Tag: running

Categories
canada general hiking moosling trail running

Lake O’Hara: The latest in the crazy summer adventures series

Another summer day, another silly plan. This time we decided we wanted to visit Lake O’Hara. We’d been there a few times in winter, but never in summer. Paying for the bus was inconceivable however, so we fashioned a cunning plan whereby we would push the Chariot up to the lake. There we could leave the Chariot, and release the Moosling, hopefully heading up onto some of the higher trails (or just around the lake).

Lake O’Hara

We ran on and off to cover the 10km up to the lake. Sometimes the Moosling hopped out and walked, other times he stood up in the Chariot and made incomprehensible demands, and otherwise he just sat and read his choo-choo book (and asked lots of questions about helicopters).

The big push up the road to get to the lake (no bikes allowed – it’s either walk or pay for the bus)

Up at the lake we stopped for lunch, then set off a-wandering. We headed up towards Lake Oesa, after an initial false start (where the Moosling threw up on Alex, and they both retreated to Lake O’Hara for a quick clean-up). Then it was decided that Alex didn’t like the look of the exposed ledges on the high circuit path, so rather than trying to cover the whole circuit, we’d just retreat to the lake, and do the easy circuit.

Looking down on Lake O’Hara

Released from his Ergo, the Moosling thought this was a great idea, and happily ran around the lake. Even better when we found some snow up at the far end that he could throw at us.

Traversing the lake

Back at the day cabin, we picked up the Chariot, transferred Moosling into Chariot (where he promptly fell asleep until we hit the carpark). Then then run down the hill, taking it in turns to run with the Chariot (which is a bit of an interesting proposition when you’re running downhill and you don’t have the version with brakes). The kilometre markers all the way along the trail helped with equitable distribution of Chariot time, and we even managed to make it back down to the carpark at the same time as the bus, after seeing people sitting around waiting for it, and essentially deciding it was obviously a race.

Thoroughly recommended, although I’d really love to do the full alpine high circuit now.

Categories
canada general hiking trail running trip reports

Sort of running the Rockwall in the rain

Thanks to the generosity of visiting family, Alex and I had a day to throw ourselves at any crazy adventure we fancied, without the company of a toddler. Of course, the weather forecast threatened rain. We laughed in the face of the weather forecast, and decided to go and hike/run the Rockwall trail anyway.

We’d never been on any of the Rockwall trails before, so were excited despite the rather ominous looking weather. The Autumn colours were gorgeous, and the views better than expected as we set off through burnt-out forest and crossed avalanche paths, having left our car behind at the Floe Lake trailhead.

I think we’d been on the trail for an hour or so when it started to spit. We decided that if it started bucketing down we could turn back, but otherwise we’d at least like to make it to Floe Lake – it was quite warm after all.

There weren’t many others on the trail, and those we came across were mostly heading down.

After a lot of up, we finally hit the open meadows, where the wildflowers were still blooming away.

And then, Floe Lake! Gorgeous, with glaciers, and wildflowers, alpine lake, and wonderful camping. It looked to be a perfect spot – well, perhaps with a little less rain.

We didn’t linger too long over lunch at Floe Lake – mostly because of the damp.

As we headed up towards Numa Pass we were surprised by the larches everywhere, and the relative lack of scree. And then we were surprised by the hail.

Numa Pass was the highest point on the trail though (at around 2335m), so after crossing there we thought we should probably be safe from snow (and lightning).

Not to say the rest of the trail wasn’t lovely, but the scenery around Floe Lake and Numa Pass was definitely significantly more amazing than anything we passed later on.

The rest of the trail is now a blur of wet undergrowth, creeks, rain and bridges. The rain got us from above, and then again as we pushed through the undergrowth – it’s a very planty sort of trail.

The damage done to the trail by avalanches and flooding over this year is amazing. We went out via Numa Creek, but the Tumbling Creek connector trail is still closed, as it will require too much work to get it re-opened this year. After travelling along the Numa Creek trail I can imagine why.

As we got closer to the highway, the rain got heavier, and by the time we finally emerged in the parking lot at Numa Falls, we were both saturated – although perversely still enjoying it. Within 100 metres of heading out along the highway we got a lift though, and thankfully didn’t have to run the 8km back to our car (parked at the Floe Lake trailhead) in the pouring rain. That would have been rather difficult to enjoy.

I’d love to go back again to cover the trail in the not-rain some time.

