Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
6th - 9th June 2010
So this is my second Suntrel/Intrepid trip on the travels and this one was a 2 week exploration of the Canadian Rockies. This blog will be split into 3 parts as it was such a huge trip it would take forever to write on one blog. So starting off in Wells Gray National Park and Mt Robson still in BC.
Day 1: Started the trip and the long drive up towards Wells Gray, 1st day meeting everyone else in the group and they were a pretty cool bunch of people, around 8 of us plus our guide Clayton. We started off on the long drive up towards Wells Gray first stopping off at Kamloops for grocery shopping and there we were split into 2 teams: Team A and Team 1 which later came something different. After that began our fixation with a certain coffee chain called Tim Horton's from which I'm sufferering withdrawl symptoms at this moment. Anyway, so we arrived at our base for the next 3 nights at a Ranch near Clearwater, got shown our cabins, settled in and then set up our group camp. There was also another Suntrek trip group running alongside us and they too were here for 3 nights. Shelter was put up to shield from the rain and relentless attacks by effin mozzies, campfire was, we just chilled that night and heard about Clayton's haunted tent called Patches..
Day 2: The next day we were up early and taken on a small trail to a waterfall which I forgot the name of but it was a nice walk. Walked right down to the bottom and got near it while Antjens was the only one who went right underneath. Back to the ranch for lunch and then it was time to pack up for the overnight canoe trip. Both groups came along with our guides and the ranch guide called Frank. On the way we stopped off at another waterfall, smaller than the previous days but the river feeding it is a class 5 or 6. Basically don't go in it or you don't come out. We arrived at the docks for the canoeing and unloaded onto the canoes and set off towards our campsite. After getting used to trying to paddle a canoe which I found hard and annoying as I'm more a kayaker we slowly made our way across Clearwater Lake which was just beautiful. Rain was looking an option and I was a bit chuffed when we arrived at the site to unload. Tents went up, sleeping bags etc went in, time to explore the camp and then time to cook dinner and watch attempts at making a fire. Again, lots of chilling out, talking among both groups, drinking and taking it all in.
Day 3: Up early for breakfast and then had to prep for decamping and packing up the canoes. This time I was steering and I was getting pretty pissed within 30 minutes as I couldn't get the strokes right but thanks to Evan the other group guide I managed to calm down and get the hang of canoeing and the feel of it. Complete with my shoulder literally on fire I managed to get Delia and I back to the main dock ready to unload plus we didn't get there last so that was cool. On the way back from the canoe trip we stopped off at the 4th largest waterfall in Canada the Helmken Falls which was pretty impressive. These are the cover photo for this blog. The viewpoint was way up but you would be quite glad they were and we did a little experiment staring at the falls which then brought in one of the keywords of our trip Mushrooms!! On the way back we also had our first sighting of a bear or shuld it be 2. Mummy bear and Baby Bear. Once we were back at the ranch, some of the others went horseriding or hiking, I just hung around, sorted stuff, chilled with Adam, Sara and Faye from the other group and took a well needed shower. Everyone started to arrive back, most of the other group went off and ate at the ranch while our group stayed by the fire and had Chilli. Headed off to the ranch bar for a couple of beers, then back to camp before we made a fire without the guides and both groups came together to talk which came to be one of the funniest nights on the trip. I'll remember that one for a while.
Day 4: Mount Robson was our destination for today. We packed up and got going along the road. We said bye for now to the other group as they were going onto Jasper a day earlier than us. We hit the road and once we arrived at Mount Robson, we arrived at the Mount Robson National Park sign where we all jumped on and took the usual group shot before moving onto camp. We got to the campsite, pitched the tents and started to get organized. At that moment I looked up and saw a Black bear 6-8 foot away from me. So shouted at the bear and he turned around and padded off so that was pretty intense and cool. As we were eating lunch, we heard a bad crunch and it wasn't good. Only when we left for a hike we realized how bad it was, don't want to go into much specifics but it ended up closing down traffic coming into the campsite. Not nice but it did come part of the trip. Then took a hike towards a couple of beautiful glacial Lakes below Mount Robson (Highest peak in Canadian Rockies). If I remember rightly it was Kinney Lake leading up to Berg Lake. It was absolutely outstanding terrain and Kinney Lake and the river that ran from it was crystal blue. I got some cracking photo's but after we passed Kinney Lake up towards Berg Lake I had to turn back as some muscle in my back decided I couldn't walk any further so me and anto turned around and I limped rather craply back towards the campsite. On the way back we had to go past the accident site which thankfully was just about cleared up but it still was pretty nasty. Arrived back at the campsite and waited for everyone top come back before we had the usual night, food, booze and fire. The campsite was mainly empty and it wa sreally good that there wasn't that many people around at night. This rounds off this first section of the trip in British Columbia before crossing provicial lines into Alberta....
- comments