Waterton to Coleman: I didn’t die in Burnaby Ridge

Day 2

15.0 Miles 3870 ‘GAN 2870 DESCENT

I had my best sleep night since I left Maryland. Lightning and rain in the window created some anxiety in my thoughts early in the morning. We loaded the truck in the rain and returned to Waterton. This time it is not a beautiful flame, but the clouds on the mountains were a bit clear.

On the head of the path, the rain stopped and said goodbye with hugs everywhere. We started Waterton’s steep ascent thinking that this was what it was to expect. Slowly we lost his sight of Lake Waterton and the hotel while we walked along a new wave path of weeds. We follow a Mom de Mom and its two caught by the path for a good path.

It was a constant climb to the two Lakes of Carthew where we neat and contemplate the steep climb along the next mile to Carthew Summit. The steep path made us stop frequently to recover our breath. Large views revealed at the 7621 ‘summit. The wind blow continuously and cooled us all in another layer. I decided that this was one of my new top ten. Only the second day and the views do not disappoint.

Cold wind while we descended made me put my hands in my pockets to keep heat. The loose curves finally had a lower and faster elevation. We broke up in Cameron Lake, who was busy with the navigators and hikers of a day. We wrote a cold soda and some chairs while people saw.

It was a short walk to the beginning of the Akamina path, where we went up another 700 ‘. The area was in a large burn that was recovered with low -level vegetation. We launched our tents and ate our dinners next to the bears boxes. A distant storm provided thunder, lightning and a little rain.

It was a good full day with some challenging climbs and first -class landscapes. The dry feet all day were an additional advantage.

Day 3

18.6 miles, 5100 ‘profit and 4300’ descent

Akamina to the twin lakes

The stars were brilliant at 4 am promising a clear morning. I was packed and left the camp at 6:15 am I knew the sale of garage that I was going to move on. Calm Air only produced the sounds of my steps in twilight. Some birds were awake providing a soft choir.

On the way I picked up water during the dry stretch of 12 miles reported later to be false. The road revealed the massive burn of the valley about seven years ago. A mountain sheep wandered along the path that gave me a cautious appearance. In approximately two miles I turned on the Rowe/Tamarack path preparing for the several thousand feet of climb. The blue sky accentuated the trees of dark green trees while walking in silence on the soil of the humid forest. There were several water sources in the first two miles not identified in Fide Out. After a solid scalar, the path crossed a flat valley under an impressive circque that would eventually come out. Interest in our trip a couple of Calgary outside during the weekend he talked to me while resting. A long gradual change gave access to the lineham summit with 360 views, including the land covered yesterday and Lineham Lakes below.

I took a long break to rest, eat, dry the condensation of my bag and wait for the sale and garage map. Storm clouds were formed, so I left after 45 minutes with the hope that he will catch them in Lake Lone.

A long, loose and steep descent had the burning buttocks. Touching in a burn, the path rose abruptly and worked towards the pass before Lake Lone. The legs of the morning climbing that many breaks require. This GDT was announced as steep and has not been disappointed.

The rain began when I descended to Like Lake, where I leaked some water and drank a protein shake. The rain team ignited through the vegetation now wet soaking my shoes. Oh, well, they were dry most of the day! I moved slowly during the last pass before the twin lakes take frequent breaks and a snack. It was a difficult day.

I met a couple on Twin Lakes that gave me the beta version in the configuration. The woman worked with Parks Canada outside Waterton. I was surprised to have covered 18 miles on this steep terrain. I was more tired than surprised!

Garage and map sale around 6:45 pm saw three Grizzlies on the path and three mountain sheep. They saw the Grizzlies where there were two lots of Scat on the path. I was making a lot of noise but I didn’t see them. It was a sow and two second -year puppies. Impressive animals. I hope to see one at a distance!

Day 4

Twin Lake To Scarp Pass

10 miles and 2660 ‘profit

The cloudy sky made me awake at warmer temperatures. With the short day ahead, we took our time going and along the way. We stopped frequently and told many stories. Another magnificent view was waiting for us at the first climb. Still overwhelmed. Several characteristics of Chinese wall type aligned on the path while we climb two names without a name.

We arrive at Scarp Pass early, we settled and have lunch. Hope and Martin arrived and joined us. We saw hope in GDT’s publication and she reminded us. This is his first long walk, so he was happy to walk with Martin from Slovakia.

We planned to make Burnaby crest in the morning to be an early start.

Day 5

Pasa escarco to Lake Burnaby

15.5 Miles 8000 ‘Ascent

The alarm shot at 4:15 am and we left the camp at 6:00 am to the first light. The first climb was brutally steep for 600 ‘. There were multiple false summits to Coulotte. Hope and Martin caught us in a chair before the Coulotte and somehow began to walk with them, since the path was difficult to find.

