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Day 1 Stenton Lake, Alberta Wildlands Prov. Park

High altitude trip route right outside our front door.

Day 1 Front Door to Stenton Lake, 18.5 km, 1319 m Elevation Gain, 385 m Elevation Loss, 8 hrs 20 min.

Volcano was a very keen hiker and had got excited when she recognized my backpack. I felt that the hike would not be appropriate for Volcano, too rough and too much elevation. I tried to fool Volcano by putting my backpack into the garage. When Micah arrived we left through the garage not wearing any backpacks. Laura told me when I got home the next day that Volcano was not fooled. She stared at the garage door for a long time waiting for me.

I cooked Micah and I both up a good breakfast of eggs, toast and fruit and after giving the dogs a quick walk we headed on our way. We left the house at about 9:13 am and headed up the street. It is just over of walking on the sidewalk to reach the parking lot at Cougar Creek. It was another km of walking on relatively good trail that brought us the Cougar Creek Debri fence. The fence was constructed after the flood of 2013. One of the causes of the flood was the large amounts of rock and gravel that the creek brought down and filled in the creek bed causing the water to overflow. The fence is designed to hold the debri (rocks) back and prevent the infilling of the creek.

The debris fence. It is about 20 feet high. Currently being replaced by a more permanent engineered that will be 34 m tall. Link to Town of Canmore video Cougar Creek Debris Retention Structure.

Once past the fence we would spend the next 2 hrs 15 min walking about 7.3 km Cougar Creek. There was no trail just a gravelly rocky creek bed. For the first little while we past climbers on the canyon walls but very soon we would be on our own.

Inside the canyon. the walking is good.
A weeping wall. In the winter there are thick beautiful columns of ice on the wall.

It took an 1 hr 10 min to reach Canada Forks, a junction of two creeks, we followed the left fork. The creek got progressively more rugged and the boulders larger.

Micah heading upstream. There are small pools of water in some of the depressions.
More flood debris.
The creek is very constricted in this section. Can you find the little hiker among the giant boulders?

The valley soon widened and the creek became a wide gravel bed. Walking is straightforward but good ankle flexibility on the rocks helped.

Small islands of trees survived the effects of the flood.
Micah pointing the valley rocky ridge that indicates the valley we want to turn up.
Something else has caught Micah’s attention.
On the east bank there was a small remnant of a path that once ran along Cougar Creek. It may have been washed away in the flood of 2013 or another time of high water.

Once we found the junction with the valley we needed to hike up we found a shade spot in some trees and took a 20 minute break. We had been hiking for 2 hrs 15 min and covered approximately 9.5 km. We did not know it but our hiking pace was to drastically slow down.

We able to follow a path through the trees away from the main stem of Cougar Creek for a short time before being forced back the stream bed. We thought it was rough before but the initial part of the side stream was even rougher.

Micah off heading up the side stream. This nice trail would not last long.
Back into a very jumbly stream bed.
The walking was tough but hard to get lost.

By carefully scouting the sides of the stream we were able to find some of the original trail. As time went on we got better at finding sections of trail which made the hiking much easier than in the stream bed.

A little more packed where the flood debris entered the forest.
Micah found a trail.
The trail while softer did have lots of dead fall.
Back to the creek.

My interest in geology always creeps in while hiking. Cannot help but wonder what causes some the features in the rock.

Large boulder in the stream bed. What are the dark intrusions?
Micah putting on their best face. This section was super tough.
Boulders that we have had to clamber over.
A sidesloping gravel path is preferable to the creek bed.
The thrust fault mountains of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies in full display in Cougar Peak. We have been hiking 30 minutes since lunch and traveled 0.8 km.
Up and over we go.
Catching some shade on a dirt trail.
Snow!! In July.

We hiked up to to a limestone tower that was a way point in Gillian Dafferin’s book. We took a rest beside small freshwater pool. We had covered 1.5 km in just under an hour.

Water is flowing.
It has been hard but fun.
The limestone tower

After a 15 minute break we headed back up the creek. The large rocks and boulders disappeared as we hiked up but the creek was now full of water making for numerous water crossings.

