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Day 4 GDT 2021 – Section E

Day 4, August 14th, North Pinto Lake to Boulder Creek CG. 30 km, 910 m elevation gain, 620 m elevation loss, 10 hrs 55 min (Segment 25, Segment 26).

This was the first day on the trip I used an alarm and I am glad I did, as 5:15 am came very quickly after being up taking photos in the middle of the night. I packed up the tent as quickly and as quietly as I could and headed over to retrieve my food for breakfast. It may have been an early start but I still wanted a hot coffee to start my day. Jason and Bent were already eating their breakfast so I hustled as quick as I could so as not to delay the start of the hike. I threw my pack on and said goodbye to my camping spot at 6:07 am. This would be the earliest start to a day on my trip.

It is a dark breakfast.
Amazing how the light can change in just 30 minutes. All packed up and time to go.

We set off at a good pace out of camp. No one else was up yet. The first view of the morning sky was gloomy as the smoke had returned. It was hard to believe just 4 hours earlier I was taking photos of a clear night sky and now I could barely make out the tops of the mountains. Our first misadventure came after just 10 minutes when we turned left at a junction and headed up the trail to Sunset Pass. I was following blindly but after a few minutes of not hiking beside a stream we all stopped to check our location on our devices. We quickly turned around and were soon back on the GDT.

There will be a few log crossings on this day.
Red gloomy sky
Nice boardwalk but too bad it was on the Sunset Pass Trail.

The ground in the area around the confluence of the Cline River and Cataract Creek was quite soft and boggy. In a few places side streams occupied wide areas, making for shallow but muddy crossings.

Little stream but no dry way across

After 40 minutes of hiking we left Banff NP and entered the Whitegoat Wilderness Area. Where Huntington Creek joined the Cline we once again did a bit of wandering as we tried to find a dry way across. Huntington Creek was probably one of the more perilous crossings on the hike. The creek was quite deep and some downed trees provided a very suspect bridge that could be used to cross. Depending on which side you fell off the logs, the penalty for falling ranged from wet feet to complete submersion in the creek.

There is an info box as you enter the Whitegoat. Nothing of interest for us.
The trail is faint and rough.
Jason crossing Huntington Creek
Bent trying to keep the feet dry

We hiked along the north shore of the Cline River for a short while before the Cline turned right and away from the trail. We soon came to Cataract Creek and were faced with an easy but long crossing. I was contemplating switching to my sandals to keep my shoes dry when Jason charged across the stream, almost falling twice. Bent then took his turn, recording the crossing on his phone. It was already very evident that I was the slowest hiker in the group, which was compounded by my repeated stopping to take photographs. So I decided to not delay and switch to my sandals and headed across after Bent. The Salomon shoes I had on were Gore-tex, which meant I would be hiking in wet feet for the rest of the day. I do not think my shoes dried out completely until after I had completed the Skyline seven days later.

Coming up to the crossing of Cataract Creek, not much of a trail
Bent getting ready for his crossing, Jason disappearing into the distance
The crossing was not that challenging but it is always good to practice using good technique.

We stayed on the north side of the Cataract river for the next four hours, so we did not have very many route-finding challenges. I was having some trouble keeping up. Bent was leading with Jason second. Every so often Jason would yell back to me to make sure I was still coming. About 30 minutes after crossing the Cataract I spied a side trail that would take me to some First Nations pictographs painted in ochre on a rock. I yelled back up the trail to Bent and Jason, who both came back to view the pictographs. When I got home I did some research on the pictographs. The Alberta government had done some research but it had been removed from the public and sealed. The stories behind the pictographs are for the First Nations people to share.

Common view for me: Jason disappearing into the distance
Pictographs
View of the Cataract Creek from the where the pictographs are

The trail was very well defined in this section but was it was difficult to keep a good pace with all the downed trees. Despite the obstacles Bent kept us at a good 4 km/h average until lunch.

Even the detour is partially blocked.
I can see both Bent and Jason — must have been shortly after they stopped to let me catch up.

I don’t remember much about this section except hustling hard to keep up and whenever we came out from the trees the views were obscured by smoke.