In the Coulotte Hope, Martin and I chose the alternative Burnaby Ridge, while the sale and garage map remained in the red line or on the standard route. Which would later prove to be a good decision.

The route began with a twisted fall that had a chain anchored in the rock. Martin had experience in rock climbing that was invaluable, so he led the way. Hope and I handle the descent assisted by the chain with some apprehension, without knowing that there would be more incomplete sections to administer.

We ascended two more peaks after Coulotte, each of which feels similar to the last 1500 ‘of 14Ners in Colorado. We celebrated being together, ate a snack and looked at the next crest line to address. We descended and ascended to the next beak when the crest felt incomplete. Again, Martin explored and led. Hope was a bit sketched by descending the loose screen between steep slacks. I trained Hope based on my limited rock experience, but, above all, I encouraged her trust. The next was an even more drawn place. The seriousness of this section made me verify far. I told Martin and I hope we were on the wrong crest. After several appropriate expletives given the serious penalty of this error, I turned around and hope was already going up. It is true that I was ready to get out of there.

With a large piece or egos, we returned on our steps towards the peak. The correct crest line was much easier and we assumed that the incorrect and more difficult crest was correct. Martin felt bad as our informal leader, but I told him that we all had the ability to review our distant application, so we were all equally responsible for the error. However, the effort was joking the «Martin alternate»!

There were two warning triangles in the Distant application. The first was another descent of the chain around an 8 -meter cliff that was not bad, to give everything else we had already done. The second was a narrow crest line that we supposedly chose more easily alternative. Marked with orange paint, we ascend under the crest line. A slight arrow of orange painter in the rock indicated the climb to the crest. With Martin exploring and leading, Hope and I slowly ascend to the steep fight to about 300 ‘back to the crest. While we did not do the narrow crest, I am not sure that the work was much easier. On the crest, Hope followed me and supported me on a twisted crest. It was comforting to know that I had my back.

After several more outstanding, it was 3 pm and we had only made 10 miles, we took the second deserved for the day of the day. With five more miles for the end and three more crest peaks, I knew that I would have to dig deeply and be patient with what my body had left.

The wind on the exposed ridges had increased from 30-40 mph to 60-70 mph, which makes the promotions even more difficult and were with emotions. The last climb was extremely long and steep red, loose lutita. I could see the Castle Mountain Sky Resort under where it was planned that the sale and the map planned camping. I could imagine them there with quiet breezes and warmer temperatures that look at us, maybe drinking a beer at the bar. Envious of his difficult situation, all he could concentrate was to reach the camp.

The last long descent to Burnaby Lake where we were camping was brutal on our tired feet and legs. Martin was kind to leave his package and go back to help me sail for the last incomplete climb. He is a solid young man! In the camp, they were hugs everywhere! Hope was in love with how we just met a day ago and how today we support each other at difficult and emotionally difficult points.

In the end, we pass more than 15 miles and climb around 8000 ‘. We arrived at the camp at 7:10 pm, approximately 13 hours after our beginning, which seemed one day ago. A quick dinner with my new friends was followed by the best feeling of bedtime to spend the night. I was tired, satisfied, but I will think twice about future alternatives!

Day 6

Lake Burnaby just before Coleman

28 miles 4700 ‘win 4800’ descent

I was the first to leave Lake Burnaby and there was more slippery descent reminding me of my leg pain. A charming river preceded a paved road when the morning arose and the birds woke up.

The first climb through the trees was steep but, not rocky or flying wind as yesterday. In tired legs, I let my Whooo-Whoop bears escape and I heard a similar family response about me for the sale and garden map. Soon my friends joined me to share our stories yesterday. They stayed in a hostel and received showers, but there is no beer! It was great to be gathered.

Soon Martin joined us and later by Hope in Lynx Creek, where we had lunch next to the river on a picnic table! I helped Hope treat some ampoules and we were on the way. We chose a route mainly on the gravel route on the road to the Havens bridge at 25 miles away. We met a fisherman, an Edmonton tourist and a GDT excrement.

Havens Bridge had no camps, so we forged looking for stealthy places along the way. Hitting, we were another 4 miles and camped with Martin near the river. It was a long day, but we only had approximately 4 miles in Coleman the next day.

Day 7

4 miles to Coleman

I was raining when we woke up and we started our walk to Coleman with umbrella. Hope caught us for breakfast at the Chris restaurant where we devour eggs, ham, cheese, sausages, French toast, fruit, coffee and oj.

We updated our phones in Kindred Coffee while we waited to meet Boss and Kelly, who brought our food boxes. Trail Boss, Map, and Kelly washed our clothes and sent our boxes while we did tasks in the room. After a great shower, we had dinner at the Rum Runner before Trail Boss, and Kelly returned home. I am very grateful to be part of a large group of friends!