Micah looking for a way forward.
A grassy path.
Water crossings.
Traded boulders for water and logs.
Micah trying to avoid getting their feet wet.

One of the passages we read in Gillian Dafferin’s book was that we will be faced with obstacles but when approached they will “resolve themselves”. We came across a waterfall and a steep sided canyon. A faint trail led up a steep slope requiring some scrambling. I went first.

The canyon is squeezing in on us.
Scaling the wall.
Now what. We are running out of options.

Ten minutes after this waterfall we become hopelessly stuck. We had come to a junction with a smaller creek flowing from the south. Continuing to go upstream was impossible due to vegetation crowding the creek. We could see no way to continue to follow the creek so we hiked straight uphill to gain a better view of our situation. As we climbed directly up the slope the ridge that we believed we were trying to get to came into view. As we gained more elevation the trees thinned out somewhat and we decided we would attempt to follow the direction of the creek but hiking through the trees. We used our view of the ridgeline and the Viewranger App to keep ourselves heading in the right direction. We stopped for a 10 minute break for snacks in a small clearing.

Micah working their way across the slope. Cougar Peak in the distance.
You can see the creek we were following to the right of Micah and a creek flowing from the valley between Mount Charles Stewart South (high peak on the right) and Mount Charles Stewart SE2.
After our break. We have risen above tree line. The creek we had been following has turned up slope and has cut a canyon into the hillside. On the way back we will follow the canyon which is were the trail is.
View of Mount Charles Stewart on the right and the glorious ridge leading up to it.

After clearing the trees we followed the drainage straight up the hill to Cougar Col. Our stream that we had been following had dried up. We arrived at Cougar Col at 3:20 pm, 6 hrs and a distance of 14.7 km. To think we had completed the first 9.4 km in just 2 hrs 15 min. It had taken us 3 hrs 45 min to hike just 5.3 km. Being high on Cougar Col was spectacular and was only a taste of the views that we would be getting as we followed the ridge up over the high point and onto Stenton Lake.

Looking up to Cougar Col, almost there
Looking east from Cougar Col.
The valley looking across to the ridge that hides Stenton Lake. Stenton Lake is behind the ridge at centre.

There was no distinct trail up the ridge. So we just started heading up. After about 20 minutes a faint trail appeared where there was a discolouration in the rocks and the lichen.

Heading up that way to the high point on the brown cliff.
A faint trail in appeared in the rocks.

It was an amazing walk up the ridge. The footing was somewhat unstable but we made good time. Just prior to the high point we came across a marker indicating the boundary of Banff NP. As we rose up and over the 2600 m (8600 ft) elevation level, we gained views far and wide that to the South-East includes Mt Assiniboine. The expansive views that were on offer in all directions made all the memories of all hard work melt away.

Alpine views. Endless views of mountain tops.
Micah on he way up. Looking past Micah leads you into Banff NP.
The ridge became more solid and the walking easier.
View to Mount Charles Douglas SE2 and the valley we walked up.
Underfoot the trail has become a gravel like surface.
Just a few minutes from the high point of the day. You can see Mt Assiniboine through the gap left of Micah .

We did not actually go over the peak but once passing over the flat area where two ridges met we cut across to the left of the peak.

A lonely marker on the trail.
Will head up for just another minute before heading off the the left of the peak. The trail goes up the centre of the photo.

We went over the high point for the day, 2645 m (8815 ft) and side slopped through a break in the cliff. I had not done much high elevation hiking or scrambling in many years and remember being quite nervous about the down slope that lead to a cliff below us. On the way back the next I walked this section with no issues. There really was not a great deal of risk or exposure but we sure were a long way up. As we started to head down the ridge on the far side we came across a group of mountain sheep grazing on the meager vegetation growing between the rocks.\

Pretty straightforward from here, follow the ridge line and then drop down to Stenton Lake. The tall peak on the right is Stenton Peak.
Even among the rocks, life survives.
Follow the ridge and just at the second snowfield there is a path leading across the slope on the left which we will follow.
Herd of sheep on the hillside.
This is looking east to the upper reach of the Cougar Creek Watershed. The mountains form a T and create a barrier directing all the water to head down to Cougar Creek. the other side of the mountains on the left is the valley with Exshaw Creek.
Banff Park Boundary sign located just before we begin the side slope. The valley below is what I had been planning to cross and very glad we did not try to do that. The tiny snow field on the left is at Cougar Col where we were just an hour previous.
We have to negotiate a small cliff band below us. Then walk along the ridge before descending to Stenton Lake. Stenton like is below the brown/grey ridge. The far grassy section at the end of the ridge is beyond the lake.
Colour reappears as we drop in elevation.
We were both intrigued by the steeply dipping rock layers.
The name and types of the different rock layers along with the ages in millions of years.
West end of Mt Rundle.

