Skip to content
Boot Wreckers
Menu
  • Home Page
  • Hiking Day Trips
    • Aylmer Lookout Banff NP
    • Mt Allan Traverse (Centennial Ridge)
    • Mt Nomad (almost) – Kanananaskis Country
  • Backpacking – Overnights
    • Baker Lake 2020 Banff NP
    • Exploring Waterfalls with Volcano – Yoho NP
    • Fish Lakes – Banff NP, Alberta
    • Floe Lake/Numa Creek, Kootenay NP, British Columbia
    • Floe Lake (Revisited 2019) – Kootenay NP
    • Grand Canyon Corridor Backpacking Trip
    • Hermit Trail to Hermit Meadows – Glacier NP, British Columbia
    • Howard-Douglas Lake – Banff NP (2017)
    • Leman Lake – Banff, NP
    • Mystic Lake – Banff NP
    • Ribbon Lake Kananaskis Prov. Park 2016 – Ribbon Creek Route
    • Ribbon Lake Kananaskis Prov. Park 2017 – South Buller Pass Route
    • Simpson and Healy Pass – Banff NP (2016)
    • Stenton Lake – Alberta Wildlands Prov. Park
  • Backpacking – Multi Day
    • Arizona Trail Passages 16/17
    • Brazeau Loop – Jasper National Park
    • Egypt Lake Epic – Banff NP
    • Egypt Lake Exploration 2021- Banff NP
    • Grand Canyon Hermit – South Kaibab
    • Grand Canyon – Tanner/Beamer Trail
    • GR20 – Corsica
    • Great Divide Trail Hike – Section C 2020
    • Great Divide Trail Hike – Section E 2021
    • Iceline/Twin Falls – Yoho NP
    • Kilimanjaro – Tanzania
    • Mt Assiniboine Lollipop – Banff NP
    • Rockwall North 2020 Kootenay NP
    • Sawback – Banff NP
  • The Team
  • Contact Us
Menu

Day 1 Grand Canyon Tanner/Beamer Trail

View of the Eastern Grand Canyon from the Redwall Overlook, Tanner Trail.

Lipan Point to Palisades Creek.

Distance 19.1 km, 1417 m elevation loss, 7 hrs 35 min.

We woke up in the morning and, as forecast, a thick heavy blanket of snow covered the ground. We got up and went to the cafeteria and fuelled up with breakfast and a couple of coffees to prepare for the adventure that lay ahead.

Snow on the rental car.

We arrived at Lipan Point at 9:35am; there was snow everywhere. I was just mildly concerned about the weather, since when looking into the canyon, a thick layer of clouds prevented me from seeing the river at the bottom. We took the obligatory start-of-hike photo, smiles all around, and headed onto the trail, it was 9:40am. Siobhan was wearing a light puffy jacket, I had on a fleece jacket and my rain jacket (to block the wind) and we both had buffs wrapped around our heads.

Snow on the rim, clouds nestled in the canyon, a bit of an ominous start.
Siobhan hiding behind the information boards at the trailhead.
The sign behind says it all, Tanner Trail, smiles all around.

The trail heads into the trees, curls around to the left, then starts descending with a purpose. I was certainly glad to have both a hiking pole and the traction aids on my boots.

There is plenty of snow up high, but it quickly disappears as you descend.
The snow-covered trail.
Siobhan all bundled up.

After only 15 minutes of hiking, we had begun to take off layers, I was down to just a polypro t-shirt and long-sleeved shirt. The trail switches back and forth and drops through the Kaibab Limestone cliffs, the common first rock formation on the South Rim. Within 20 minutes of the start of the hike, we were out of the snow and had removed our traction aids.

First layers are off.
Snow is thinning out, into the sandstone layers of the Coconino.
Siobhan working the descent, still had to watch our footing.

The initial descent was very steep, this is for two reason. First is that the typical rock layers at the top of the South Rim are the Kaibab Limestone, Toroweap Formation and the Coconino Sandstone, typically form cliff, slope, cliff arrangement, but in the Eastern Grand Canyon, the layers form cliff, cliff, cliff. This means that there is no gentle slope between the Kaibab and the Coconino. The Toroweap Formation was laid down in a fluctuating shallow sea that covered most of the Grand Canyon, with a shoreline in the Eastern Grand Canyon. This leads to a predominantly sandstone layer being placed in the area of the Tanner Trail and sandstone, being resistant to erosion, forms cliffs instead of the familiar slope.