Smoke settling in
The trail was pretty good out of the trees.
High heat and lack of moisture results in some fall colours in August as the plants shows signs of stress.
Campsite, about 14 km from Pinto Lake
Mt Stewart (3312 m)

We stopped for an extended break in a field below Mt Stewart. We had hiked just shy of 15 km in 4 hours. This was supposed to be my finish point for the day. According to the GDT App there was camping here. We had passed a little campsite just 15 minutes prior but I really did not see any camping at this location. As we stopped and relaxed I decided that there was no good reason to stop here and set up my tent to spend the rest of the day by myself. So when it was time to leave I grabbed my pack and told Bent and Jason that I would join them all the way to Boulder Creek CG. This meant that tomorrow I would only have a 3.2 km day to Four Points CG, where I would meet up with Emily, who would be hiking in from the Nigel Pass Trailhead to join me for the rest of the hike.

Someone big and furry was digging around here.
Nice little rocky outcrop on the trail
Some colour for a very bland day

The valley we had been hiking in forks into two smaller valleys as you approach the bottom of Cataract Pass. The GDT follows the left fork. The trail got a little confusing as we approached the junction and we ended up a fair way from the creek. The easiest way to navigate this section is just stay close to the creek and go to the left. We came out of the trees high on a bank above the creek draining the right (east) fork of the valley. A large cairn marked our way back down to Cataract Creek and the upper valley we wanted to follow.

Bent surveying where we are to go
The trail is not well defined here.
Large cairn on the other side. Going to the left would take us back to Cataract Creek.

The valley dramatically narrows as we head into the alpine. We had another little challenge route-finding, as there was a trail going up the side of the valley embankment. I let Bent and Jason explore the trail, which disappeared very quickly, forcing them to retreat back down the trail. I have no idea why the trail is there and I am guessing many people go up it just to come right back down. The route was up along the left (west) side of the the creek so we had another little stream crossing.

Heading back to Cataract Creek
Jason and Bent heading up the dead-end trail
Another creek crossing
There’s not much of a trail – Just stay beside the creek.

Staying creek-side made route-finding simple, but I do remember a few little scrambles that we had to do to get around little waterfalls. The going was much slower than before. We passed by several narrow sets of rapids before arriving at a little plateau that would take us to the base of Cataract Pass.

Sticking to the left side of a pleasant meandering creek
Great little set of waterfalls, trail is just picking your way up the left side.
Another flat section to catch your breath before one last set of rapids
Picking our way through the rocks with Jason leading
That’s it, it’s pretty flat to the bottom of the pass.
Cataract pass is the up over the low point, centre left.

We stopped for lunch on a little bank above the tiny stream that was Cataract Creek at 12:45 pm, we had been hiking for 6 hrs 40 min and covered 19.6 km.

My wet feet
My poor wet shoes
Frosty being useful helping make lunch
Bent and Jason relaxing and taking in the smoky views

The little plateau area where we had lunch would be a great place to camp. Later I talked to some backpackers coming southbound over Cataract Pass who said that in good weather you would see 20 or more tents scattered around the area where we had lunch. Since Cataract Valley is an Alberta Wilderness Area you do not need a permit to camp, unlike in Jasper NP, which was just on the north side of Cataract Pass.

The headwaters of this branch of Cataract Creek
Bent and Jason heading off into the distance, I need to catch up.
Looking back down at Cataract Valley, Bent doing some video work

A drawback of letting someone else guide you along is that you can become unaware of the route ahead. For some unknown reason I thought where we had lunch was the top of Cataract Pass. All I had to do was check my Viewranger to see that the trail went up a few hundred metres more to the pass. It was a bit of shock to the system when we started working our way up the slope that would take us to Cataract Pass.

Jason already making his way up Cataract Pass

Cataract Pass is not the longest (2 km and 50 minutes), biggest (270 m) or highest (2500 m) pass that I had done on the GDT Sections C, E and part of D, but I found it to be the most challenging. The pass may have been more difficult than others, as it came 20 km into a tough day. Despite the difficulty I still feel the pass was a fun and exhilarating experience. In my view, one of the reasons Cataract Pass was so tough was that you could never see the top of the pass. The trail to the pass works its way clockwise around the mountain, never giving a view of the pass until you are just a few minutes away. Many times I thought I was approaching the top just to find another ridge line appear in the distance.

