Mt Assiniboine 2006  

Our plan was to spend 7 days backpacking in the core area of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. Two weeks prior they were still having summer weather but an organized system rolled through and left about 18" of new snow on our route :-)

After a couple of days traveling through some breathtaking scenery, standing on huge glaciers and dancing with elk, we arrived in Banff.

Elk on the Icefields Parkway

Grizzly Track near Camp

The trail was pretty easy going through the meadow areas, and the snow wasn't very deep so we made good time.

After reaching the lake and pitching camp, we went for a bit of a day hike up the ridge behind the lake. That's where we encountered the large bear tracks for the first time. Near the top of the ridge there were so many tracks it looked like a critter freeway. Obviously a herd of something had moved through the area, probably Bighorn Sheep.

While we were on the ridge we noticed three hikers pulling in from up the trail. We circled high and then dropped back down to the trail and continued back down to Howard Douglas Lake. The three hikers had just encountered a Griz on the trail, rolling in the snow right in the middle of the trail. They had hiked around it just minutes before arriving at HD Lake.

We visited with the other hikers during meal prep and were treated to a most excellent star show that night.... the last clear skies we would see for a while ;-)

Traveling through Golden Valley and Valley of the Rocks, we catch our first glimpse of Mount Assiniboine.

After what seemed like endless ups and downs through Valley of the Rocks, this puppy was way beyond tired and hitting the wall, so we opted to stay at Og Lake... approx. 4 miles short of our intended goal.

After setting up camp at Og Lake and snapping a few photos, we started dinner. It began to sprinkle a bit so Hodgeman set up the tarp. We enjoyed our Thermarest chairs and our nightly campfire (candle lantern), before turning in.

Reflection on Og Lake

Visitor at Camp

We dropped off the Nub on the Elizabeth Lake trail. The Larch trees are incredible in September... electric green and gold! After taking a break at Elizabeth Lake to enjoy some genuine Double Stuff Oreos®, we continued on a trail taking us past Cerulean Lake, Sunburst lake and back to Lake Magog.

When we got back to Lake Magog, Miss Boine was showing her face and the surface of the lake was calm, so we headed down to the lake shore for some reflection shots. Well after the photo shoot with Miss Assiniboine, we made our way back up to camp and enjoyed a calm evening. No tarp tonight, just hanging out in the open air with our trusty campfire under glass. After dinner we noticed a visitor in camp. Although there were probably lulls in the conversation I don't remember any. We always seemed to have plenty to talk about. Were your ears ringing??? LOL! Later in the evening we had a visitor after dark. With the headlamps illuminating the area where the sound was coming from we notice a very large rabbit or hare. We just laughed.

On our way to Wonder Pass there were waterfalls, Naiset huts and a ranger cabin. As we continue up towards Wonder Pass we reach Gog Lake. When we reached Wonder Pass the weather was building and the clouds were resting heavy on the peaks obscuring what would have been a grand view. So we head back down towards the Mount Assiniboine Lodge following the trail through a Larch Forest. As we near the lodge the helicopter is landing with new lodge guests. We pause at a trail intersection to watch all of the activity.

We stop by the main lodge, pick up a brochure and take a peek inside. We were too early for tea time, so we head back to camp for a while. After hanging around camp a while it's finally tea time! The public is welcome at the lodge for afternoon tea and cakes. Mmmm.... Hodgeman tells me that you can substitute tea for beer, wine or soda.... Kewl ! Well let's just say we started having "a bit of weather" while we were hiking the mile or so back up to the lodge. The kind of weather that travels sideways on an angle.... LOL! 

Through the Larch

Cabin at Assiniboine Lodge

Back in the breezeway, we got back into our rain gear and headed back to our camp. The snow was coming in on an angle... big wet flakes that just stuck to my rain gear. I looked down and my rain gear was solid white! Walking talking snowman :-)

None the worse for wear we arrive back at camp... dinner under the tarp tonight :-) That ice cold Coke was very nice with dinner!!! 

After a little discussion we decided to go ahead as planned. Today's destination was Porcupine Camp, a much lower elevation in the trees where we could have a fire. That turned out to be the perfect decision. I stowed my camera for this portion of the hike not wanting to expose it to the "bit of weather" we were having. Hodgeman took several photos along this section of trail.

By Hodgeman - Okay, so we pack it up wet and snowy to set off for Porcupine, down at the head of the Simpson Valley. It's about 700 feet lower than the trail we came in on, so maybe that will get us out of the weather a bit.

The sun tried to burn through as we started out and I thought WindWalker might get the camera back out. It actually looked like it might clear up as we turned for the meadow trail back toward Og Lake. But as we neared Og, we were heading back into the clouds. A pika greets us at the Valley of the Rocks and so does the snow. Finally a chance to dry out and warm up at Porcupine Camp.

That fire at Porcupine Camp warmed me through and through!!! Finally got a chance to dry my socks out thoroughly :-) We stayed up all the way to midnight that night.... LOL!

WindWalker at Porcupine Camp

WindWalker & Hodgeman

At Citadel pass we had a snack or two and soaked in the views. We were greeted upon our arrival by a little chipmunk. After hanging around on the pass for a while, we head toward today's destination Howard Douglas Lake... our last camp on this trip.

Back at Howard Douglas Lake, tomorrow we leave the backcountry. So on this last afternoon I went nutz with the camera ;-)

We met a hiker from Calgary here on our last night, who had brought in lots of fresh food. He shared fresh rolls, dill pickles, hot chocolate, etc. with us. I must say, it was very good after a week in the backcountry. We were also treated to another amazing star show here at Howard Douglas Lake!

The next morning we hiked out and met the shuttle by 10AM. Thanks to the Hodgeman for a wonderful trip.... The Trip of a Lifetime!!!