The second reason the descent is steep is that there is no mule traffic on the Tanner Trail, so the National Park Service has no reason to level out the grade.


Snow has disappeared almost completely.
The massive crossbeds of the Coconino Sandstone, the Coconino was once a massive inland dune field.
Working through some sandstone rubble, there are some “steps” in the rocks to make it a little safer to travel.

It took only 2.5 km to drop through the three rock layers, losing almost 550 m of elevation! We left the initial canyon, and a view opened up to the west down Sixty Mile Creek. We had been hiking for about an hour, not a fast pace, but it was very treacherous in the snow.

The trail has flattened out, the red colour indicates we are now walking on the Hermit Formation.

The red blocks are the uppermost member of the Supai Group known as the Esplanade Sandstone.
Siobhan against the blocks of Esplanade Sandstone, looking back up the Tanner Canyon.
Looking west down Sixty Mile Canyon.

The next 4.25 km were along the Supai Traverse. This is a relatively flat traverse of the Supai Formation that took us to a spectacular lookout over the inner canyon.  This gave our legs a nice break from the pounding of the initial descent. We passed some very cool-looking rocks, tan coloured with red swirls in them, and trees growing right out of a rock.

Path leveled out–very easy to follow.
There is animal life in the canyon.
Following the path around Cardenaas and Escalante Buttes, bit of moisture in the air.
A red heart in the rocks.
This tree is not a quitter.

The clouds hung in over Lipan Point, but the canyon below us was becoming clear.

Cloud hanging over the top of Tanner Canyon, obscuring Lipan Pt.
Cloud rises in the canyon.

We finished the traverse at an overlook called the Redwall Overlook. We could see the Tanner Grabben and Tanner Rapids where we planned to have lunch and off to the east, the cliffs marking Palisades Creek. It all seemed very far away. This is popular place for camping, I could see that it would provide stunning vistas at sunrise or sunset of the rocks of the inner canyon. We stopped for pictures and a snack. We had travelled 6.75 km, about a third of our trip for the day, in 2 hours 30 minutes.

Clouds are finally moving off, view of the inner canyon opens up.
The Watchtower still shrouded in clouds.
Happy hikers.
Our first goal is Tanner Rapids, at centre, then head east until the cliffs appear at the river, that will be Palisades Creek.
Cliffs of the Palisades, and small figure at right.

We now descended the Redwall Limestone, which was not red! Limestone is typically grey, but in most of the Grand Canyon, red iron-bearing rocks above the Redwall Limestone eroded and deposited red mud onto the grey limestone, colouring it red. But on the Tanner Trail, virtually all the rock above the Redwall Limestone has been eroded away, allowing the limestone to display its natural colour, grey. The trail was very steep and narrow, glad we had poles to provide extra stability.

Have to head down there, can just make out the trail in the green of the Bright Angel Shale.
Coming down the not-so-Redwall Limestone.
The cliffs of the Redwall Limestone in the distance, definite drop to the left (east).

The trail leveled out momentarily, then we descended another limestone cliff.

Trail takes a quick left to find a break in another limestone cliff, the Mauv Limestone.
Head down the slope on the right to cut around to the bottom of the Mauv Limestone cliffs.
Nice view of the fluted face of the Mauv Limestone.

Once below this cliff, the trail hung a hard left and started to head back towards the river.

Trail stays on the slope below the cliffs of the Mauv Limestone, and continues over the rise, centre right.

The rock was a bright green, indicating we were hiking on the Bright Angel Shale formation. This is the rock layer that forms the bulk of the Tonto Trail to the west, which I had hiked on an earlier trip in 2016. After the hard rocky descent through the cliffs, walking on the softer shale was unpleasant change.

The trail cuts through the distinctive green of the Bright Angel Shale.

We weaved back and forth over the ridge. Looking straight ahead, we could see a change in the rocks on the north side of the river. The rocks had a distinctive downward tilt to the east.

