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canada general

Frosty run out from Assiniboine

Warmer this morning, we breakfasted, got mostly packed, then left the small child with the grandmother and hit the trails.

It was perfect running weather – cool, crisp and clear, without being cold enough that fingers, noses and toes started to freeze.

By the time we reached Wonder Pass, the frost had melted.

And as we dropped down towards Marvel Lake, the day kept getting warmer and warmer, and we dropped more and more layers.

The trails were deserted, the views were wonderful, and the running was mostly pretty fast. Of course eventually we hit the double track that would take us out through Mount Shark. Then the running was easier, but far less interesting.

At least when you’re running though, the tedious slog out to the Mount Shark trailhead is over much faster. And running with Alex was a welcome novelty.

We were rushing to reach the Mount Shark Helipad in time to catch the arrival of the first flight out from Assiniboine. But of course, the small child and grandmother were not on the first flight. They were on the fifth flight, and we hadn’t even thought of checking. Thankfully it was sunny, and we had a comfortable rock to nap on, as we watched the excitement of the helicopter travelling to and fro.

And an hour and a half later, the small child and grandmother finally emerged from the helicopter!

Distance: 26km
Elevation gain: 600m

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canada general snow trip reports

Running into Assiniboine – A Winter September Wonderland

A few months before my Mum came to visit, I checked in with the Assiniboine Lodge folks to see if there was any availability in the Naiset Huts in the weeks she would be staying with us. There was – but there were only two nights left. So we booked them, and hoped for good weather.

Based on the other weather we had while she was here, it could have been much worse. But it was far from perfect.

While she and the now 4-year old boy flew in by helicopter, Alex and I ran in together from Sunshine Village.

At least it had stopped snowing – mostly. And it was fairly warm, there was barely a breeze, and it was quite a novelty to actually get out for a run with Alex for once.

As we ran towards Citadel Pass, the snow got deeper and deeper. The larches looked miserable under a heavy load of snow on their green needles. As it warmed up, snow on the trail turned into enormous puddles. I was tremendously pleased that I’d remembered to wear my goretex socks – my feet were toasty and warm, despite the occasional drenching in snow melt.

As we dropped down from Citadel Pass though, we quickly lost elevation, and snow.

The transition back into summer was joyous – we didn’t know who had killed the White Witch, but were pleased that someone had finally gotten around to it.

Also, we were excited to actually be running the high trail above the Porcupine Campground for once, instead of having to drop all the way down into the valley, before climbing all the way back out again.

The Valley of the Rocks always seems to last longer than you’d expect. Although we did spend most of the run marvelling at how quickly we were arriving at places. Our pace was four or five times faster than we could travel with small child in tow. Distances that would have taken us an hour or more with him were only taking 15 or 20 minutes, which was continually amazing.

In no time at all we were running our squelchy footed selves along the final stretch of trail from Lake Og to Assiniboine Lodge – where we found the grandmother and boy, who had enjoyed a non-eventful helicopter ride, and had just been for a walk down to Lake Magog which had been rapidly aborted when a bear was sighted wandering along above the lakeshore.

What luxury, to travel here without a heavy pack to carry! How bourgeois, to pay a helicopter to carry our things to a mountain hut!

Most miraculous of all, my legs were still holding up after the epic weekend I’d just put them through. Hurrah!

Distance: 27km
Elevation gain: ~1100m

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canada general trip reports

More passes! More lakes!

This one was my idea. We were looking to run something new, that didn’t involve summits or ridgelines (it was forecast to be windy), that didn’t involve convoluted car shuffles, and was ideally under 35km.

With this run from Highway 93 through to Sunshine Village we managed the first two criteria ok, got around the third one with a drop-off at the start, and decided that seeing as the last 9km were mostly downhill they nearly didn’t count – which would mean we were only covering 31km.

First up was Vista Lake, with the sun peering out we were still feeling pretty hopeful that the weather might improve.

But that early patch of blue sky was just a sucker hole (is that the right term?), and we were stuck with gloomy grey skies, wind, occasional rain and intermittent snow for the rest of the day.

As we stopped by the second of the Twin Lakes, we watched a little pack of Whisky Jacks harass a poor small sleepy owl. The owl ended up deserting its perch and flying away, which seemed to please the Whisky Jacks.

Climbing up to Gibbon Pass, the weather wasn’t showing off the landscape to its best, but it was still glorious terrain to run through. And note to self – return to Gibbon Pass during larch season! That place is absolutely slathered with larches.

