The Passionate Hiker: TOP TEN (6): Through the Rockies

TOP TEN (6)

More than three decades ago, between 1983 and 1987 the Passionate Hiker was busy setting the foundations for his career, and his family, in Alberta, but it didn't stop him from going on a number of exciting adventures in the Canadian Rockies.

Here is the sixth of his selected "Top Ten" trips during that time frame. The narrative comes from his diaries, written at the time. His camera survived its watery journey. Several of the photos come from the original negatives and have never been printed before.

Banff National Park - beside the Bow River

SAT. 15^TH SEPTEMBER 1984:

THROUGH THE ROCKIES – BY CANOE

Background to this Story:

My friend Roger H had some friends visiting from Colombia and they wanted to experience canoeing in the Canadian Rockies. I was invited to join them. It proved to be a hilarious day, racing down the Bow River from Lake Louise towards Banff, not always in control of our canoes.

34 kilometres through the Canadian Rockies on the Bow River

My Diary:

Friday evening Roger H and I meet at Sport Rent to pick up our gear for the expedition. My scepticism that I could not get a canoe on my car roof was not well-founded – the thing sits quite happily on there, strapped down and tied fore and aft. I also decide to go for a wetsuit ($6 rent) and, of course, life jacket.

A clear dawn as we set off towards the mountains in convoy. Roger and his 2 buddies Jimmy and Papas, both from South America, and me. Between Louise and Banff there are two sets of rapids on the Bow River, one just below Louise and the second about 21 miles east of Red Earth creek. In between, the river is rated as 2 “Novice”, which suits us well, none of us being at all experienced!

We leave my car at Red Earth Creek and whizz west along the Bow Valley with 2 canoes on – and in – the station wagon. Our start is the road bridge just east of Louise – with a short portage through a forest cutting in order to put in below the rapids. A family is preparing to start a canoe trip down river with three canoes and a large quantity of supplies.

On the river, sometimes one is close to the road, and at other times the railway line is in sight. For long stretches one is on a ‘river highway’ running between forests with no sign of human life. The river is fast-flowing and mostly not very deep.

For the next 5 hours or so, we tackle various basic lessons and have a couple of ‘incidents’! First Jimmy and Papas manage to capsize and luckily we are ahead of them, and after some exciting moments we succeed in catching the canoe and one paddle. Luckily the day is sunny and warming up, so the guys wring out their wet stuff and we’re on our way again.

But now it’s our turn. Somehow Roger and I both lean to the right at the same time and over we go! Thanks to my wet suit it’s no problem and after a good laugh we empty out the water, climb back in and carry on. As it turns out, this is the last capsize of the day. Our friends, being Latins, however, did put up one or two animated discussions at the tricky sections.

During the course of the day we get friendly waves from tourists in their cars and from the large-truck drivers whizzing west to British Columbia, and from the engine-drivers of the trains hauling grain over the Rockies. As the day proceeds, we start to gain some confidence, although I’m not ready for the Fraser River yet!

The main feature along our journey was Castle Mountain, from various angles – memories of our July struggle in the snow.

Finally we reach Red Earth Creek, just above the second rapids. Our journey, measured later by map, is 21 miles, or 34 kilometres. My main thought is one of surprise that we had been on the river so long and that we had covered such a great distance.

We collect the other car, load up and head out of the mountains. Quite a mess between Sunshine and Banff with the road widening scheme.

A friendly German restaurant at Dead Man’s Flats fills our stomachs. This restaurant is next to the “Grizzly Bar”. A superb day – objective accomplished with great success!

STATISTICS:

Journey Distance = 34 km

Time on River = 5 hrs.