The rocks in the centre rise to the left and meet the rocks above at an angle, indicating the lower rocks have been tilted about 20 degrees relative to the rocks above. The tilted rocks belong to the Grand Canyon Supergroup.
The blue line divides the younger Paleozoic rocks above from the Grand Canyon Supergroup below. This is what John Wesley Powell named the Great Unconformity. Note how high above the river the Tapeats Sandstone is–we would be camping at river level right beside the Tapeats on a fault line, the Palisades Fault, indicating a few thousand foot drop to the east along the fault.

This indicates the transition from the Paleozoic rocks of the upper canyon (age 515 million years to 275 million years) to the Grand Canyon Supergroup, Proterozoic rocks (aged 1,250 million years to 800 million years). The difference in ages represents a gap of 285 million years in the rock record of the Grand Canyon. The rocks of the Supergroup only exist in the Eastern Grand Canyon. The reason why the river valley is so wide where we were travelling is that the rocks of the Supergroup are much softer than the Paleozoic rocks we had been hiking through and have eroded to produce the wide valley.

A view down the valley. Lunchtime is getting closer.

An hour and 20 minutes after leaving the overlook, we stopped to remove another layer: I was now in a t-shirt and the temperature had become very nice for hiking.

Blue sky and warmer temperatures.

It felt like we were close, but it still took another hour to make it to Tanner Rapids. The trail had a nice grade as we moved closer to our destination. For the last section, the trail dropped into the dry Tanner Wash, the outlet of Tanner Canyon. We made our way to the Colorado River; it had taken us 5 hrs and 15 minutes to hike the 14.4km from rim to river.

The trail is soft and easy to follow, getting closer to the Tanner Grabben.
Frontal view of the Tanner Grabben, and lunchtime.
Coming down the Tanner Wash.
The Tanner Grabben and rapids.

We took a 45-minute break to eat lunch and for Siobhan to sneak in a nap, she is good at those.

Biological crusts: they are alive, do not step on them. For more info follow link.

The trail heading west to the Escalante Route. We were once on the those dark cliffs below the cloud.
The trail heading east from Tanner Wash.

Just as we started on our way, we felt some rain drops, and some menacing clouds appeared overhead. We hid in a little protective alcove created by some trees near the river. The storm quickly blew over. We had a nearly flat 4.7 km to hike to our campsite.

The first little cliff we have to cross, before the trail descends back to the river.

The hike to Palisades Creek after an initial bit of scrambling over some soft cliffs created by Dox Sandstone was very straightforward. The trail stayed close to the river and was very easy to follow. A few small cairns helped mark the way. The clouds had completely disappeared and the sun had come out with blue skies. It took us just 1 hr and 45 minutes to arrive at Palisades Creek. We had left Lipan Point at 9:40 am, and it was now 5:15 pm, for a total travel time of 7 hrs and 35 minutes.

An hour after I took the photo of the Escalante Trail, how the sky can change.
A small cliff of Dox Sandstone comes to the river, but there is a path right beside the river, no need to hike up and over.
Siobhan making good progress down a sandy trail.
Tilted layers of the Comanche Point Member.

We set up camp and got dinner ready, a delicious meal of rehydrated Mountain House. I collected some water from the river in the bucket, time to see if my plan for getting clean water was going to work. I propped up the bucket and let it sit over night to allow the silt to settle to the bottom.

Home for the evening. Our mascot Frosty Paws has made it. The orange bucket on the left is our water for tomorrow. Temple Butte top right.
Not a bad view! Notice how low the flutes of the Mauv Limestone are. The Palisades Creek formed in the fault that dropped on the east side a couple thousand feet.
The camp kitchen.

I explored up Palisades Creek, wandering up the canyon. I spotted a group of river rafters camped above the rapids on the north side of the river, so we were not quite alone.

Rafters camped on the north side above the Lava Canyon Rapids. Lave Canyon is the canyon on the north side of the river. The cliffs on our side of the river are Tapeats Sandstone!

To the west, the clouds were unsettled, but we had a nice sky. A crescent moon came up as the sky grew dark–it was time for bed. Siobhan was very tired and sore from the day and I was having doubts about our ability to succeed with our ambitious plan of getting to the Little Colorado the next day. We were in a beautiful and amazing place, so I felt that we had already made our destination. Time for bed.

