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Introduction Phil, Phil'sSon, and Eugene (the traveling gnome from Tennessee) flew from Los Angeles to Vancouver for a fabulous trip to British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies and tremendous views of glaciers, snow fields, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and mountains. Hodgeman met us at the airport in Vancouver on August 5 and the adventure began. We eventually met up with Canadians: Shaggy, TrailFlower, TheHiker, DelSol, and TrailBum for a great trip in the Yoho Valley and Little Yoho Valley areas of Yoho National Park in British Columbia. 
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| A Glossary of Canadian Rockies
Hiking Jargon: Flat Trail - Trail is uphill with at least 5% grade Easy Trail - Trail is uphill with at least 5% grade Slightly Uphill Trail - Trail is uphill with at least 10% grade Easy Switchbacks - Trail switchbacks uphill with at least 15% grade Uphill - At least 20% grade uphill Steep - 30% to 100% grade. (suggestion: use the stairs kicked in next to the trail by previous hikers.) Downhill - Uphill (downhill is not defined in the Canadian Rockies. All trails are uphill) Biffy - Toilet, latrine, head, kybo Backpacker (not in bluejeans) - Highest order of human being. Superior to all other life forms. Always deserves the right-of-way. Backpacker (wearing bluejeans) - pseudo-backpacker who probably sleeps with food in their tent. Most likely strayed away from the Red-Green film set or one of the Prairie Provinces Day Hiker - Inferior life form taking up space on the trail and upsetting the balance of life Lodge Guy - Person who dreams about or actually stays at lodges, huts, or tea houses instead of in a tent. With proper encouragement a "lodge guy" could become a "lodge worker" as a transitional life form. Chateau Guy - Similar to a lodge guy, but with money coming out of his ears Pasta - pasta (but pronounced wrong) Privacy Moment - polite way of saying that someone has disappeared from the trail to relieve themselves Eh? - Canadian expression roughly equivalent to "ya know?" in the states.
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| Friday, August 5 - Flew from
Ontario International Airport near Los Angeles to Vancouver. Hodgeman met
us. After dropping off our gear at his place in Port Coquitlam, we went
out for some awesome fish and chips at the wharf. Yummy! Don't forget the
malt vinegar!
Saturday, August 6 - Met up with Shaggy and TrailFlower at their home in Langley and piled into their Ford Expedition. TrailFlower liked Eugene! Drove to Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park where we stayed at the Glacier Park Lodge. Visited the train museum in Revelstoke along the way. Great museum and definitely worth the stop. Enjoyed some time in the pool and hot tub. After our swim we devoured the buffet dinner at the lodge.... what a spread. Phil'sSon really liked the carved beef feeding frenzy. The search for a maple leaf began, as well as Eugene's fantasy affair with TrailFlower.
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| Sunday, August 7 - After a
great buffet breakfast at the lodge, we drove to Yoho National Park
picking up more souvenirs along the way. Still couldn't find a maple leaf
for Eugene. We hiked in 300 meters from the parking lot to our first
campsite at Takakkaw Falls Campground. 300 meters is a great way to ease
into a week long hike.... not too short.... not too long.
Hiked a short distance to Takakkaw Falls where were all took entirely too many pictures. The falls were spectacular. "Tak Falls" is fed by melt from the Daly Glacier, which is a finger of the Waputik Ice Field. Glacier melt contains silt which makes the river water a pale blue. Glacier water is cloudy and looks different than snow melt. Likewise, the lakes fed by glacier melt are more green than blue and very beautiful. Not long after we got to the campground, TrailBum showed up. Not long after that TheHiker and DelSol also arrived. Our group was complete. Eugene began to sense that he would like to get to know TrailFlower a little better. Monday, August 8 - Hiked 6.6 km to Twin Falls Campground. Campgrounds in the park have pit toilets, picnic benches, and bear poles (for hanging our food up high)!!! Awesome! After setting up camp we day hiked 2.7 km toward Yoho Glacier. We got some great views of the old glacier field and the Yoho River. Back at camp Phil met some nice people from Saskatchewan. Passing hikers seem to be amused that Eugene is along on the trip. Eugene and TrailFlower continue to get acquainted. Continued..... |
Yoho 2005 
