Elbow Lake Backpack July 17-19 2018

I have been to Elbow Lake so many times on the way to and from places like Piper Pass, Rae Glacier,  Tombstone Lakes, Rae Lake, Tombstone Pass.   On the way back from these hikes when we arrived back at Elbow Lake late in the afternoon or very early evening, I tried to prolong leaving because I liked it here so much.   I always wondered what it would look like here at sunset and sunrise.  I have all the time in the world now so I put a plan in place to witness these occurrences.  

Accomplishing this would mean a short solo backpack trip for two nights.  From the Parking Lot to the Elbow Lake Backcountry Campground is only about 1.4 kms with around 150 meters of cumulative elevation gain.  The hike up almost feels like the angle of a slash  / .  I was a bit apprehensive carrying everything on my back by myself.  I got my pack on my back, I wobbled a bit, got my balance, put my head down, did not stop, did not look up until I got to the Lake.  

I wanted to do this so I could have time to do just this!

I picked a campsite and set up my home away from home for two nights.  I got the tent up and as I began to set up the guide above it, three teenage boys from the next campsite scurried over.  They had a little time to pass before vacating their site so took over getting the guide up.  They were from France, Mexico and Germany and were on a guided camping trip heading next to the Icefield Parkway.

It was early afternoon and very hot.  I sauntered around Elbow Lake and then sat by it for quite some time watching two guys fishing and paddle boarding.  Afterwards I joined them as they made a fire and cooked their meal before leaving for the day.  They were fortunate to have the day off work so made the best of it.

same spot but now into the later evening

I strolled around waiting for sunset but was not successful in witnessing that.  My eye lids got heavy and I needed to get into my home away from home for the night.  It was a hot evening so I left both outside doors open to let air pass through.

I was successful in seeing the sunrise the next morning.

After enjoying the sunrise, my coffee and then breakfast, I changed my attire and went for a stroll.  

I walked around the Elbow Lake shoreline....

....then followed the Big Elbow Trail towards Tombstone area.  I ventured off trail here and there, up onto rolling hills and into wide open meadows.  It was early and the light was beautiful.  I made loads of noise to let anything or anyone know I was in the area.

I went as far as the Tombstone Overlook and could see down towards the Tombstone Campground and yes it is closed and under construction.  On the way back I went into see the Edworthy Falls.  I knew they were there but when hiking out this way, we just passed on by.  

This was the first view of Edworthy Falls.

 I worked my way down to the bottom...

...then invested a little time here.

As I arrived back to my home away from home, I could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.  

Full darker clouds were developing and the wind picked up.  

I changed into warmer wear and kept my rain pants & jacket close by.  

It was time to get a fire going and just hang out.  Some neighbours joined in.

As dinner time approached it began to rain so I headed off to the cooking/dining area where there is loads of shelter.  I joined a son/father/grandfather trio for dinner and enjoyed their fire.  Others joined in and we had quite a gang, with great conversation. The rain stopped and the sky cleared but it remained cool.

After dinner then after fire time, my eye lids got heavy and I needed to get into my home away from home for the night.  It was a cool night so I made sure both outside doors were closed up.  Once again, I missed the sunset but I caught the sunrise the next morning.

some sights from the 3 days

After admiring the sunrise, then enjoying my coffee by the Lake, and savouring breakfast, I dismantled my home away from home.  I took time to make sure I got everything neatly and properly packed back into my pack.  I got my pack on my back, I wobbled a bit, got my balance then headed on down to the parking lot.  I made it!

This was a learning and growing experience for me.  I carried more weight than was necessary but still managed fine.  But, it was a short easy trip.  Rain or shine, with the right gear I could be comfortable at all times.  The backpacking people are very friendly and inclusive.  Recognizing that I was solo, they were so willing to lend a hand and extend invitations.   I will admit, I feel somewhat proud that I went through with this and came out the other end having pushed my comfort zone a little further out.  That's what I call success!

Life Flows at Floe Lake

I have owned my backpacking gear for 19 months now, all the while waiting and having faith that my stars would align and a right time would come when I could put it to use and experience a true backpacking adventure.  I have hiked, car-camped and snowshoed into an Alpine Hut now it was time to just let life flow onto the next step and that would be to combine the knowledge gained from these three types of adventures into a two day backpacking  trip to Floe Lake in Kootenay National Park.

I was both nervous and excited at the trail head.  I didn't know what to expect.  I do better when I have an idea of what I am in for.  Right away the views distracted me from the nervousness and built up the excitement.  The fireweed was at its peak in pink!

I found the ascent challenging carrying a heavy pack that weighted in at approximately 38 to 40 pounds.   In sections the trail was narrow and angled and deteriorating away.  Twice the ground gave way beneath my foot and I went down but I was not injured.  That was all worth it when we finally got to see Floe Lake emerald in color at the base of The Rockwall.  