Looking across the rapids to Lava Canyon and to the right Chuar Lava Hill.
The weather is unsettled to the west.
The concrete looking rock in the middle is an old stream bed that eroded the layered rock, visible to the left, that was then filled in by sediment and small rocks prior to the next layers being placed on top.
Exploring up Palisades Canyon. Love looking at the rock layers, in this case the middle gets pinched out to the left.
Rocks never cease to impress me.
Crescent moon rises above the Cliffs of the Palisades, it is bedtime, it is about 8:00pm

Day 2 Grand Canyon Tanner/Beamer Trail

Grand Canyon Tanner/Beamer Trail Home

bootwreckers

Day 3 of our 2021 Labour Day Weekend trip through Day 3 of our 2021 Labour Day Weekend trip through the Egypt Lake area, Banff NP.

This day took us from the campground at Balls Pass Junction over Whistling Pass, with a detour up Pharaoh Peak, which wasn't without some drama.

Lunch was another side trip to Scarab Lake followed by an excursion to Egypt Lake.

Our final destination was Pharaoh Creek Campground. After a lovely evening the Milky Way came out to play.

Read the summary at www.Bootwreckers.com, link in bio.

Photo 1 - moody morning at Balls Pass Junction

Photo 2 - golden meadows as we approach Haiduk Lake

Photo 3 - making our way up Whistling Pass

Photo 4 - heading up Pharaoh Peak, and it really was this steep

Photo 5 - looking over Mummy and Scarab Lakes from the Pharaoh Peak.

Photo 6 - group shot on the way down

Photo 7 - at Egypt Lake

Photo 8 - Frosty Paws guarding the tent

Photo 9 - the Milky Way

Video - scree skiing down Pharaoh Peak

Another great day on the trail with @sio.mellors

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #teamzpacks
Day 2 of our Labour Day weekend trip through the E Day 2 of our Labour Day weekend trip through the Egypt Lake area, Banff NP is up on Bootwreckers, see link in bio.

The day was sunny and the skies were blue, it was simply an amazing day to be on the trail.

Out day started out retracing our steps from th previous evening back to Shadow Lake.

After lingering to take in the stunning view at the lake we had an easy hike to our campsite at Balls Pass Junction.

After setting up the tent and having lunch we headed up the short but steep trail to Ball Pass. Ball Pass is in mu opinion one of th premier viewpoints in Banff NP. 

After exploring Ball Pass we returned back to the campground and enjoyed a well earned stream chilled beer and a nap.

Clouds rolled in later in the day but it only lightly rained.

Was not the biggest mileage day on the trail but was proof that a great day on the trail.
Photo 1 - Siobhan looking at Mt Ball and it's Glacier from Ball Pass
Photo 2 - Siobhan checking directions
Photo 3 - Shadow Lake and Mt Ball
Photo 4 - Siobhan on bridge crossing outlet of Shadow Lake
Photo 5 - dried  strawberries on the trail
Photo 6 - heading up Ball Pass
Photo 7 - Siobhan looking over the valley from Ball Pass
Photo 8 - heading down from Ball Pass
Photo 9 - our reward for a good day on the trail
Photo 10 - finding peace and tranquility in the backcountry 

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks
Day 1 of our amazing trip through the Egypt Lake a Day 1 of our amazing trip through the Egypt Lake area Labour Day Weekend, 2021 now posted up on our blog, link in bio. Another Grand adventure with one of my kids, @sio.mellors.

Our four day trip started at the Vista Lake Trailhead on Hwy 93 South. Up and over Gibbon Pass to camp at Shadow Lake Campground on day 1.

Day 2 was a short hike to Balls Pass Junction CG, then after a short break off to explore Ball Pass, in my opinion one of the best vistas anywhere.

Day 3 we hiked over Whistling Pass on the way to Pharaoh Creek CG, with a scramble up Pharaoh Peak, lunch at Scarab Lake, and a visit to Egypt Lake on the way.

Day 4 was hiking over Healy Pass and out to the Sunshine Village parking lot where our car had been moved to.

Lots of stories from this adventure,  was a lot of fun to revisit and write.

