Good Friends, Great Hike.

So I am still playing catch up with my summer adventures. Now that the wedding is over and the routine of real life is setting in, I have had some time to reflect on the summers past events. One adventure that took place that I am excited to blog about was my bachelor hike. Just me and my best buds Matt Baik and Mackenzie Caron hiking the mountains of Jasper National Park. Because the two of them had never hiked backcountry before I was excited to show them the ways of the wilderness.  So when the trail I had chosen for the hike was deemed "un-hikable" by the parks office employee, I though "perfect, now we could really get into some rough country!" I want to mention that the reason I decided to go for it was based on the guides assessment. I wasn't just leading two rookie hikers blindly into the wilderness. Also, if things would have gotten to rough I would have most definitely turned the bus around. Her assessment was that some trees were down, their was snow at higher elevations, and also that the bridge to the campsite was washed out. My thoughts on this were; downed trees were nothing we couldn't handle and because I had hiked this pass once before I had already dealt with the snow, so I knew what we were getting ourselves into. I also knew the bridge was right outside the campsite so at worst we could set up camp outside the actual campsite if the water was too high. At best we cross the quick moving stream bare ass, then light the stove and warm our tootsies.

The name of the hike was Geraldine Lakes, a 9Km elevation gaining beast located in Jasper National Park. This hike offered  a lot of rock hoping and due to the high water level usually wet feet. The reason I chose this hike was the payoff and sheer beauty the entire experience. Gaining elevation at such a rapid pace and experiencing so much beauty simultaneously is rarely attained in such a short hike. I knew the boys would love it! We set out about ten am and made great time. We encountered the fallen trees the guide spoke of within the first twenty minutes of the hike. But after some careful footwork and strategizing we were through. We got to the first lake in just over an hour. 

Mackenzie at the first lake.

During our short break at the first lake we took a look up and got our first peek of what was to come.  The guys got really pumped to reach the top, and so they suggested we carry on. Upon reaching the second lake we decided we had better stop to make a little lunch. It was here I found myself reflecting upon our friendships and how much these two guys meant to me. It was here, as we blurted our mindless anecdotes and laughed until our hungover guts hurt that we reconnected. 

Me and the boys! Matt (middle) and Mack (right).

Upon completion of lunch it began to rain, we threw on our rain gear and decided we had better make a push toward the campsite. We moved on and in no time at all we were at the steepest and most difficult section of the hike. A steep shaley scramble, with a considerable amount of elevation gain. At the top of the scramble we were confronted with the snow field that had to be crossed. 

It took some coaxing on my part to assure the boys that they were in good hands and finally after a few minutes of hesitation they followed me across. One phrase I specifically remember being murmured on more that a few occasions was "This is fucking crazy, this is fucking crazy." And although I was laughing inside I made sure to keep a calm voice as I said "you guys are doing great, almost there". In a situation like this where a person is a little unnerved by the terrain they are confronted with the best thing you can do for them is to just send them your positive energy. After that was over and the boys calmed down a little we found ourselves atop the snowbound ridge that would lead us to our final destination of the day, camp.

I knew their would be one more obstacle to overcome before the day was done, the washed out bridge. After tip toeing around a flooded lake trail and enjoying a few more relaxed laughs, we finally made it to the river crossing. Here we found exactly what the guide had adamantly informed us about, a creek crossing with no bridge to be found. We knew what we had to do. After all, we had expected it, and had even gone as far as to discuss how it would be done as we hiked the trail throughout the day. The creek looked fast but not very deep, we estimated around three to four feet. There was also a shallow area directly in the middle that would serve as our rest point if need be. The strategy was set in place and it seemed all that was left  was to do execute! Mack manned up quickly striping down to his fruit of the looms. He charged in full throttle but came screaming back as quick as he had entered! "To cold! to cold!" he Yelped. I knew I would have to give this a go in order to calm the minds of my comrades. So I got nearly naked and took the plunge. I moved out slowly into the fast moving water keeping a wide stance, trying to prevent myself from being swept off my feet and into the cold lake down stream. As I reached the middle of the loud quick rushing water I felt a presence over my shoulder, it Was Mack and he was coming fast and furious! Almost knocking me over as I took my rest at the shallow waypoint he bellowed, "Out of the way this shit is cold!" I laughed and followed his lead, fearing that the big Matt might be right behind me and knock me off my shallow perch. As Mack and I left the water I turned to find Matt, he was right on my heels. He had a smile on from ear to ear even thought the water was bitterly cold. I could tell he was enjoying the adventure. We reached the waters edge to find the carved out trail that led to the campsite was completely submerged in water, so we kept on moving bare foot and nearly bare ass. 

The incredible view from our campsite. 