Route: Rockwall Trail from Floe Creek – Floe Lake – Numa Pass – Numa Creek
Distance: 27.5km
Elevation gain: 1400m
Highest Point: Numa Pass, ~2335m

Categories
canada general hiking moosling trail running

The Icefields Parkway tourist expedition

Bow Lake was freezing cold of course, but not so cold a toddler couldn’t demand to have his shoes and socks taken off, and then run in and out of it.

Touristing Aunt and Cousin, and photo-bombing toddler

Playing on the boardwalk at the Columbia Icefields Centre

Running out to Nigel Pass and back again – it’s a 10 minute drive to the trailhead from the Icefields Centre, and then about 14km return with less than 300 metres of climbing to go all the way to the Pass and back. We didn’t quite go all the way, as we were trying to fit in around having sent everyone else off on an Icefields glacier tour which didn’t last quite long enough. But a nice alternative to Parker Ridge if you want to do something quick while having visitors entertained nearby.

Categories
canada general hiking

Sunshine Meadows: The Return

Oh Sunshine Meadows old friend, with your ground squirrels and your recently departed wildflowers.

The Citadel, and Mount Assiniboine in the distance

We returned to the Meadows with more family, and this time we left them Moosling-sitting while we headed out for a run. Towards Citadel Pass, although not all the way there, as we didn’t want anyone to be eaten by bears (or driven mad by screaming toddlers).

Looking back towards Sunshine Village across the meadows

It was a fantastic day for it. But then we descended into Banff, and rode the Sulphur Mountain Gondola.

More amazing views, and lots of stairs for a Moosling to climb up. And up. And up. He provided inspiration for plenty of folks who were having trouble finding the motivation to go all the way to the top.

Banff from the top of Sulphur Mountain

Categories
canada general hiking trail running trip reports

Elbow Lake – Sheep River Valley – Rickert’s Pass – Mist Ridge

I was dropped off at the Elbow Lake trailhead, and shooed up the trail. The menfolk would be meandering their way up to the lake and back, while I ran the loop all the way from Elbow Lake, through the Sheep River Valley, up Rickert’s Pass and out along Mist Ridge. It was to be a little over 30km I thought, all through the Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park. I was hoping to do it in under four hours – although with the enormous climb up Rickert’s Pass in the middle of that, there was always the probability of taking longer.

Out past Elbow Lake the crowds thinned considerably. Once I turned off up towards the Sheep River valley, just before Tombstone campground, I only saw a couple of other people – so most of the time on the trail it was just me and the imaginary bears that were going to eat me.

The signage out there certainly isn’t fancy…

We’d read about the trail as a suggested mountain-bike route, but I think I’d be more inclined to bike up Mist Valley and back along Mist Ridge if I was on a bike. The trudge through Sheep River Valley and up Rickert’s Pass wouldn’t be any more fun on a bike than it was on foot (although it’s always nice to explore new terrain).

Dropping down into the Sheep River Valley

There were lots of streams to cross on the Sheep Trail. The first I tried to keep my feet dry, but after that I just gave in and waded straight through. Seven streams later, and the deepest had nearly reached my knees. Wet shoes and socks, but that was about it – and warm enough that they dried out quickly enough.

As you travel along the Sheep River Valley, you leave the Provincial Park and enter private land. The trail up to Rickert’s Pass is marked on many maps, but according to a sign posted now, the trail up to the pass from the Sheep River is now closed: “Private Property – Trail Closed – Travel restricted to main Sheep River Valley bottom trail as marked on map… Travel off main Sheep River Valley bottom trail by written permission only”. By the time I’d gotten that far, I wasn’t about to turn around, so I headed on up, wondering what had prompted the posting of the sign, and hoping I wasn’t about to be chased off by shotgun-wielding property owners.

After an interminable hill-slog, I reached Rickert’s Pass, and then set out along Mist Ridge (after briefly considering just throwing myself straight down the Mist Valley trail instead). I’d been dreaming of flat running along the ridgeline, but there was still plenty of up. But at least there were spectacular views to go with it.

Mist Ridge stretching out before me

After one final awful uphill, it was finally downhill to connect to the Mist Valley trail, where Alex was waiting for me on a bike, with a bottle full of water. I drank it down, but declined the offered bike – I had nearly made it by then, after all, even if it was looking like it would be a few kilometres longer than I’d imagined. A long few kilometres when you weren’t expecting it. But then, finally, back at the car, and done!

Elevation gain: 1200m
Distance: 34.5km
Time taken: 4hr20min
Location: Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country, Alberta
Bears seen: 0
Bears imagined hiding in the undergrowth about to eat me: ∞
(And yes, they’re all phone photos, I was not tempted to carry a heavy camera, strangely enough)