Many people have seen pictures of Mt Rundle, a mountain that runs 18 km from Canmore to Banff. An interesting exercise is to compare the rock layers of Mt Rundle to those in the picture above on our way to Stenton Lake. On Mt Rundle the Livingston Formation is the topmost layer forming vertical cliffs, with the Exshaw and Banff Formations forming the slopes below and the Palliser Formation making the lower cliffs. The youngest rock layer is on top, so the Livingston Formation is the youngest layer on Mt Rundle. In our hike to Stenton Lake, the Livingston was the oldest rock layer (see picture above). So all those rock layers in the photo above on the way to to Stenton Lake have been eroded off of Mt Rundle. Another thing to think about is those layers that are at such elevation on Mt Rundle, all lie below on feet on the way to Stenton Lake.

For those familiar with the Three Sisters in Canmore. Big Sister is topped by Livingston (younger) while both Middle and Little Sister are topped by Palliser (older).
On a geological map our route in white over the different rock formations to Stenton Lake.

The trail was quite steep heading down to the little ridge that would take us to Stenton Lake. There was a cliff band to negotiate but an obvious trail had been well worn into the cliff. We hiked long the ridge and came to our first views of Stenton Lake, it was 4:55 pm.

Making our way down
Path leading up along the ridge.
Looking back the way we have come. Cougar Col is above the snowfield on the very right. We did come down the cliff band at centre left.
First view of Stenton Lake, Camping is at the west end. The mountain in the background is Carrol Peak. There is a trail that runs off to the right of Carrot Peak (east) that leads to the South Ghost River.

The trail started to head uphill towards a little peak on the ridge above the lake. Micah and I decided that we did not want to hike uphill anymore with the lake just there below us so we headed down towards the lake picking our way through the boulder field. It was quite steep but fun.

Super star hiker on the boulder field.
Two happy hikers. We have made it down to the grassy slope and are now almost done.
Just have to walk around the end of the lake. We would set up the tent by a large rock on grassy area near the gravel on the other side.

Once off the rocks and onto the vegetated slope it was just over 10 minutes to walk around the end of the lake and to where would set up the tent. It was just after 5:30 pm when we dropped our packs, 8hrs 20 min since we set off. Micah set up the tent while I took photos. Then we filled our air mattresses and got the inside of the tent set up. We started on dinner about 6:15 pm. We sat in the warmth of the setting sun drinking a cold refreshing beer that I had a brought to celebrate our adventure.

Micah setting up the tent.
The sun shining brilliantly onto our campsite.
All set up. Zpacks Duplex self standing 2lb tent.
A view east down the lake.
Micah in the kitchen.
Our reward for a great day on the trail.
Happy campers.

After dinner we went and explored around the lake. You can continue to hike west to join up with a trail that will take you east to the South Ghost River or west to Carrot Creek and Lake Minnewanka. We made a desperate attempt to do a bear hang. Unfortunately we could not find a tree more than about 10 ft high. While our food would not have been safe from a bear at least it was quite a ways away from us. If I was to go back to Stenton Lake I would be taking a Bear Canister with me. Once back at camp we took some personal time to reflect. Micah journalled while sitting on a rock and snapped one of my favourite photos of them.

View went towards Carrot Peak.
The long view of the lake.

The skies were very clear when we headed to bed at about 8:30 pm. The plan was to get up around 2 am and look at the stars. I was not overly hopeful of good skies since Canmore and Banff are sources of light pollution that are nearby but never hurts to get up and check out the night sky.

Good night from Stenton Lake.