After viewing the Lake, we went in search of a place to call home for the night.  

Our tent pads were surrounded by wild flowers.  

After setting up camp, relaxing, having a drink then dinner, we checked out the area.  

We found the warden patrol cabin.

 A few icebergs were still floating in Floe Lake.

We were in bed early, with plans of getting up to watch the Persieds Meteor Shower.  At 2:00 am I checked the sky and it was amazing.  I went to each tent to wake up my freinds as they wanted to join me.  We stayed out for about 30 minutes and saw the Milky Way light up the sky and meteors shoot by about every minute.  How lucky were we that our stars aligned for this magnificant show.   I wanted to stay out and watch the show but I wanted to see the sunrise and also be in half decent shape for the 17km hike out in the morning, so I went back to bed for more rest.

I woke like clock work for the sunrise and headed down to the Lake to see what I could see. I caught the beginning of the alpenglow show.   The Rockwall looked so pretty showing off its reflection.

As the sun came up it turned The Rockwall golden!

This certainly was a golden moment to capture!

After taking my sunrise photos, I sat by the lake to have my coffee and reflect on how fortunate I am to be able to experience such an adventure!  I cherished these moments when I owned Floe Lake at such a peaceful time in the morning.

After breakfast and taking down camp, we packed up and hit the trail!  We headed for Numa Pass and on the way there, I kept looking back.  I didn't want to leave!  I took one last look back at Floe Lake seeing bits of the emerald color.

...leaving Floe Lake behind...

...we carried on to Numa Pass...

Numa Pass was such a nice place to be.  The views from here were spectacular.  In the far off distance behind my head, you can see some of the Peaks associated with the Valley of the Ten Peaks.  It was all down hill from here on in and I was so thankful for that.

Once off the Pass, we were into the trees and the views were gone.  So we just concentrated on our foot placement on a rough and rooty trail, where scattered trees were down here and there, trails were washed away and the new ones created were deteriorating away.  The devastation from rain and snowmelt this season was obvious.

We finally reached the Numa Creek Parking Lot and once I dropped my pack, I jumped for joy!  I was glad it was over!  I was grateful to have completed my very first true backpacking trip feeling happy and healthy.  I had such an absolutely, fun, amazing time it made me feel like I was "on top of the world!"  

ESCAPE! DISCOVER! ENJOY!

ESCAPE!

One of the adventures on my to-do list was to go to the Elk Lakes Alpine of Canada Hut.  On my list I didn't get into when I wanted to go, for how long, how I was going to get there, with who, I only knew that I wanted to go!   Check Mark!  I went!  It didn't take long before I began to feel like I had escaped.  Sign after sign proved I was getting further and further away.

We were able to hike until this point but from here on in, it was snowshoe time!  Just one thing, from here on in, it wasn't from here on in.  It was back track then aim for the Hydroline Trail and from there it was from there on in. 

There was much more snow then anticipated and that slowed our pace when we had to break trail.  (Note: This sign was actually taken on the way out two days later in daylight hours.)  Back to on the way in! We had already snowshoed an hour in the dark by the time we reached this sign.  I had snowshoed in the dark before and felt a little wobbly, but with a 42 pound pack on, I felt like a drunken sailor. 

Finally, just over six hours later after leaving the trail head, we arrived at home sweet home!  

DISCOVER!

Discoveries can be good and bad!  The good ones far out weighed the bad ones for me this long weekend!  I love being in new places with child-like wide eyes discovering new mountains, new creeks, new lakes!

I discovered that winter hutting takes work!  On top of trekking in through the deep snow with a heavy pack, I lost count of how many buckets of snow we collected to make water.  I'm sure that if all the logs I brought in to keep home sweet home toasty, were put on top of each other, they would make one of those gigantic B.C. trees.  It was work but work that I didn't mind doing at all!

The discoveries that I did make that were bad were that I had lost my down jacket on the way in (never to be found on the way out) and that when I dropped my camera the last morning some insides broke off (never to be able to work again).  Those are just materialistic things but I still had to have one of those "behind my sunglasses moments" without sunglasses, then carry on with life!

ENJOY!

I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh air, the exercise, the company, the scenery, the Hut!  There were so many reasons to smile and to laugh.  My most favourite moment was on Saturday morning when I got up before the rest and I was sitting on the deck by myself, sipping on my coffee, watching the stars disappear, the sky begin to light and the alpenglow put on a show.

photo by Adventure Designer

An enjoyable part of this adventure was spending looooonnnngg hours in front of the fire.

photo by Adventure Designer
I ESCAPED!
I DISCOVERED!
I ENJOYED!

One of the things on my to-do list is to go to the Elk Lakes Alpine of Canada Hut.  I don't know when I want to go, for how long, how I'm going to get there, or who with, I only know that I want to go back!