Photo 1 - evening as Shadow Lake

Photo 2 - pre-hike happy team photo

Photo 3 - Arnica Lake, where we had lunch

Photo 4 - the yellow of Larches starting to come in

Photo 5 - the golden meadows of th high alpine at Gibbon Pass

Photo 6 - view all the way to Mt Assiniboine from Gibbon Pass, about 70 km away

Photo 8 - mushrooms in the undergrowth as we approach Shadow Lake CG

Photo 9 - Frosty guarding our campsite

Photo 10 - still smiling at the end of th day at Shadow Lake

#parkscanada #parks
#shadowlake #banffalberta #banffnationalpark #banffcanada #banff #backpacking #camping #lake #egyptlake #Egyptlake  #backcountry #family #familytime #familytime❤️
The trip summaries for Days 10, 11 and 12 from ou The trip summaries  for Days 10, 11 and 12 from our 2021 GDT Section E hike is now up on www.Bootwreckers.com, see link in bio

We had a great end to the trip. Day 9 was a short day from our wild camp on the Bald Hills to Evelyn Crk Campground. Day 10 was a spectacular hike up over Little and Big Shovel Passes to the iconic Jasper Skyline Trail. Camping at Signal Campground. 

Day 11 was an easy walk into Jasper.

The trip was an amazing experience over 11 days, I met and hiked with many people but big props to my kid, who for some reason keeps hiking with me.

Photo 1 - end of hike, looking off into the distance, across th Athabasca River at Cairngorm Mt. 

Photo 2 - morning Bald Hills

Photo 3 - campsite Evelyn Crk CG

Photo 4 - Reading before bed

Photo 5 - fresh bear print on the trail

Photo 6 - Little Shovel Pass

Photo 7 - Snowbowl

Photo 8 - Last grind up to the Notch

Photo 9 - looking east from the Skyline down through Excelsior Creek

Photo 10 At campsite Signal Campground 

See trip reports on our blog, link in bio.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #teamzpacks #zpacks #duplex #sectionhike #sectionhiker
Day 7 and 8 on our GDT trip from last summer. Day Day 7 and 8 on our GDT trip from last summer.

Day 7 was from Waterfalls CG to a meadow in the Six Passes Route. Was a wet, moist day. Numerous creek crossings. Left the main GDT route at Maligne Pass and went off trail into the Six Passes. 

Spent the first night in an amazing meadow. With rain in the forecast we did 5 passes and the ridge walk in one day.

In one word the day was "Epic" . Was a spectacular journey. Huge day, 23 km and over 1500m up and down. So happy we did it, but we were so relieved to put in the tent somewhere flat.

Picture 1) the view of the Six Passes Route from the top of the first pass

Picture 2) me getting ready to leave Waterfalls CG

Picture 3) crossing a creek on a wet log

Picture 4) camping Six Passes

Picture 5) hiking Six Passes

Picture 6) sunrise pass # 2

Picture 7) it's a rocky climb

Picture 8) mmmm chocolate 

Picture 9) the final ascent on the ridge

Picture 10) happy to be home for the evening

See trip reports on our blog, link in bio.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #teamzpacks #zpacks #duplex #sectionhike #sectionhiker
First 5 days of my 11 day 2021 Great Divide Trail First 5 days of my 11 day 2021 Great Divide Trail Hike Section E is up on Bootwreckers, see link in bio.

Includes the 2 days I did on Section D but aborted due to smoke.

Picture 1) Camp on Owen Creek
Picture 2) Camp at Lower Michelle Lake
Picture 3) Pinto Pass
Picture 4) hiking up Cataract Creek
Picture 5) Smokey sunrise over the Brazeau River

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #teamzpacks #zpacks #duplex #sectionhike #sectionhiker
Fun trip out to the Ink Pots in Banff NP on Decemb Fun trip out to the Ink Pots in Banff NP on December 31st.

Was very cold, -30C, but bluebird skies overhead.

Did a little snowshoeing in the meadow.

Saw almost no one above the upper falls at Johnson Canyon.

Fun adventure.

Happy New Year everyone.

#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunstar #sun #lake #sunrise #alpin #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography
Day 6 Section E Great Divide Trail Hike 2021 (Part Day 6 Section E Great Divide Trail Hike 2021 (Part 1)

Fun day on the trail heading from Four Points CG to Waterfalls CG. 

