Saskatchewan Crossing field in the GDT

Day 24

Zero day

Field, BC

The sale of garage and I spent the morning drinking coffee and eating the buns of Justine, Nadine, Nadine. We work in our blogs most of the morning and then we have had early. We went to Lake Louise for groceries and pizza. Early in the afternoon he turned us and then we had dinner in the pig of Trufa.

Day 25

Small Yoho field

15.5 miles and 4700 ‘profit, 2000 ancestry

The alarm shot at 5:30 am and made coffee to have more of Nadine’s treats. I reluctant to go, I had a well -deserved break and I was ready.

Justine took us to the alternative path of Kiwetinok, where we all hugged and said goodbye. Map and I lit the road climb. It was great to have fresh legs, relatively fresh feet and complete belly. We upload the wonderful views of Lake Emerald, then Takakaw Falls. Later on the Iceline path there were mountains with glaciers by our side with ice mass that provided drinking water.

We met many people on the path, since the area is very accessible from the Valley Road below. We met:

Mel and Verona making a triangle loop from Emerald Lake

Reuben and Alex de Banff. Reuben works in a bicycle store.

Quebec Esteban. Esteban is a lumberjack.

Angie Tim Bits and Kevin of Vancouver Island

Jimmy of Australia

Mark and Heather of Calgary whom we met in Little Yoho. His son was in the camp, so they were excursion.

We stopped in an ice lake for a break and lunch. A family of four was already having lunch and the father went to swim. When I got water, I felt too cold for me. The family was more than kind and gave us a $ 50 ticket for the Ethan Murray fund for mental health. There is hope for all of us!

Around 3:30 pm, we arrive at the camp in the hope of resting for a big day tomorrow. We have 20 miles, a bushwhack, some road findings and more than 5000 ‘elevation.

Day 26

18.8 miles, 4000 ‘profit, 5100’ descent

Little Yoho to Mile 367

We start on the day holidays with a rise of 1400 ‘to the Kiwetinok pass at 8100’. The morning was unusually warm compared to the last days. The climb was rocky and steep in the sections and the view to the north was another set of impressive mountains.

The Kiwetinok alternative then fell dramatically through a Scree field, through Talus, then a rocky drain from the headers of the Kiwetinok river. The screen of the screen was Burnaby Ridge steep and made me slide in my butt when I tried to turn. Fortunately, only my ego was injured. The descent required a coordinated effort with balance, traction, knee position and placement of solid posts. The heel was steep and loose, not always large enough to walk. More balance and placement of posts. The river bed was slippery with wet and viscous rocks that would leave you in a second. I found this in the difficult way! I found some relief on the brush to the right, but thick brush soon returned me on the river bed. Map and I communicated with Bear Whoops while we descended separately.

Finally, at the bottom of this beautiful flat river valley, we obtained water for the climb of 1300 ‘to Kiwetinok GAP. The orange ribbons marked the way to the wooded rise. Quickly, the climb became extremely steep and the placement of the foot was critical. We often stopped to recover our breath when the sun really began to heat. We rejoice when we arrived at a floor bank for a few meters before the path became difficult to find. Up and down the lateral slope that seeks the best line, we find a direct and reasonably soft path due to drainage to space.

In the upper part, we took a well -deserved rest with another great mountain view. Another steep slope made us slide on the other side of the gap. With a small route find, we find our path through the rocky slopes in a tape tree descent. There was a little trace full of students, roots, purges and steep slopes. Fatigue was adjusting and constant concentration required that I used me physically and mentally. We arrived at the main path, which was a track of two brushes at 12:30 pm we had been walking stable for 6 hours and we only made 7.4 miles.

After a snack, we stopped for water and lunch at a crossing of stream. He was tired and the rest felt good.

