Adapted from email to family and friends…
Hello!
Sending from the Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre in Kananaskis (the only connectivity available)…
Finished Section B yesterday morning, arriving at Elk Lakes Trailhead. What a funny feeling to be back in the familiar Kananaskis Country having walked from the border!
During the last eight days our feet, hearts, and lungs delivered some of the most incredible views we’ve ever had in the Rockies. Rolling ridges and massive rock walls, mossy meadows and slopes of beautiful wild flowers.
The stretch out of Coleman was ordinary along ATV roads, but took us up to Window Mountain Lake which is easily accessible if you have a car! Then the High Rockies Trail with its orange markers wound its way north (the original trail of the Great Divide Trail). We can’t wait to learn more about this area and explore more in the future. It’s a gem.
This section also delivered the opposite of the weather in the first section! 28C+ made for early morning starts… around 5am we’d get up and be on the trail with a bar for breakfast. Get 10-15km under our belts before the sun got too high. Cold oats for brekky at a creek and onward. Our bucket hats filled with water made for cooler walking too.
The biggest day was 1600m+ elevation and 30km+. It was a monster that happened to be on the first day of higher temps. But we stayed true to our plan, as making that day shorter would have just dominoed the effort into following days.
The last two days we met a few other GDT hikers: a guy from Denmark and two solo Canadians. Nobody asks what you do for work or why you’re on the trail, it’s usually a quick “Where are you from” before launching into tales of the conditions or wildlife or ailments.
On the foot front (because you’re all dying to know haha not!) all our blisters have cleared up! Polysporin triple antibiotic is some kind of magic lotion. Not only did it help heal our feet but was also good for getting super sticky old leukoplast off of Dikko’s sandals!
It’s been wonderful to receive our resupply from Jess and Simon, who also bought beer and cider and treats including Barbecue Shapes!!! That’s right, those little Aussie crackers that don’t taste like bbq at all but are delicious! We were spoiled and thankful.
Fun facts:
- Number of hotdogs consumed by Dikko after finishing Section B: Four.
- Number of bears seen: Zero.
MSR tent pegs found so far: Three. - Mosquitoes swiped at: Countless.
- Most craved food: Watermelon.
- New thru hiking term learned: Christmas toes.
NOTE: our wifi is slow so new photos may not appear for a while in the album. Sorry!
Next section takes us past the gorgeous Mount Assiniboine and through Banff and Kootenay National Parks.
Onwards!
