Day 2, September 22, 2024, Little Yoho CG to Takakkaw Falls Backcountry Parking Lot, 11.5 km, 334 m elevation gain, 881 m elevation loss, 3 hrs 40 min.
We all had a good nights sleep. I did fuss a lot through the night worried if Margaux would be comfortable in the sub zero temperatures. I would shove my hands under Margaux’s jacket to feel if her body was warm. Every time I checked she felt cozy warm. Looking back I do not feel it got as cold as it was forecasted to. After this hike I purchased a cheap $5 thermometer to just be able to track the temperatures and have a better feel even for myself if I am appropriately warm in my sleeping bag for the temperature.
It was to a pretty short day at just over 11 km so we did not rush to get out of camp. The weather was not fantastic but it was not suppose to precipitate.
As we arrived at the junction with the Stanley Mitchell Hut we were greeted by a co-worker of mine who was running the Iceline with a friend. This was truly one of the nice little surprises that happen on trail and is was a lot of fun to meet a co-worker and talk about the shared joy of being outdoors.
The Waputik Icefield shares its name with the Waputik Mountains on where the icefield is located. Waputik is the Stoney name for white goat and the area was named in 1884 by George Dawson. George Dawson was an early geologist who studied much of Western Canada. Dawson City, Yukon and Dawson Creek, British Columbia were named in his honour.
Somewhere before we finished our walk on the Iceline we met a mother of a former student of mine. My kids like to complain that we cannot travel in the backcountry without me meeting someone I know. We stopped and traded stories. I always enjoy catching up on what students are doing. I get to know the students well during my time teaching them in grade 11 and 12 and then boom, they are gone and I lose track on them. So I am always excited to hear news of what they are up to. All the news on this day was good and exciting.
The last 15 minutes of the hike is a road walk back to the car. This is never an exciting walk but with it being late September there was not too much traffic.
Once in the car it was an easy drive home. We stopped in at Blondies Cafe in Canmore for mocha before heading home.
This was a pretty quick trip but we packed a lot into the two days. Always good to get out on the trails with my kids getting older it is best to go when we can as I never where they might be or doing in the future.
That’s a wrap on the daddy/daughter hike for 2024 and the final backpacking trip of the year.