The day started dry but damp from the rainfall overnight. As we left the Brazeau River valley and headed up to Jonas Pass the storm clouds blew in forcing us to get our wet weather gear on. 

I discovered shortly after that it is great to have gloves for hiking, but that they should be accessible, not buried somewhere in the pack.

The storm was quite fierce but luckily brief. We arrived at Jonas pass and were able to put our rain gear away.

The clouds would remain with for the duration of the hike adding some mood to the hike.

This was my second time hiking over Jonas Pass and Jonas Shoulder and both times it has rained.

We arrived at Jonas Shoulder. We took some time to enjoy the view and let off some steam. The rest of the hike would be downhill.

Happy Friday

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks
Waterfall on Owen Creek, Day 1 GDT Section E. Req Waterfall on Owen Creek, Day 1 GDT Section E.

Required a fun bit of scrambling to access.

Happy Friday

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks
Day 5 GDT 2021 Section E. This day was memorable Day 5 GDT 2021 Section E.

This day was memorable for a few reasons. First waking up to more smoke.

First photo is the sun rising over the mountains at 8:30am, shouldn't really be that red.

Doing the extra distance on day 4 meant that this day I had a 3.1 km hike from Boulder Crk CG to Four Points CG.

I could not extend the day as Emily was joining me on this day coming in from the Nigel Pass trailhead and the next campground on our route would be to far to reach on this day.

When I arrived at Four Points it was just before 8am! Must be my shortest day ever.

I spent the day reading and waiting for Emily. I heard her bear calling down the trail about a minute before she arrived.

We spent the rest of the day relaxing. Met some some people from Calgary who I had a mutual friend with, he used to be their cross country ski coach.

We went to bed reasonably early as we had a decent day ahead of us tomorrow.

The smoke was lifting as we went to bed. 

The last photo is Links' Happy Badass Bandana. Still miss my little hiking partner.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking
Day 4 Great Divide Trail Section E. Pinto Lakes to Day 4 Great Divide Trail Section E. Pinto Lakes to Boulder Creek CG.

Super fun day full of adventure and a lot of smoke. This was a big day, 32 km over Cataract Pass into the upper reaches of Bourgeau Creek in Jasper NP.

After the clear skies of my astrophotography in the middle of the night I got up at 5am, jst 3 hours after I put the camera away, to join my trail companions Jason and Bent for the day. 

The terrain was suppose to be rugged and the trail a little iffy so I thought it would be good to have some companions. As it was we got took two wrong turns in the first 15 minutes.

After several steam crossings, some with suspect bridge work, finally had to cross a wide stream and get wet feet. I had sandals, but my companions ploughed through so I figured I had to keep up.

I found a rock with ancient Indigenous petroglyphs. It is just off trail, but a good day and a half hike from any road.

We passed from Banff NP to Alberta Parks Wilderness area. There is wild camping in the Wilderness area, but good camping spots are hard to find.

I was going to stop for the day short of Cataract Pass, but it was so smokey I thought I would continue on.

We had lunch at the base of Cataract Pass. I used Frosty Paws as a table for my lunch.

It was such a big day I will conclude the trip in another post.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking
Milky Way and the Persaids Meteor Shower. Pinto La Milky Way and the Persaids Meteor Shower. Pinto Lake

On the night of day 3 I got up at 2am to take photos of the night sky. I was hoping to catch the Milky Way and I knew that the Perseids was going on, so hoping to see both.

I must have seen a good couple of dozen meteors during the hour I was awake.

I went to sleep in my hiking clothes because I knew I was getting up at 2am to take photos then we had a big day ahead of us so the breakfast wake up call was 5am!

I got so lucky with the pictures as in the couple's hours between returning to bed and getting up to start Day 4, the smoke rolled in.

Photo 1 is the Milky Way but no meteor. There are meteors in the following three photos.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #milkyway, #perseidmeteorshower #perseids #nightimephotography #astrophotography
Great Divide Trail Section E, Valley after first p Great Divide Trail Section E, Valley after first pass on the Six Passes route.

New post on www.Bootwreckers.com, preparation and plan for my GDT Section D and E hike for the summer of 2021 (see link in bio)

Learned a lot from last year,  still discovered some new things about hiking and camping.

