Exploring waterfalls with Volcano.
Takakkaw Falls Parking Lot – Twin Falls – Takakkaw Falls Parking Lot, Yoho NP, July 28 – 29, 2020.
It is quite surprising that while living in the Bow Valley for almost 25 years I have spent very little time hiking in Yoho NP. I had made two failed attempts with Laura to go backpacking in Yoho NP. The first time we started too late in the morning and could not cross the alluvial fan at Emerald Lake. The second time rain was in the forecast so we drove west to escape the rain and ended doing a wonderful backpacking trip up to Hermit Meadows in Glacier NP in 2013.
I already had a three day trip planned with Siobhan to explore Yoho but I wanted to do some advanced scouting and to get away for an easy backpacking trip with Volcano. Volcano was nearing her 13th birthday and while she will come backpacking with me because she wants to be with me I do not think she enjoys the camping part. So as this may be her last backpacking trip so I kept it short and easy. The first day was a flat 4 km to Laughing falls CG and day 2 was a 12 km hike up to Twin Falls and back to the car. Having left the house at 4 pm on day 1 we would arrive back home before 1 pm the next day, in time for a birthday party, a 21 hr round trip.
The trip would also be my last opportunity to work on my equipment prior to my Great Divide Trail hike with Micah in August. I was attempting simplify my pack and reduce weight and wanted to test out some new equipment. On this trip I was trying out a Toaks 1100 ml titanium pot and a home made dried dinner. The idea with the the 1100 ml pot was that on the GDT trip it would act as our cook pot and my coffee pot. The Toaks pot would replace my coffee cup and stainless steel cooking pot cutting my weight from about 700 g to just 150 g. The 1100 ml is enough water to re-hydrate two meals or for making two coffees in the morning.
The dinner was a hug success. I did let it soak while I was setting up camp. Soaking cut down on cooking time by making the dinner ready to eat as soon as the water reached boiling.
Volcano was an absolute star. She is quiet and nonagressive unlike the two barky dogs that were in camp. She did great on the second day doing 12 km and some moderate elevation. I did discover that despite being mostly deaf she does not like waterfalls which is too bad as there are lots of accessible waterfalls to visit in Yoho NP.
Despite having a permit for the night I camped arriving late I found no available site and already one group camping in a non designated site. Luckily there was a spot that had seen other campers so I was able to stay in the campground.
Yoho NP is a great family friendly backpacking location. lots of variety in terrain and numerous well spaced campsites to accommodate a range of different itineraries. I am so glad I was heading back in just five weeks.
What I learned:
- Pre-soaking dried meals cuts on cooking time which saves and time and fuel
- It is a good ide to bring rope for bear hangs even when there is a bear hang supplied. Arriving late all the bear hangs were in use but i had rope so I was able to hang my food and tie it off
Day 1 Takakkaw Falls Parking Lot to Laughing Falls CG
Day 2 Laughing Falls CG to Twin Falls to Takakkaw Falls Parking Lot