That night after the tent was pitched and we had our fill of the finest dehydrated cuisine the laughs and good times continued, until we all laughed ourselves to sleep. The morning came early and once again we were forced to make the hasty river crossing of yesterday. It was still cold and a little higher than when we crossed the night before. But we were eager to hit the trail and get home. So we crossed with conviction making the rushing creek feel more like a mere puddle jump. After reaching dry land we put our pants and boots back on, dropped our heads and aimed for home. 

These guys were incredible to hike with and I am grateful for the opportunity to do so. My only question to Mack and Matt now is what's next!

Overnighter Rating:  5 out of 5 Stars

Payoff:                    5 Stars

Scenery:                  5 Stars

Overall Experience   5 Stars

Geraldine lakes has been and remains to be my favourite overnight backcountry hike. With its incredible views and endless potential for exploration it continues to hold a special place within my heart. The first time I hiked it was with my wife a few years back. This is when I initially fell in love with it. I would like to make another trip to Geraldine and stay two nights in the backcountry, in order to explore the ridge that you view to your right while hiking the lake side approaching the campsite. I believe that by summiting this ridge a view of Mount Edith Cavell may be possible. 

Hiking Mount Stearn

Today my wife Kate and I hiked Mount Stearn. It is an easy little day hike that is located near Grande Cache, Alberta, Canada. The Mount Stearn hike is part of the "Passport to the Peaks" program, a program that Grande Cache tourism has put in place that enables hikers to track and record the completion of their hikes within the area. Personally I find the program also gives the hiker a greater sense of achievement upon reaching the many regions summits. I will elaborate further on the program in a later post.  Basically how it works is you summit a peak you get a stamp in your "passport", get all the stamps, and your awesome!

Mount stearn trail head is located a few km's up the sulphur gates road which is an easy road to find, only a short distance north of Grande Cache. Look for the small gravel pit directly across from the sulphur gates turnoff, and the distinct blue sign that marks the "Sulphur Gates" road. When you get to another small gravel pit slow down because the trail head is coming up. Park in the parking area to your left and you will see the distinctly cut trail traversing the side of the hill directly across the road.

The length of the hike is apparently debatable, due to the fact that the sign at the trail head states 6.5 km's one way while the Passport to the Peaks book declares it as 8.5 km's one way. My opinion on this is that because the approach to the summit is a scramble a variety of routes can be chosen, therefore the actual distance could definitely vary. For about the first 5 km's of the hike you are below tree line. It's also worth mentioning that you pass two small camp areas that look great for a winter camp! Although you are in the trees for just about two hours you gain elevation relatively quickly, making for a great payoff once you get up and out of the trees. Once up and out you hike a beautiful meadow that is periodically marked with pink survey tape. After a short trek through the meadow you will notice the tape will mark the turning of the trail. Follow the tape left, this is where the trail and tape disappear. Stay right and begin the accent up a wide ridge. Follow this ridge to the top where it will dip and then begin to rise again. From here if you look to your right you will notice a knoby summit. Look hard and you will spot a small figure that is the mailbox that holds the passport stamp. This is your final destination. After dipping down the ridge and back up you will come to a short rock face. Find an easy spot to scramble up, (their are a few), and then its a short walk to the left to reach the top. Boom! your done.

Using this route our ascent took us, and our border collie Jasper, just over three hours.  I would say that it could defiantly be done a little quicker, we had some intense wind and the initial stages of a storm that slowed us up just before reaching the summit. Coming down took an hour and forty five minutes. In total this hike took just under six hours, that includes the half hour lunch and Jaspers numerous squirrel chasing tangents that I had to intervene upon.

                                                         Getting the Passport Stamped on the Summit!

When all is said and done I give this day hike 3.5 out of 5 stars on my day hiking scale. The payoffs are always great on these Grande Cache for the simple that you always summit. Also the excitement of the peaks program always gets me pumped to hike in the Grande Cache area. But because the Rocky Mountains are only just beginning in this area of Alberta, spectacles that up the payoff and overall experience such as towering mountains and glaciers are absent from the experience. These are the factors that drop the hikes grade for me As for a return trip, I would probably do this again with someone who hasn't done it before or like I said earlier, as a short winter overnighter. In the end I would have to to say, "I got my passport stamped and I am moving on to bigger and better things".

I will be posting more hikes that I have done throughout the past in later posts, so check back for more info! Also a Mountain Addict website is in the works! This site will go into greater detail on my adventures, so stay tuned because that should be up and running soon!

Here is a link to trail peak a credible websites that I use and consider valuable resource during the planning phase of my hikes. This is there review of the Mount Stearn hike.

http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Mount-Stearn-near-Grande-Cache-AB-6112