From there we descended past Shadow Lake Lodge, ran by Shadow Lake, and headed into the muddier terrain towards Whistling Valley. Everything was a bit slick thanks to the recent precipitation (we ran into hikers who swore they’d had wet feet for days), but this section was the muddiest. Light pack and trail runners made it easy to jump puddles and skitter across boggy sections like an elf over snow. Well that was the plan anyway; it still occasionally ended with a good dollop of mud sneaking into my shoe.

Whistling Valley is amazing, as is Haiduk Lake. Further note to self – must return and camp here at some point with the family, and maybe get some side trips done.

From there it was a climb up Whistling Pass, which came with whistling marmots, lots of rocks, and a few mountain goats.

At the summit Lincoln held aloft the Banana of Victory, before consuming it to give himself +3 to fortitude.

The terrain between Whistling Pass and Egypt Lake is pretty interesting, and was a definite change to the usual Banff/Kananaskis trail fare. Well, there’s at least one section that was a bit intriguing, with some awesome rocks. And it was after that we hit rock bottom *sob* and had to start the climb up to Healy Pass. I opted to march up it, saving my running legs for the final 9km. Which although it was mostly downhill, was still 9km on tired legs.

And we did reach the Pass of Wonder, and wondered why the weather never cleared up like it was supposed to. Then came the Descent of Foreverness to the car, which actually wasn’t so bad, as it’s on a beautiful trail. Except for that last section, when you hit the second last bridge and say to yourself “Oh, we’re nearly there now, the final bridge is just around the corner, then we’re basically done”. But the final bridge is actually quite a long way from the second bridge, and this just led to a few kilometres of self torture “Surely it’s just around this corner… wait… wait… nope… WHERE IS THAT BRIDGE!”

The post-run soak was attempted, but Healy Creek is flowing so cold at the moment that my brain rebelled when I tried to stick body parts in it for more than 30 seconds. Definitely recommend the run though!

Distance: 40km
Elevation gain: ~2000m

Categories
canada general trip reports

Passes, lakes and flood damage

This one wasn’t my idea, but instead Lincoln came to me and said: “I have a cunning plan”. The plan was to run Rummel Pass, to Guinn’s Pass, to North Buller Pass. Possibly with a side trip to a summit thrown in.

Heading up towards Rummel Lake was the typical Rockies start – get out of the car and start heading straight uphill. The lake came and went without much fanfare, and then eventually we topped out on the first pass of the day.

It was quite windy – we probably weren’t going to be hitting any summits today. Dropping down the other side of Rummel Pass, we wandered towards Lost Lake without a path, hitting undergrowth and bashing about and getting wet before finally emerging at the lake. We had found it, hurrah!

From Lost Lake on, there was actually a trail. A trail that was absolutely covered in deadfall, but at least a sort of trail. Still, the going was a little slow, and we were looking forward to hitting the main trail.

And then we hit the main trail – oh, that’s right, flood damage. We followed along the tagged future trail up towards Lillian and Galatea Lakes, together with exciting creek crossings. Over well placed trees. It’s always amazing to see how much damage the flooding did out here. The amount of water and the forces involved are just mindboggling.

From there, it was up towards Guinn’s Pass. The trail was also a little flood affected, but not too badly.

From Guinn’s Pass, we thought about heading up Mt. Kidd South, but decided we didn’t want to be blown off the ridge. Another day.

It took no time at all to drop down from Guinn’s Pass and wander across to North Buller Pass.

There was more flood damage just below North Buller Pass, with huge swathes of ground just becoming saturated and giving way.

And after admiring the view from North Buller, we made the final run back down towards the road. And then there was the 5km jog back to the car.

Distance: 30km
Elevation gain: 1750m

Categories
bikes canada general

A few random summer adventures


July – Views from an evening trail run up EEOR. We also saw about five mountain goats. And a lot of wildflowers.


July – Towards the end of a slightly epic ride – Trans Canada Trail, Quaite Valley, Jewell Pass, Stoney Trail, up to Skogan Pass for sunset. After this we hammered down to the car, hollering for bears the whole way. We made it at 9.59pm, just as it started to get properly dark.

August – Running Mount Bourgeau in the fog and cloud – we hammered up, then hammered down. I felt like a particularly uncoordinated baby mountain goat, attempt to keep up with two large and skilled mountain goats. And I couldn’t walk very well for a few days afterwards.

August – Lunch bike adventures!