Looking down to the plateau: In good weather it would be dotted with tents.
Bent approaching a ridge that was not the top
Flowers give a nice splash of colour to climb.
More fun geology as two rock types meet
Quite the little cliff
Bent approaching the top
Bent arriving at a sign post on the boundary between Jasper NP and the Whitegoat Wilderness Area, it is not quite the high point.
Video summarizing my climb up Cataract Pass

The way down off the pass was steep but easy on a well marked trail. I had hiked in the Brazeau back in 2017 but had come over Nigel Pass. It was very interesting to hike through the headwaters of the Brazeau to see where the river and the valley begin.

Bent with Jason in the distance working their way down the pass
The lake that feeds the Brazeau River
Can almost trace the trail down
Wave ripples frozen in time and rock: Evidence that the rocks, while now at about 2300 m above sea level, were formed below sea level
It is actually a good trail down.
Almost down but there is still another 8 km to go.
Some helpful hiker making sure we did not get lost

The trail to Nigel Pass is dominated by an ancient rock slide that deposited enough rock to fill the valley between Cataract and Nigel Pass. There is a reasonably clear route through the rocks. Bent and I spent a few minutes looking up at the ridge from where all the rock had slid. The hiking was fun, with little ups and downs through the rubble, if a little slow.

Jason making his way through the first little drop over some unstable rocks
Some compressed and deformed sandstone
A little reprieve before tackling the big slide
Nice trail alongside the stream
Bent looking up at the rock slide
A nice, if smoky, view of the section of rock that slid to fill the valley
Jason in amongst the debris
Close-up of Jason
Jason finishes this section. You can see where the rubble from the slide mixes in with the limestone that forms the base of the valley.
Family of ducks
Heading back into the rubble
The end of the rubble, Nigel Pass is not far.

Just as we finished passing through the rubble, we came across a pair of northbound hikers. I stopped to talk for a bit as they were very interesting. It was a father/son duo and the father must have been in his 70s; they had hiked in from Owen Creek. They were finishing on this day, heading out over Nigel Pass. The father was from Parksville on Vancouver Island, just about 15 minutes from where my own father lives in Qualicum Beach. Small world.

Father and son duo

Shortly after leaving the father/son duo we arrived at Nigel Pass and back onto Parks Canada Trails. Nigel Pass marks the end of Segment 25 and the beginning of Segment 26 of the GDT. It was now only 3 km to our campsite at Boulder Creek CG. I was feeling very tired and having a great deal of difficulty in keeping up with Jason and Bent. I am quite sure that Jason slowed up to shepherd me to the end of the hike. It was appreciated. There was not a lot of talking going on during this section. With the smoke obscuring the views and it being the end of a long day, the goal was to finish and get to camp. I still did stop at an overlook to take some photos of the Brazeau Valley. Never too tired to take pictures!

The trail softens, switching from rock to dirt underfoot.
Hiking alongside a growing Brazeau River
Nigel Pass to the left
Parks Canada signage
Bent and Jason heading down to the valley. There is a 200 m drop from Nigel Pass to the campground.
A smoky Brazeau Valley. It was smoky when I was here in 2017.
We have to go down to the left and around this little outcrop to get the valley below.
Just 200 m to go

I arrived in camp at 4:55 pm. I was a bit worried about camping at Boulder Creek as I did not have a permit. I need not have worried, as no other campers would arrive. Boulder Creek CG is a functional if unexciting campground. It straddles the trail with campsites on one side and the dining area and food storage on the other. My campsite was a mere 10 feet from the trail. I took the time to have a bit of a wash in the river before dinner. It was a chilly little experience. I hung my shirt and pants to dry on some trees. Luckily both my pants and shirt dry quickly, because there was little in the way of sunshine or a breeze to aid the drying process.

Dinner time
Trusty Pocket Rocket

Dinner was very relaxed, with everyone in a good mood. We all headed to bed at about 8 pm. I only had 3.2 km to hike the next day to Four Points CG while Jason and Bent would be heading all the way to Waterfalls CG. We delayed our goodbyes until the morning since I felt it would be best to get up and see them off on their day, after spending a couple of great days on the trail with the two of them.

Parks Canada Bear Lockers: Done for the day

Day 5 GDT Section E 2021

GDT Section E 2021 (aborted Section D) Home

bootwreckers

Day 5 and 6 of our Green River Canoe trip from 201 Day 5 and 6 of our Green River Canoe trip from 2017 is up on Bootwreckers, see link in Bio.