The next section amounted to the Amiskwi river to the Amiskwi pass. The river had about 40 feet wide and calf with a multicolored free stone base. We cross the river about 8 times trying to find the best path for drainage. The cold water of the river felt good on a hot day and was a bit sad to climb on the river. The climb to the pass was a soft but, long degree. Another break in the pass and we were out of the jurisdiction of Parks Canada, which means that camping would be more open.

We crossed a path parallel to the path and it was a unanimous decision to take it and have a better time. The road went through a burn and there were no flat points. We decided on some less sites than ideals we find and call it one day. I hope tomorrow is easier!

Eric Neal

Day 27

19.5 miles, 1400 ascent, 2300 ‘descent

Mike 367 at Mile 392 on the Howse River

The stars were brilliant when I went to dig my cat hole at 5 am promising another clear day. We leave our camp on the road and find the steep descent of the Collie Creek alternative. The incomplete earth slide was the norm until we arrived at the Collie stream. The path descended the stream on the rocky shores and the wooded path. We cross Collie Creek and then walked for the much bigger Blaeberry Creek.

We met Brent, a Canmore retired you professional at the Blaeberry Creek camp. A knots rope allowed a controlled descent to the improvised Blaberry trunk bridge. The GDTA placed this bridge when the old bridge washed during the spring smelting. The bridge was three rolled outroots by two upper strings to hold on. In general, well done.

We continue following the Blaberry Creek for several miles. Holding water made it difficult to listen and the map made a lot of bear noise. We stopped at Lambe Creek for the first break of the day where we obtained water, bulls and talked to Brent.

A gradual climb had us at Howse Pass in a few miles where there was an Alberta / BC marker and a tribute to the early explorer David Thompson, who reached the pass in 1807. The pass is named after a main member of the Northwest Commercial Company where David Thompson was employed.

The confluence of Freshfield Creek and the Howse River was our first impression of the magnificently wide river plane. The river flow was significant and the valley was wide with gravel bars sometimes as wide as the river. We fit the river for a short time several times in replices and pending. There were also bushes in the trees that seemed to follow and continue. It was sometimes slow.

Walking with relief on an open flood plane, we met Eric and Neal in Calgary. They were two package beams that were heading upstream to a raven cabin in the headers of the Howse. We were impressed by his adventure and the weight of his entire team. I think they had similar thoughts about our adventure. Only four people who connect on common interests and love for adventure. Truly pleasant people!

There was another Bushwhack after the flood plane. We tired and agreed that we would stop in the first place of descent. With a wonderful view of the valley and the surrounding mountains we call it and set ourselves. Only 10 miles at the Saskatchewan crossing tomorrow.

Day 28

11 miles, 500 ‘, 500’ descent

4 miles beyond the horse camp to Saskatchewan Crossing

The storm last night passed and the stars left at 5 in the morning when I woke up. The morning gave way to a blanket of fog over the river valley.

Our early beginning did not prepare us for the mental challenge of navigating the marshes, water pockets and brush. We open up through the flood plain trying to find an easy step while we maintain a general bearing. We crossed several waters and leaning through many swamps. The air was fresh and my hands were cold in my wet gloves. They flew in my hands when I didn’t need my posts for support or pole jumping.

Finally we arrive at a partial path in the forest leaving the flood plain forever. The wooded path was full of Alders, junctions and spills. Wet vegetation soaked our pants and kept them soaked for at least four miles. We walked as quickly as we could to stay hot.

On the shading of the valley, we rejoice when we saw the sun. The sun pockets warmed us while we were heading to the Malleya River path. Mistaya cut a deep and narrow step through the rock creating a slot like the canyon.

Along the way we sat on the barrier of the path we ate and warmed to the sun. 3 miles of road to Xing were full of campists of all sizes. The summer tourist season was in full.

We had a good lunch in the Parkway pub where we cook our own hamburgers on a grill. The cover had a great view of the mountains and we found a couple of Pennsylvania.

A game room was at home until our room was ready where we dried equipment and washed socks in the sink.

It is a quite big day tomorrow with six days of food on our back to Jasper.