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Day 2 Mount Kilimanjaro – Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Mountain gladiolus

Machame Camp (3010 m) – Shira Camp (3845 m), 5.5 km, 835 m elevation, 5 hrs 30 min. Total trip distance so far: 16.5 km, total elevation 2055 m , total hiking time 9 hrs 40 min.

We woke to the wonderful sound of “knock knock…tea”. Warm tea in the tent is a wonderful way to wake up, then porridge and tea for breakfast. We were provided with lots of food and were encouraged to eat as much as we could. We tried to hustle to get ready a little quicker but did not leave camp until a little after 9 am.

Sunrise on the mountain, 7:10 am
All ready to go, still smiling, 9:05 am
We have the energy to clown around, must be feeling alright.

The trail on day 2 could not have been more different from the the well-groomed trail and pleasant gradient of day 1. The trail was extremely steep with lots of obstacles. We were constantly stepping over or around rocks and frequently had to utilize hand holds to help propel ourselves forward. Day 2 was definitely pole pole. Our pole pole pace is reflected by our time of 5.5 hrs to hike just 5.5 km.

Mt Meru in the distance: Emily and I plan to hike it one day.
Can still just make out Machame Camp below. We are currently above the clouds. The clouds will move up the mountain and create the mist that characterizes the Heath Zone.
No shade from the sun, the trail is steep and crowded.

We had our first break at 10:20 am. We had some snacks during the break, but it was mainly to rest.

Amiri looking on as Siobhan adjusts her pack
The look says “don’t talk to me.”
Mackinder’s Gladiolus
Looking east to the ridges that lead to Shira volcanic cone, one of the three dormant volcanic cones on Mt Kilimanjaro
The trail heads up. It’s nature’s version of a Stairmaster. It was relentless and punishing.
Heading up

The trail continued steeply upwards. Laura, Siobhan and Emily all thought that this was the toughest day hiking. We came to a lovely rocky outcrop at 11 am and stopped for another break. The outcrop had sunshine and was sheltered from the wind but offered a fantastic clear view of the summit.

Frosty getting some sunshine
Emily looking happy with Frosty Paws, Mt Kilimanjaro in the background
Emily looking back over the clouds below

The view of the bottom of the mountain and the plains below us was obscured by clouds. The clouds would chase up after us throughout the day. They finally caught us at about 1:30 pm, enveloping us in mist. We didn’t leave the clouds again until about twenty minutes from the end of our hike. This coincides fairly nicely with the elevations and climate zones we hiked through on day 2. We had entered the second climate zone, the Heath Zone, yesterday just before arriving at Machame Camp. The Heath Zone extends from 2800 m to 3350 m. The higher altitude results in not only temperatures of about 5C colder on average, but also a large drop in precipitation from 2300 mm in the rain forest to just 1300 mm in the heath. The Heath Zone is characterized as being shrouded in mist receiving most of its precipitation not as rainfall but from the mist. The flowering plants that were in abundance in the Heath Zone would not be present once we ascended to the next zone, the Moorlands.

Daisy bushes

Continuing on from our rest stop, we hiked for another 30 minutes before cresting a rise and coming to a short plateau. It was very clear that we had entered the Moorland. As we walked along the plateau we were actually as tall as the tallest trees around us. We had not been hiking for 24 hours yet and this was a huge change from the rain forest and its green canopies that we had been hiking under just the previous afternoon.

Volcanic rocks, the true nature of the mountain is evident with the lack of vegetation
Walking along the little plateau. Lunch is just the other side of the hill at centre. The vegetation is small and scrubby.
Fields of Giant Groundsels, a sure sign that we are in the Moorlands

The Moorlands extend from 3350 m to 4020 m and are characterized by a much drier and cooler climate. Annual precipitation is down to just 525 mm a year and the daily highs can be as low as just 4C. Night-time temperatures can range from -1C on the coldest nights to +10C for the warmest..

Close-up of the Giant Groundsel: it only blooms once every 27 years!
Laura tearing into a Powerbar, the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro in the distance
Characterizes the day’s hike nicely. Lots of stepping over and on rocks.

The two climate zones, the Heath and Moorlands, are said to overlap. This can be explained by the presence of microclimes created by changes in the landscape that can trap cold or warm air and produce a localized climate that differs from an adjacent area. The Giant Groundsels that we had passed are only found in the Moorland Zone but as we approached our lunch spot we did hike past a daisy bush. The mixing of the groundsels and flowering plants was a telltale sign that we were passing in and out of small microclimes of the Heath Zone in the Moorlands.