The day started in the dark with a hike up to the Dollhouse to watch the sunrise.

After doing an bit of exploring including a short hike out to Beehive Arch we headed back to camp to pack up and catch the jet boat ride back to Moab.

No trip to Moab is complete without a stop at the Moab Brewery, I had a tall smooth Derailleur Ale to compliment my mushroom, Swiss bacon burger.

Once back home it was time for snuggles with the little fella who waited patently for us whole we were away. Doggie snuggles for the win!

Another epic adventure in the books.

#canyonlands, #canyonlandsnationalpark, #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #turkshead, #anasazi, #anasaziruins, #utah, #exploreutah, #coloradoriver, #canoeing, #redrocks, #hikingadventures, #camping, #hikingadventures #texriverways, #floatritp #canoe #familytime❤️ #outdoors #outside #outsidethebox #earthpix  #wildernessculture  #wildernessociety  #seeutah  #igsouthwest #discoverearth #earthofficial
Instagram post 18017713981489587 Instagram post 18017713981489587
Just a few photos from my epic 3 day hike through Just a few photos from my epic 3 day hike through Superstion Mts of Arizona. 

I think it was Plan D or maybe E. Saw photos of th Grand Canyon and many of th roads there were closed, so good choice not to go.

Day 1 - First Water TH over to Ther Battleship via many stream crossings and camp near Black Top Mesa. Due to the heavy rains, water was not an issue.

Day 2 - up past Weavers Needle and over to camp below Miners Needle

Day 3 - Epic 26 km day up on down the Superstions Ridge Trail and back to the car. This was probably the second hardest day I hav e had on trail. The trail is more "route" very ill defined for the first 2/3rds of the way. Also includes numerous down climbs, I frequently tossed my poles down 3m (10ft) of more. This is not an easy trail, and the final descent down Siphon Wash is absolutely intense. After leaving camp at 7:15am (sunrise at 7:30) I arrived at the car at 5;45pm.

Needless to say I didn't do much Friday.

Will write more later.

Thanks to my adopted trail team, James, John, Kevin and Patrick. Four Med students from UofM who allowed me to tag along as the caboose for the first two days.

Now, time to fly home.....

#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
Sound On! About that hike.....it is not going to Sound On!

About that hike.....it is not going to happen this year.

A winter storm has come through, bringing rain, risk of flash floods and near freezing temperatures. At the prospect of hiking two or even three days in the rain, I kept hearing this voice in my head "You know, I'm not having any fun" , spoken by @kbsymington on day two of a four day hike, I could totally see that thought passing through my head if I went ahead with the hike.

I did meet my Trail Angel Bev the Kelvin TH and the scenery was just spectacular! I could hear the desert calling me. It was simply beautiful, but Bev didn't try to talk me into going and did say when I come back I was to contact her, can't wait.

My motel manger told me to go up Hwy 60 towards Globe, AZ, and check out the Queen River Canyon just after the tunnel.

It was a lot of fun to do a little exploring and it actually confirmed I made the right decision,  I got so cold in the few minutes I was out taking photos.

As I got back to the motel I was happy to see a ray of light at the horizon, maybe the rain is going to go away.

I also discovered my getting old hiking shoes leak.....

Planning on a 4 day trip around th Superstitions starting the day after tomorrow. 

Happy trails.

#aztsos #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
Happy New Year from Superior, Arizona. Getting re Happy New Year from Superior, Arizona.

Getting ready for 5 days on the Arizona Trail, passages 14 and 15, if the weather allows (could rain, hard, in the desert eh, who knew)

Now time for some sleep

#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
Day 4 on the Green River was another great day exp Day 4 on the Green River was another great day exploring canyons, hiking and of course paddling. Full summary on the website, see link in bio.

We started off the day exploring Jasper Canyon, found an amazing Anasazi house.

Then we hit the river and joined the Colorado River for the last couple of miles to our final desk at Spanish Bottom.

After dinner we took a quick hike up to Doll House, which we would revisit the next morning for sunrise.

A real mix of a day which made it a whole lotta fun.