First post has to do with all aspects of preparation:
- Gear
- Food
- Training
- Itinerary 

The GDT - Where everyday is an adventure.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking
Day 3 of my trip on Great Divide Trail Section E. Day 3 of my trip on Great Divide Trail Section E.

Relatively easy day from Michelle Lakes to Pinto Lake, only over two passes.

I started traveling with two guys I met actually at Yoho a week back, Jason and Bent.

Of course Frosty was on trip, enjoying the early morning at Michelle Lakes.

The first Lake is Upper Michelle Lake.

The photo of me at the pass is at the unofficial names Michelle Pass. Then it was up to Pinto Pass.

I took a one last picture back to Michelle Pass. Last picture is at Pinto Lake.

Great day, only got a little lost.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #zpacks #teamzpacks
Jupiter and 4 little moons First try at astrophot Jupiter and 4 little moons

First try at astrophotography using my camera attached to a telescope, 8" Celeron

Pretty happy with results. Need to research settings for camera to get some colour on Jupiter, but for a first try pretty happy.

Taken from field near Two Jack Lake in Banff NP. Jupiter was over Mt Rundle.

#artofvisual #visualoflife #areyouawake  #earthfocus  #adventurethatislife #createscenery #earthexperience #primeshots #simplyadventure #goparks #wildernessculture #folkscenery #wondersofourplanet #amazingphotohunter #all2epic #milliondollarvisuals #sky_sultans #astrophotography #astronomy
Another photo of the waterfall at Michelle Lakes, Another photo of the waterfall at Michelle Lakes, Day 2 GDT Section E.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #sunstar
#waterfall
#waterfalls
Campsite at Lower Michelle Lakes, Day 2 GDT Sectio Campsite at Lower Michelle Lakes, Day 2 GDT Section E.

Scored the best campsite on the trip at Lower Michelle Lakes. Had more own personal waterfall. Frosty as always had the best spot.

Spent the day relaxing, reading and watching the helicopter activity. 

Started the next day hiking with Jason and Bent who camped by Upper Michelle Lakes and did not know about the waterfall.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #zpacks #teamzpacks
Morning at Ball Pass Junction, west end of Haiduk Morning at Ball Pass Junction, west end of Haiduk Peak.  Day 3 of our hike around the Egypt Lake area. Thrilled with the colours of the morning sky.

We had some rain overnight, but not much. The clouds lifted off later in the morning. 

Another great day on the trail with @sio.mellors

#parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #sunset #shadowlake #Egyptlake #banffalberta #banffnationalpark #banffcanada
Evening at Shadow Lake, Banff NP. Super fun 4 day Evening at Shadow Lake, Banff NP.

Super fun 4 day hike with @sio.mellors thought the trails around Egypt Lake area.

Shadow Lake was our first evening and was a lovely place to watch the sunset.

 #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #sunset #shadowlake #Egyptlake #banffalberta #banffnationalpark #banffcanada #reflection #reflections
Day 1 Great Divide Trail Section E 2021, Saskatche Day 1 Great Divide Trail Section E 2021, Saskatchewan River Crossing to Upper Owens Creek.

First day of my 11 day hike from Sask River Crossing to Jasper. I was solo for the first 5 days before being joined my my daughter at Four Points CG.

This was only day I actuall slept on my own.

I left Sask River Crossing at 12:30pm followed an old road that intersected th GDT just past the park gates.

Hiked until about 6:30pm as I wanted to camp near tree line for a clear view of th nights sky. The sky was clear and the Perseids Meteor shower was on and did not disappoint 

Photo 1) my tent and the Milky Way

Photo 2) Me getting ready to  head out

Photo 3) view looking West along th north Saskatchewan River

Photo 4) water dropping into the canyon on Owens Creek

Photo 5) the slide that gave people grief earlier in the summer was passable at creek level

Photo 6) the confluence was a mess a hard going

Photo 7) nice waterfall after th confluence

Photo 8) little Canyon near upper reaches of th creek

Photo 9) dinner cooking in th kitchen

Photo 10) Frosty Paws, me and my tent

Was a great day out on th trail.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking
Load More Follow on Instagram

For more photos of these and other Bootwreckers Adventures

© 2022 Boot Wreckers | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme