“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power,and magic in it. ” ~ Goethe
July 18
Elk Pass Trailhead to Below Palliser Pass – 19.6 miles
Lucky day! Leslie drove from Banff to our hostel to drive us back to our Trailhead 30 miles away. No hitch-hiking today. Yaaaaaaay Leslie.
The trail wove around Kananaskis Lakes and then climbed sharply up to Kananaskis Pass. A storm quickly moved in with thunder echoing through the mountains.
The top of the pass was glorious and what I have always dreamt the Canadian Rockies would look like.
However, the descent was beyond steep with slippery rocks and dirt. On the way down we talked to 2 hikers that looked super fit with lightweight packs. He asked me if I was Lady on a Rock and that he reads my blog. Crazy to see someone in the middle of Canadian wilderness that reads this website. Thanks Justin!
Soon after… the weather deteriorated with thunder, rain, then pelting hail. I was wet and Why Not was relatively dry because SHE brought an umbrella. I was trying to save weight and left mine at home. Huge mistake on this trail.
Then the bushwacking began with wet overgrowth to my shoulders and above. It continued for a few miles.
We made it to our camp at 9:00 pm. Very late. In Canada it doesn’t get dark until after 10:30 sometime. Who knows? It is always light when I go to bed and when I get up at 5:00 am.
I am hoping tomorrow to get some sun to dry out my wet clothes, backpack, and tent.
This is my kind of scenery!
It was great to meet you both! Enjoy the beautiful scenery and welcome to the Canadian wilderness. That was some storm! Hope you dried off and warmed up.
“The hiking world is a small world.” Wired once told me that after my son (in the Bay Area) met her (while she was visiting her father) and allowed her to use his WiFi. I don’t know how he realized who she was, but he knew I read her blogs. Love the mountain and cloud photos.
You too know Lady on a Rock? Never fails, can’t take you anywhere without being recognized, too funny.
I told you to take the umbrella!
Wow, wow, wow! Those clouds bring the weather that is no fun to hike in, but boy do they ever give the majestic views that extra punch of beauty! You captured the scenes so wonderfully, as always.
I’m so glad you are doing this hike so we can see the gorgeous photos that you post. Hoping you don’t run into any more bad weather. Keep on hiking and smiling in beautiful Canada. We have traveled in Canada twice with our motorhome and it is absolutely a gorgeous country.
That opening photo is just amazing. And the selfie of you two, lookin’ happy!
WOW!! So incredibly beautiful. It makes my heart swell and my feet itch… longing to be out there.
Thank you for sharing this glory with us.