#canyonlands, #canyonlandsnationalpark, #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #turkshead, #anasazi, #anasaziruins, #utah, #exploreutah, #coloradoriver, #canoeing, #redrocks, #hikingadventures, #camping, #hikingadventures #texriverways, #floatritp #canoe #familytime❤️ #outdoors #outside #outsidethebox #earthpix  #wildernessculture  #wildernessociety  #seeutah  #igsouthwest #discoverearth #earthofficial #river
Day 3 of our 2017 Green River Canoe trip up on Boo Day 3 of our 2017 Green River Canoe trip up on Bootwreckers, see link in bio.

15 mile paddle from Cabin Bottom to Jasper Canyon. 

Checked out Anasazi Petroglyphs at Cabin Bottom. Stopped to explore Turks Head Bottom where there were two sets of Anasazi dwellings. 

After a good day on the river enjoyed a beer given to us by some friendly boaters. 

Finished off th evening taking some fun night time photos of the stars and the tent.

Was an amazing trip with still one more day on the river and one day exploring.

#canyonlands, #canyonlandsnationalpark, #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #turkshead, #anasazi, #anasaziruins, #utah, #exploreutah, #coloradoriver, #canoeing, #redrocks, #hikingadventures, #camping, #hikingadventures #texriverways, #floatritp #canoe #familytime❤️ #outdoors #outside #outsidethebox #earthpix  #wildernessculture  #wildernessociety  #seeutah  #igsouthwest #discoverearth #earthofficial #river
On the river with Day of our 2017 trip down the Gr On the river with Day of our 2017 trip down the Green River, see link in bio for full summary.

Was a fantastic day with blue skies and warmer weather. We made two stops to explore Anderson Bottom and some Anasazi granaries that were located about 30ft up a cliff!

Stopped at Cabin Bottom where I dumped dinner in the sand but rescued it and got two free beers.

Finished the day off getting up at 3 am to take pictures of th Milky Way.

#canyonlands, #canyonlandsnationalpark, #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #turkshead, #anasazi, #anasaziruins, #utah, #exploreutah, #coloradoriver, #canoeing, #redrocks, #hikingadventures, #camping, #hikingadventures #texriverways, #floatritp #canoe #familytime❤️ #outdoors #outside #outsidethebox #earthpix  #wildernessculture  #wildernessociety  #seeutah  #igsouthwest #discoverearth #earthofficial

Always a great day being out on the river.
New post on the blog, background and Day 1 of our New post on the blog, background and Day 1 of our 2017 canoe trip down the Green River in Utah. See link in bio to our blog and full summary of the trip.

After doing the Colorado River in 2015 with my kids, this time it was just Laura and myself.

Owe spent a day in Salt Lake City before driving down to Moab. On the way we explored Wild Horse Canyon, our first slot Canyon hike.

We hit the river just after 11am the next day and while it was a little brisk we had a great day on the river with lunch and a short hike in Horsetheif  Canyon.

We camp at a place called Fort Bottom, where there was an old Anasazi structure and a house built by a would be cattle rancher.

Was a fantastic first day of a five day adventure. 

Photo 1 - Laura explore Wild Horse Canyon

Photo 2 - getting ready to start our river trip

Photo 3 - cliffs and arches

Photo 4 - canoe all tied up at Horsetheif Canyon

Photo 5 - Anasazi Petroglyphs

Photo 6 - Butte

Photo 7 - back on the river

Photo 8 - 1100 ft wall and Walker Cabin

Photo 9 - looking downstream

Photo 10 - Anasazi structure

Super fun adventure. More to come....

#canyonlands, #canyonlandsnationalpark, #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #turkshead, #anasazi, #anasaziruins, #utah, #exploreutah, #coloradoriver, #canoeing, #redrocks, #hikingadventures, #camping, #hikingadventures #texriverways, #floatritp #canoe #familytime❤️ #outdoors #outside #outsidethebox #earthpix  #wildernessculture  #wildernessociety  #seeutah  #igsouthwest #discoverearth #earthofficial
From my Great Divide Trail Section D hike this sum From my Great Divide Trail Section D hike this summer, a selection of flower photos from the first three days.

Burgess Pass Trailhead to Amiskwi Pass.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #duplex #sectionhike #sectionhiker
Angels Landing, Zion NP Hike 2015, trip summary up Angels Landing, Zion NP Hike 2015, trip summary up on the website, link in bio. Summary includes a few short videos of @sio.mellors
Giving her thoughts of the hike as we made our way up.

