I am so thankful for this beautiful…
July 23
Sunshine Village to Egypt Lake Shelter – 8.7 miles
FYI. If you plan on backpacking in Canada’s National Parks, hikers are required to camp in Pre-reserved campsites. They are not easy to arrange and most of the time they are full. 🙁
I know this is the way it is here, but for me it just takes the adventure right out of backpacking and thru-hiking. I not only don’t like to be told where I have to stop for the night but also do not like to setup in a campsite with lots of people. It is just like primitive car camping every night. I am not adjusting well. I need an attitude adjustment, I know. Our mileage per day is all off, really off.
On the other hand, it is the price to pay for the beauty and preservation of all this wonderment. Having a pit potty in the camping area is nice though.
So I am through venting.
I really do not have a lot of experience with camping in shelters. Why Not does. She was super helpful in showing me the ropes, like protecting my gear from possible rat poop and sealing up and hanging my backpack and food. She knows stuff.
The hike was gorgeous today all on groomed trail with lots of day hikers. We passed into Kootenay National Park.
The campers in our shelter are friendly, interesting, and fun. It is like a giant slumber party.
Good night readers. Sweet dreams.
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Just beautiful there. I remember when our four kids were little, I booked a campsite in San Simeon on the beach. We were used to rugged car camping, 4-wheeling to a spot in the woods and setting up anywhere. When we got to the beach site, my husband wouldn’t get out of the car when he saw how close we were to others, and there were no trees, cement sidewalks and grass. It took him 30 minutes to settle into the idea. We still laugh at that. 🙂
I do understand the sort of regimented hiking that the permit system results in. I think Wired went through this last year. Hoping you can get your rhytm going and it’ll smooth out for you.
The wildflower photo!!!!!
Yeah the permit system is a real pain. But I have now embraced it. My turning point was backpacking the 1st half of the JMT a few years ago and last year backpacking around Mammoth and heading to Bishop to backpack the North Lake South Lake route with a slight detour up to Merriam Lake. Too many people do not follow Leave No Trace principles. There was toilet paper everywhere and I mean everywhere along with human feces and feminine hygiene products. And campsites were everywhere including so many spots within 15 feet of lakes and rivers. I don’t want my precious Rockies to end up looking like that and if our permit system will prevent it then I will totally support it. I love your blog and pictures and I hope when this crappy heat and humidity ends you will feel differently. After all the reservations are only required in the very popular areas. I really want you and Nancy to love my Rockies and the GDT.
Different perspectives sure are interesting. I’m Canadian and it wouldn’t occur to me to feel entitled to pitch my tent wherever I wanted in our beautiful, precious, fragile wilderness.
I’ve never backpacked in the US. You can turn up at super popular spots like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon and camp wherever you want?
Hello Charlie, I am spoiled rotten I know. In some areas of the Grand Canyon you must have a campsite reserved, Yosemite no, Yellowstone yes, Glacier in the US yes, but the most of the other wilderness areas wild camping is allowed even along the famous John Muir Trail. In the last case Leave No Trace principles are very important and camping in an area that already has a place for a tent is stressed. We do have quotas for the number of hikers going into a trailhead each day. Each area is a bit different.
I’m sorry the rules have been a difficult situation. However, you photos are so gorgeous. Thank you for sharing them.
The trail and the views look amazing, but I agree that the camp situation, not so much. I’m sorry you could only get in a few miles because of the regulations…hopefully it won’t be for too many nights!