Yoho National Park from Takakkaw Falls August 15, 2003

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Yoho National Park from Takakkaw Falls

 August 15, 2003 - Friday

Me,  L.

25 km round trip

10:00am - 8:00pm

Sunny, Hot

Challenging 

What an amazing hike!  Scenery was beautiful. Stopped just after 3 hours at a Chalet for tea and muffins.  I couldn't believe where I was and what we accomplished.  Not a very busy trail.  I would love to hike here again.  Even just to do parts of it.  

Looking back:  When my friend invited me to join him to hike in Yoho National Park, I had no idea what I was in for.  I had never heard of the place before.  He explained some of it to me and I figured I was in good hands as he was a big hiker and also a police officer.  I did not own a first aid kit, did not even know you should carry one, I don't even know if he had one.  I had just enough food and just enough water, or what I thought was enough.  No one ever told me to take extra.  As we were getting into lots of ascending, he began having breathing issues and needed to stop often.  I became concerned.  He timed his pulse and said he needed to sit for awhile.  I remember he asked to check my pulse, he did then he asked me if I was alive!  Mine was around a resting rate, this was when I was big into long distance running and I then began realizing the benefits of running associated with hiking.   His breathing issues were not issues, I learned that it just goes hand in hand with steep extended ascending for some people.   It was a long day of hiking, I ran out of food and I ran out of water.  On the drive home we stopped in Canmore for some quick fast food and drinks.  Then after that, the highway was closed for awhile because of a fire on both sides of the road.  The firemen and trucks were there putting the fire out and then eventually allowed the traffic to go through.  I remember walking through my front door at 3:00am the next morning.     

view of Twin Falls

 Twin Falls Chalet

 snack break along the way

Buller Pass August 13, 2003

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Buller Pass

 August 13, 2003 - Wednesday

Me,  Y.

7.2 km one way

11:30am - 5:00pm

Sunny +29C

Moderate to Challenging 

What a great hike - once we got started.  We got a little lost and spent more time driving.  Not a busy hike. Saw about 8 people.  Last part on the way there was on scree, steep uphill, windy, very cold but so beautiful.  Looked down onto Ribbon Lake.

Looking back:  Those are Merrell hiking shoes I have been wearing.  There was no thought or even concern given to ankle support.  At this time in my hiking life, I did not know about gaiters for keeping rocks and snow out of your shoes.  I see I am getting ready to throw a snowball!  I embraced hiking in snow early on.    

lunch view with Ribbon Lake down below

along the trail

looking back down at the trail we hiked along

Hummingbird Plume Lookout August 7, 2003

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Hummingbird Lookout

 August 7, 2003 - Thursday

Me,  Y.

12 km round trip

9:30am - 2:00pm

Sunny +25C

Moderate 

A steady climb the whole way. Wide, tree lined path.  Not very scenic but worth it to see Troll Falls and the Lookout.  Ate lunch at the Lookout.  Not keen to do this one again.

Looking back:  These were the years when I was a runner more than I was a hiker.  For hiking  I cherished wearing the 100% cotton race shirts I received in the race packages from the races I entered.  I invested in a real pair of zip off North Face hiking pants.  I thought I was the bomb at the time, never again will I go for baggy hiking pants that are covered in big pockets.     

view from the highway of where the Hummingbird Lookout is

 the Lookout behind me

view of Mount Baldy from our lunch spot at Hummingbird Lookout

Troll Falls

Galatea Lakes August 2, 2003

Documenting Days Gone By

photos are scanned from prints

information is from what I wrote in a journal

Galatea Creek to Lillian Lake to Two Galatea Lakes

 August 2, 2003 - Saturday

Me, D.M., Y.

17km round trip

10:00am - 5:10pm

Sunny +30C

Moderate to Challenging

Great scenery!  I would do this hike again.  It was tough on parts where we had to walk on scree.  The colors of the lakes were beautiful.

Looking back:  Seeing this photo I realize I knew nothing back then.  I remember that shirt and those shorts they were all 100% cotton.  I did not know bear spray existed or that bears even lived in Kananaskis.  And so it begins...sporting pig tails.