Angels Landing was a fun little hike with @sio.mellors at the end of our Colorado River Float Trip (Mikah had to head back home to work so missed the hike).

Angels Landing is unique with the use of chains along the route which has frequent exposure to shear cliffs of a 1000 ft.

The hike for us was quite straightforward except for the crowds. We frequently had to wait at a pinch point while 15 - 20 people came past going the other way.

In a effort to control the crowds today you need to reserve a time for your hike.

One of the amazing features of the hike is that the peak lies in the centre of Zion Valley providing for a a unique vantage point.

Lots of and a great day, Siobhan of course finished the hike with a solid nap back at the vistitors centre.

#canyonlands, #canyonlandsnationalpark, #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #turkshead, #anasazi, #anasaziruins, #utah, #exploreutah, #coloradoriver, #canoeing, #redrocks, #hikingadventures, #camping, #hikingadventures #texriverways, #floatritp #canoe #familytime❤️ #outdoors #outside #outsidethebox #earthpix  #wildernessculture  #wildernessociety  #seeutah  #igsouthwest #discoverearth #earthofficial
Day 4 of our Colorado Float Trip and Travel Day ba Day 4 of our Colorado Float Trip and Travel Day back to Salt Lake City are now posted, see link in Bio.

Day 4 started with a dark hike up from Spanish Bottom to the Doll House to watch the sunrise.

Both kids thought I was nuts, then they saw the sunrise and both agreed it was a great idea.

After the sunrise we explored the Doll House and then headed back to camp to pack up.

Our trip back to Moab up the river was in a Jet Boat, pick up time was about 10 am and the trip took a little more than 2 hrs.

We did not take a direct route back to Salt Lake City, but stopped by Goblin State Park, slept In Hanksville before visiting Capitol Reef where we hiked the Rim Overlook Trail and ate pie.

Awesome trip, cannot wait to go back.

Photos
1) sunrise at the Doll House

2) Siobhan (low), Mikah (high) perched for the sunrise

3) Exploring the Doll House

4) Me at the Doll House, wearing a red jacket, can you find me?

5) Jet Boat

6) The domes of Capitol Reef (they look like many of the State Capitol buildings in the USA, hence the name of the park

7) Fresh pie at Capitol Reef NP

8) Mikah at Goblin State Park

9) Mikah and Siobhan at Goblin State Park

10) the Goblin Army marching across the valley floor

#canyonlands, #canyonlandsnationalpark, #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #turkshead, #anasazi, #anasaziruins, #utah, #exploreutah, #coloradoriver, #canoeing, #redrocks, #hikingadventures, #camping, #hikingadventures #texriverways, #floatritp #canoe #familytime❤️ #outdoors #outside #outsidethebox #earthpix  #wildernessculture  #wildernessociety  #seeutah  #igsouthwest #discoverearth #earthofficial
Go for a hike they said.....Great Divide Trail Sec Go for a hike they said.....Great Divide Trail Section D......Scenic Views with easy walking

Just finished 6 days on Section D, utterly epic adventure with the two of the most awesome hiking partners Lillian Zaremba and Sara (Dryas). The Team rocked the trail, couldn't have done it without you.

#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 2015 Colorado River trip is posted, s Day 3 of our 2015 Colorado River trip is posted, see link in bio.

After th epic day prior this was a super relaxed day of just 13 miles and one stop.

Photo 1 - evening reflections at Spanish Bottom

Photo 2 - morning at camp

Photo 3 - breakfast time in our secluded backcountry campsite

Photo 4 - Mikah paddling back on the river

Photo 5 - a look at where the Loop Overlook trail brought us the day before

Photo 6 - investigating Anasazi Bottom

Photo 7 - Mikah and Siobhan at Anasazi Bottom

Photo 8 - Me at Anasazi Bottom

Photo 9 - arrival at Spanish Bottom, can see the pinnacles of th Doll House on the cliffs

Photo 10 - Looking down at camp at Spanish Bottom 

Another awesome day on the river.

Enjoy.

