Wow! It has been a while since we have been able to update our blog. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of logistics, adventure, hard work, good weather, bad weather, fast water, slow hiking, and a huge sense of achievement! As we look back through our journals of the past weeks, it begins to blend together, but a few big moments really stick out in our minds.
The climb through HowsePass began with a great deal of trepidation. We prepped our gear for the big trek at a campsite with a beautiful view on the Blaeberry road. This might be the only portage we ever do where avalanche probes, beacons, shovels, and snowshoes are necessary. We were visited by a wonderful couple, Chris and Sue, who gave us a great deal of help when we realized we were missing a critical bolt for one of our expedition carts, a necessary tool on the upcoming portage.
As we hiked toward the pass, we were confronted with washouts, avalanches, and rockslides across the road; making the once thought easy leg of the portage more challenging than expected. When we arrived at the David Thomson trail head which crosses the first pass over the Rocky Mountains near BanffNational Park, we were excited, but anxious about the days ahead. Progress was already slow, and was about to get much slower!
The first day on the trail, we hiked for 8 hours, with three canoes, and made a whopping 3 km. That night we discussed and planned the rationing of our food just in case our progress remained slow. We had planned to conquer 15 km that first day.
The snow on the trail became soft and almost impassable without injury and frustration in the afternoon sun, so we began the subsequent days before sunrise while the ground was still frozen. We decided to break up into two groups; one group carries packs and gear in two trips, and one group to carried the canoes. Our progress improved significantly, and we made it 8 km solo portaging the canoes. We found it was much easier to maneuver the canoes through the trees this way, and despite the hard work, our elation at the improved progress kept our spirits high!
For me, the next day was tough. Until this point, the trail was only slightly inclined, following the river, so I were surprised when the trail seemed to go straight uphill, away from the river. I was hanging at the back of the group, feeling sluggish, and still unsure if we even had found the right trail. I always found it entertaining how a person’s brain acts in that situation. I found myself gaining resentment towards the group, sure we were going the wrong direction, pretty convinced that this could not possibly be the trail, and that if it was, there was no way I could carry a canoe up this steep mountain, so that canoe was going to live right there at that campsite forever, and I’d better find a tree to use to build a new canoe. All of a sudden the group stopped, me still in my sad state, and Ross announced, ever so calmly, that we were over the pass! I was in disbelief, and realized how silly I was being. We climbed back down for the canoes, and with a packed trail, knowing the length of the climb, round two was much easier! Once we made it over the pass with the canoes, the day got better and better! We slid the canoes downhill, crossed the border into Alberta, and found HowseRiver flowing east!!! It was a great feeling, lining the loaded canoe downstream, after 22 days of portaging, at a beautiful mountain river, surrounded by the gorgeous Conway mountain range. These moments quickly became trip highlights for the group.
We carried on downstream until we met up with the North Saskatchewan River which brought a new color to our waterway! We celebrated our arrival and were greeted at Sask Crossing by the Ringhams with shrimp, steak and vegetables! At this point, our wonderful help over the pass, Kirby, Chelsey and Ben, left us, and it was sad to see that bit of our team go. We took a couple days of rest and also received a surprise visit from Whitney’s parents, who brought us souvlaki and steaks for lunch! We were eating like kings!
So far, the North Sask has been very fun. Navigating the fast water was a little nerve racking the first few days, but as we got more comfortable in our boats and with our partners, we learned to enjoy the ride. Unfortunately, our last days in the mountains were fog and rained over, so we missed the foothills, and before you knew it we were in the prairies! <Steph>
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