and by 2:15PM we had reached trail head with only a handful of others ahead of us. The weather has stayed cool and the rain held off.

The buses arrive on time and we are back in Banff just after 4:00PM. After ensuring that my truck was okay and my duffel safely put away I adjourn to the Rose and Crown pub where about forty of us have one final drink together before going our separate ways.

I have decided to spend the night at the Y in Banff and will drive straight through tomorrow to meet Jim in Prince George.

I enjoy my first shower in a week and then adjourn for beer and pizza where I met Gordon and Evelyn P my tent mates last year and gave them some of the highlites of the trip and what they might expect on Camp #2. I hit the sack at around 11:00PM and slept like a log.

Ed note: The weather for Camp #2 was sunny and warm with only one shower.

Thus concludes another Skyline trip for me. Most of the observations noted at the end of day three are still true at the end of the week and will not be repeated here. So until the next trip that all’s.
 
 

COMPLIED BY THE URBAN TREKKER FROM NOTES FROM HIS TRIP IN 1991 AND UPDATED FOR THIS WEB SITE ON JUNE 5, 1999 <

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