#canyonlands, #canyonlandsnationalpark, #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #turkshead, #anasazi, #anasaziruins, #utah, #exploreutah, #coloradoriver, #canoeing, #redrocks, #hikingadventures, #camping, #hikingadventures #texriverways, #floatritp #canoe #familytime❤️ #outdoors #outside #outsidethebox #earthpix  #wildernessculture  #wildernessociety  #seeutah  #igsouthwest #discoverearth #earthofficial
Day 2 Colorado Float Trip 2015, Little Bridge Cany Day 2 Colorado Float Trip 2015, Little Bridge Canyon to Random Camp on The Loop.

This was a huge day packed with ancient Anasazi ruins and various forms of rock art, and some big mileage paddling the river.

Full summary on our blog, link in bio.

Photo 1 - docked at the Loop Overlook Hike

Photo 2 - Siobhan and Mikah ready for another day of adventure 

Photo 3 - morning light on the river

Photo 4 - Big sky

Photo 5 - Siobhan and rock art at Big Bottom

Photo 6 - Mikah and Siobhan with more rock art, those hands on the wall were from a person living thousands of years ago, again at Bit Bottom

Photo 7 - Anasazi Granary

Photo 8 - Anasazi Granary Monument Creek

Photo 9 - looking downriver from Loop Overlook trail

Photo 10 - evening river vibes

Enjoy!

#canyonlands, #canyonlandsnationalpark, #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #turkshead, #anasazi, #anasaziruins, #utah, #exploreutah, #coloradoriver, #canoeing, #redrocks, #hikingadventures, #camping, #hikingadventures #texriverways, #floatritp #canoe #familytime❤️ #outdoors #outside #outsidethebox #earthpix  #wildernessculture  #wildernessociety  #seeutah  #igsouthwest #discoverearth #earthofficial
New post, throwback to 2015, our first canoe trip, New post, throwback to 2015, our first canoe trip, an adventure down the Colorado River from Moab to Spanish Bottom.

Posted the main page for the trip plus our travel day to Moab and Day 1 on the river.

This trip remains a favourite of ours as it was so different from all the hiking adventures. Although we did some hiking while on the river.

One of the great things about the trip is a person could go again, stop at different places and have an entirely different trip.

Photo 1 - evening on the Colorado, looking downriver from our campsite

Photo 2 - Siobhan getting a greasy meal at Five Guys in Salt Lake City

Photo 3 - with Wayne at the Budget Inn, Green River, and freshly baked blueberry muffins

Photo 4 - Siobhan getting ready

Photo 5 - Mikah checking their straps

Photo 6 - on th river

Photo 7 - happy paddler

Photo 8 - Siobhan up high taking in the view

Photo 9 - Mikah found their perch

Photo 10 - the view upstream from out campsite at Little Bridge Canyon

See link in bio to our blog and full summary of the trip.

Simply can't wait to go back.

#canyonlands, #canyonlandsnationalpark, #nationalpark, #nationalparks, #turkshead, #anasazi, #anasaziruins, #utah, #exploreutah, #coloradoriver, #canoeing, #redrocks, #hikingadventures, #camping, #hikingadventures #texriverways, #floatritp #canoe #familytime❤️ #outdoors #outside #outsidethebox #earthpix  #wildernessculture  #wildernessociety  #seeutah  #igsouthwest #discoverearth #earthofficial
Day 4 of our Labour Day Weekend trip through the E Day 4 of our Labour Day Weekend trip through the Egypt Lake area, Banff NP.

Hiked from Pharaoh Creek CG up over Healy Pass back to our car, now at the Sunshine Village Parking Lot.

Low stress day on the trail but the fall temperatures made for a great day in the backcountry.

Photo 1 - morning at Pharaoh Creek CG

Photo 2 - Chilly breakfast, yay for coffee

Photo 3 - approaching Egypt Lake Campground 

Photo 4 - fall colours and The Sphinx

Photo 5 - Pharaoh Peak 

Photo 6 - Golden meadows of Healy Pass

Photo 7 - looking back to the Egypt Lake area, can see Scarab and Egypt Lake

Photo 8 - view south all the way to Mt Assiniboine 

Photo 9 - creek crossing

Photo 10 - end of another successful adventure

Great trip, awesome hiking partner, @sio.mellors, looking forward to more adventures with her this summer.

For full summary see 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

Happy trails!
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❤️
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