Stenton Lake Nighttime

Stenton Lake Home

bootwreckers

Day 3 of my New Years adventure in Arizona up on B Day 3 of my New Years adventure in Arizona up on Bootwreckers, see link in bio.

Hiked the Superstition Ridgeline Trail, 23 km of some very rough terrain.

The views from the ridge were spectacular. The trail is more of a route, then a trail. I got off trail a half a dozen times just on the ascent to the ridge. Sprinkled in for fun where several down climbs where I had to drop my poles before climbing down a small chimney or crack.

There is camping possibilities on the ridge and I do wish I would have camped just before Syphon Draw and enjoyed the sunset. Maybe next time.

This was a very challenging 10.5 hrs on the trail, one of my hardest days ever, but worth every drop of sweat.

Till next time Arizona.

#nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Even in the smoke, there is nothing like hiking in Even in the smoke, there is nothing like hiking in the Canadian Rockies.

On the way to Pinto Lake, going over Sunset Pass with Tuft Peak in the distance.

#parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #alberta, #albertaparks
Day 2 of my New Years Arizona Adventure is posted, Day 2 of my New Years Arizona Adventure is posted, see link in bio.

Fun and easy day exploring the Superstitions with my four new friends. Lots of varied terrain and lots of breaks. Will make up for that on Day 3.

I did run out of superlatives to describe the scenery, in one word it was simply spectacular!

#nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Day 1 of a fun two day trip out to Pinto Lake over Day 1 of a fun two day trip out to Pinto Lake over Sunset Pass.

It was a little smokey but as you can see from the first photo the views were spectacular.....

The little dot in Photo 9 is a Common Loon, and entertained us for several minutes swimming across the lake and diving for fish.

Big thanks to @kbsymington , @sio.mellors , Kylie and Charlie for making it such an awesome trip.

#parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #alberta, #albertaparks
Day 1 of my 2023 New Years Arizona Adventure is up Day 1 of my 2023 New Years Arizona Adventure is up on Bootwreckers,  see link in bio.

Day started off rainy, see photo 2, but the clouds cleared off by 8 am and I finally got my hike started.

The day wasn't without adversity as I slipped chasing my water bottle in a stream and fell in the water. My camera got flooded and stopped working so the rest of the photos were taken on my aging BlackBerry Key 2.

Met up with a group of 4 med students and hiked with them for two days.

Despite the ruined camera was a super fun day on the trail in a new place. 

#nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
It took a while but finally posted the intro to my It took a while but finally posted the intro to my New Years trip to Arizona, see link in bio.

I was greater in Arizona to 18C weather followed quickly by near freezing temperatures and the most rain in the Phoenix area in one day since 1906!

My trip went from Plan A, 4 days on the Arizona Trail,  through Plans B, C and Finally D.

Was a fun if sometimes frustrating adventure.

#nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Day 3 of Rockwall 2022 is up on Bootwreckers, see Day 3 of Rockwall 2022 is up on Bootwreckers,  see link in bio.

Sweet little day up and over Tumbling Pass with and a long view of Tumbling Glacier. 

The weather cooperated with blue skies and no threat of rain so we were able to linger at The Glacier before heading down the long descent to the car.

While a straightforward day there were still some adventures to be had, but you have to read about them on the blog.

Big thanks to my amazing hiking partner, @sio.mellors

Looking forward to our 3 day adventure this summer, which will no doubt generate more stories to tell.

#parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks
Day 2 of our Rockwall 2022 trip is posted on Bootw Day 2 of our Rockwall 2022 trip is posted on Bootwreckers, see link in bio. With @sio.mellors

This day was Helmet Falls CG to Tumbling Creek CG.

Day started off beautiful with blue skies which turned to rain after lunch. Somehow through all the rain and thunder Siobhan  never lost her smile.

The day ended with beers and Siobhan giving butt rubs to the doggies in camp.

Photo 1 Siobhan taking in the Rockwall at lunch

Photo 2 Helmet Falls at Golden hour

Photo 3 me and my morning coffee waiting for Siobhan to wake up

Photo 4 on the way up Siobhan with Limestone Peak in th background 

Photo 5 Siobhan at Rockwall Pass (can you tell?)