Flowering Daisy bush

We continued to hike through the rocks until at 12:25 pm, when we descended a small hill to an area where many of the hiking groups had stopped for lunch. We found a sheltered spot next to a rock and pulled out our food. Lunch was a long and relaxing affair. We did not head off again until just after 1:30 pm. To control the human waste issue that plagues Mt Kilimanjaro, there was a pit toilet erected where we had stopped for lunch. The toilet was not an improvement over last night’s version.

Heading down into the lunch area
Our group at lunch
Siobhan and Emily both have bundled up.

I was feeling pretty energetic, so I went off to take some photos. Standing on the ridge I was able to look back to where we had been. If you look closely at the photo of the lunch area you can find the big rock where the rest of the group was relaxing. The toilet speaks for itself.

The trail and the lowlands
The lunch area, can you find our group (hint right of centre)
Looks familiar

After an hour of relaxing and getting used to the altitude – we were well over 10,000ft (3048 m) by now – we headed off upwards towards Shira Camp. The trail was briefly a nice dirt path but quickly went back to clambering up through the rocks with some very minor scrambling. The use of hands was necessary but the volcanic rocks gave excellent handholds. At about 2:10 pm the clouds rose up to us and we found ourselves hiking in a thick mist.

Heading out after lunch, everyone has jackets on.
The trail may have been rough, but it was fun.
Laura uses the rocks for balance as Amiri looks on. Emily leaning against a rock as she waits her turn to squish up through the rocks.
Helichrysum newii, one of several varieties of helichrysum on the mountain
Siobhan’s arm can be seen steadying herself against a rock. The mist has caught up to us.
Young lobelia dekenii
Lichen growing on the rocks.
Siobhan holding some obsidian or volcanic glass. Obsidian comes from the rapid cooling on the margins of rhyolitic lava flows (higher silica content than granite). The high silica content produces highly viscous lava flows.

We rose out of the mist at 2:30 pm. We headed up a sparsely wooded slope, with just a few small trees. The trail flattened out as we came over a small ridge and we could see the camp and lots of tents in a barren field below. We arrived at Shira Camp at about 2:40 pm.

Rising above the mist
Clear blue sky view of Mt Kilimanjaro
Shira Camp below us
Most of the tents were crammed close together in the this rocky field. The tall skinny tent on the right is a portable toilet that some groups carried.
We had the little rock-rimmed depression all to ourselves.
Our tents and Mt Kilimanjaro

After our hot water sponge bath, we relaxed in our tents for the afternoon. After some early evening tea we explored the camp. We had what looked like an almost 5-star toilet but it ended up still being just a hole in the floor.

The wild ridge lines to the west
Laura and I explore in our puffy booties.
The washrooms are a serious step up.
But they couldn’t bring a seat up, still just a hole in the floor.

Dinner was pumpkin soup and pizza. Pizza on a mountain in the middle of a hike! The girls both just loved our cook Paul. He was very impressive. All of our meals would have been fabulous at a restaurant; making them on a mountain with a limited kitchen was quite a feat and we all really appreciated the excellent meals after a day of hiking up the mountain.

Hiking in August back home in Canmore, we would have daylight until close to 10 pm but here in Tanzania, near the equator, the sun sets at just 7 pm. At the higher latitude we live at, approximately 51 degrees North, our daylight hours range from a low of just 8 hrs 7 min in December to 16 hrs 33 min in summer, a fluctuation of over 8 hours of daylight from summer to winter. Tanzania is only 3 degrees south of the equator and sees only a 25 min fluctuation in daylight hours annually. In the summer Tanzania has 12 hrs 20 min of daylight and 11 hrs and 55 min of daylight in their winter (which was when we were hiking).

Sunrise/Sunset times Arusha
Sunrise/Sunset times Calgary.

The transition from daylight to darkness was also noticeable during the hike. Twilight in Canmore can last between 1 1/2 hrs and 2 hrs as the sun sets or rises. In Tanzania twilight is fairly consistent at around 55 minutes. My guess for the reason is that at the equator the speed of rotation of a point on the Earth is higher than at home since you are at the widest point on the Earth and have to travel further around to complete one rotation. This higher speed passes a person through the twilight zone faster. The shorter daylight time and briefer twilight took some getting used to.

Our camp. Love this photo. Our tents, Mt Kilimanjaro with birds silhouetted against the cliffs.

We turned in at about 7:00 pm. One of our traditions when hiking is that I read a novel out loud as a bedtime story, sort of a throwback to when the girls were younger. So I spent about 30 minutes reading a Dick Francis novel out loud, loud enough to be heard between the tents.

Day 3 Shira Camp to Barranco Camp

Mount Kilimanjaro Home Page

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
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