Photo 6 Siobhan near Wolverine Pass with Rockwall Peak shrouded in clouds

Photo 7 Tumbling Glacier through the clouds

Photo 8 setting up camp

Photo 9 Dinner time

Photo 10 butt rubs

#parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks
New trip posted, three day trip in the Rockwall in New trip posted, three day trip in the Rockwall in Kootenay NP with @sio.mellors. Introduction and Day 1 up on Bootwreckers.

Trip was suppose to be hiking Northover Ridge in Kanananaskis but smoke had us change plans at the last minute.

This would be my third multi day trip on the Rockwall but the first for Siobhan.

Managed to get two camping sites on the Rockwall and instead of smoke we had to deal with the threat of rain.

We did get wet but we had a blast.

Day 1 is from Paint Pots TH to Helmet Falls CG, with a side trip to get up close the the falls. Pretty straightforward day but visiting Helmet Falls is always special.

#parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks
The sixth and final day of our 2022 GDT Section D The sixth and final day of our 2022 GDT Section D hike is up on Bootwreckers, see link in bio.

This day took us from a random camp on the Howse Floodplain to the Mustafa Canyon parking lot. This was an adventurous day with bushwhacking, stream crossings and dead fall but a simply glorious end to a wonderful hike on the GDT. 

Again thanks  to Sara (@sd_kuz) and Lillian (@waterlilizee) for sharing this adventure with me. I am sure we will meet again on a trail someday.

Photo 1 - Morning Colors

Photo 2 - tents on the floodplain

Photo 3 - bushwhacking to start the day

Photo 4 - fields of flowers going to seed

Photo 5 - looking south down the Howse River

Photo 6 - thigh deep water crossing

Photo 7 - big views

Photo 8 - Sara crossing some dead fall

Photo 9 -Mistaya Canyon

Photo 10 - picked up a thru hiker named Roy, enjoying beverages left by Natasha and Kyle from Backpacks and Bikeracks

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #duplex #sectionhike #sectionhiker
Day 5 of our 2022 Great Divide Trail Section D hik Day 5 of our 2022 Great Divide Trail Section D hike is posted on Bootwreckers, see link in bio.

Truly epic day on the trail. Pass through the debris of two avalanches, had lunch by a waterfall, crawled over so much dead fall and hiked on the Howse Flood Plain.

The sunset on the flood plain was one of most magical I have seen.

As always a big thanks to Sara (@sd_kuz) and Lillian (@waterlilizee) for sharing this adventure with me. The Team totally rocked the trail.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #duplex #sectionhike #sectionhiker
Evening light on Picketpost Mt. #aztrail #aztasso Evening light on Picketpost Mt.

#aztrail #aztassociation  #nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Arizona Trail Passages 14 and 15. Some photos of Arizona Trail Passages 14 and 15.

Some photos of my recent hike down a couple of Passages of the Arizona Trail. 

The trail is so diverse, rolling terrain cut by shallow washes leads to the expanse of the desert then into rugged canyons and tall peaks, all in a space of 92 km (58 miles).

Had a great time, some blisters gave me some concerns but they seem to be doing fine now that they are out of my hiking shoes.

Got lucky with Trail Magic courtesy of Condiments who drove his 4x4 deep into an unarmed wash, was really in the middle of no where, and then again at the start of Passage 15, missed the Trail Angel's name, the wind was so loud.

Like to thank my Trail Angels, Carole for driving me to Oracle to start the trip, with side trip to a Hayden Az, a real ghost town and to Edith for leaving a water cache for me at Passage 15.

Included a video of my time at the high point for Passage 15. My kid likes it when you stop and enjoy the view you earned, thought they would appreciate my effort in the face of 1000 mph winds (ok maybe thats a bit of an exaggeration).

Thanks Arizona and the AZT for providing more memories.

I will be back

#aztrail #aztassociation  #nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
That sunset says when I wake up it will be time to That sunset says when I wake up it will be time to start my hike on the Arizona Trail, Passages 14 and 15

Love my little motel in Superior, Az, Copper Mt Motel. Has murals painted on all the buildings

Spied the Grand Canyon from the plane 

Adventure awaits 

#aztrail #aztassociation  #nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Frosty Paws all packed and ready for an adventure. Frosty Paws all packed and ready for an adventure.

Arizona Trail Passages 14 and 15 starting Sunday

Off weekend gooooooo!

#aztrail #aztassociation  #nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Last weekend before heading to Arizona for a four Last weekend before heading to Arizona for a four day adventure on the Arizona Trail.

I wonder if hiking in the 15 cm of fresh snow will be good prepared for hiking the deserts of Passages 14 and 15?

#aztrail #aztassociation  #nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Day 4 of our 2022 GDT Section D hike is up on the Day 4 of our 2022 GDT Section D hike is up on the website, see link in bio.

This was a truly epic day spent on the Amiskwi and Collie Creek Alternates.

The weather cooperated starting with a spectacular sunrise on the Mummery Glacier, rainbows and blue skies on the ridge.

We had a brief encounter with a little black bear who scampered quickly away. 

Finished off the day with a cold beer, Grizzly Paw Rutting Elk Red, that I had carried with me and it tasted great.

Easily one of th best days on the trail ever.

Again big thanks to Sara (@sd_kuz) and Lillian (@waterlilizee) for sharing this adventure with me. The Team totally rocked the trail.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #duplex #sectionhike #sectionhiker
Day 3 of our 2022 Section D hike is posted, see li Day 3 of our 2022 Section D hike is posted, see link in bio.

This was a shorter day, only about 17 km but took us from the end of the Kiwetinok Alternate up to Amiskwi Pass and then a beautiful meadow at the the base of the Amiskwi Ridge.

Photo 1 - morning sky

Photo 2 - on the Kiwetinok Alternate

Photo 3 - Kiwetinok Alternate

Photo 4 - break time at a stream crossing, Frosty Paws hanging in there

Photo 5 - Fireweed with a view down the Amiskwi Valley,

Photo 6 - fields of flowers as we approached Amiskwi Pass

Photo 7 - Yellow Columbine on the way up to Amiskwi Lodge

Photo 8 - Our camp in the meadow

Photo 9 - Setting sun

Photo 10 - one of the best adventure stories ever! True story of how three prisoners of war escaped and climbed Mt Kenya

Again big thanks to Sara (@sd_kuz) and Lillian (@waterlilizee) for sharing this adventure with me. The Team totally rocked the trail.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #duplex #sectionhike #sectionhiker
First two days of my 2022 Great Divide Trail Secti First two days of my 2022 Great Divide Trail Section D adventure are up on the blog, see profile for link.

Day 1 was from Burgess Pass Trail head to Yoho Lake Campground. A relatively short day but a good warm up for the rest of the trip.

Big thanks to Sara (@sd_kuz) and Lillian (@waterlilizee) for sharing this adventure with me. The Team totally rocked the trail.

Photo 1 - at Burgess Pass looking at Mt Wapta

Photo 2 - Flowers, it was a great time to hike to see all the flowers in August bloom

Photo 3 - Emerald Lake from up high

Photo 4 - at Yoho Pass, did I mention the flowers

Photo 5 - Duplex tent all set up with Frosty Paws on guard, and oh ya, more flowers

Photo 6 - the north end of Wapta Mt as seen from Yoho Lake.

Super fun little day, the opening a grand adventure.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #duplex #sectionhike #sectionhiker
Sound On. Video clips from my hike along th Supe Sound On. 

Video clips from my hike along th Superstion Ridgeline.

Was an epic hike, 24km from my campsite at Miners Needle to First Water Trailhead where my car was.

Wouldn't recommend doing all in one day backpacking, as the final descent down Siphon Draw Wash is brutal, but I did it in 10hrs 45min

Would love to redo th hike at some point and actaull stop and camp along the ridge.

I had enough water to stop, but I was enticed by the prospects of a beer to finish.

#teamzpacks #zpacks #zpacksduplex #aztassociation #aztrail #aztrails #hike #loveazt #desertphotography #desert #hikingadventures #hikes #backpacking #camping #getoutside #familytime #traillife #aztassociation , #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside  #rightnow #goparks #aztrails #aztrail #loveazt  #azt #arizonatrailassociation
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