To The Mountains I Go: June 2014

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Ribbon Creek

Day Hike
Distance: 8.1 km to Falls one way
Elevation gain: 350m
Time: 6 hours
Difficulty: Easy

Access:
Trans Canada going to Canmore. Take Kananaskis Trail (highway 40). Take a right when you see the sign that says many things but at the bottom it says Ribbon Creek ->. Its the same turn off for Kananaskis Village. Take first left and drive up the parking lot. and there is a trail map to the right near the creek.

Experience:
Before we even started the hike I was guessing that the trail was gonna be closed because last week's hike was closed because of the flood last year, and these creeks are really close to each other. We got there and I was right! The trail was closed and at the start it was completely washed out. So we took a detour. On the trail map there is a link trail to Ribbon creek so we decided to go on it. We followed the trail named Terence Trail to the Link trail which had police tape up blocking the path, but being the rebels that we are we went forward. The trail was pretty destroyed and rough, but it is currently being repaired. We passed a little scooper thing, it scoops dirt, I forget what the actual name for those things are. Anyways we kept going no matter the path because I was determined to see a waterfall!

We followed the orange ribbons so we knew where we going, and then all of a sudden some bikers pass us and we ask them if they could get to the falls. They said that the people haven't repaired it that far yet so no. We decided to go a bit further and ate some food right beside a couple waterfalls. It was really relaxing to just listen to the sound of the rushing water beside us. The rock we sat on was really smooth so it was very comfortable.

We decided that if we couldn't see the big waterfall that we would head back before it got to late. One the way back it sprinkled on us a bit, but it was refreshing because it cooled us down. I noticed that there was a lot of butterflies! They we in swarms in some places! I wasn't having the best day because I was really tired and just angry at stuff, and the rain and butterflies just kept on reminding me that God loves me. It made me get over my grumpiness faster because every time I started getting frustrated there was a little swarm of butterflies to make me feel better.

We got back in a really good time because it was downhill for the last 3km and we had our bikes, so we just cruised down in no time. This hike is one of my favorites and I definitely want to go back when the trail is open again.

Trail Map

See the path ahead? Its not there anymore :(

So many logs and debris

New bridge newly made

Ribbon Creek

An opening. There is a bridge to get across the river ahead. Its to the right

After we crossed the bridge we saw this little guy!

SO MANY BUTTERFLIES!

Pretty little guys

Right above a waterfall!

Another water fall!

The party people of the day!

We stopped here to eat and rest before we headed back. Behind us there is a larger waterfall

Some of the mountains around us

Our guide through the trail. Thank you orange tape!

A happy Momma

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Galatea Creek to Lillian Lake

I would give all the information for this hike but what I saw, there is no possible way to get to Lillian Lake. You can hike for a good hour but then the creek which looks more like a river, washed it and a bridge. So from what I could see there was no possible way to get to the lake. If you still wish to visit. Get onto Hwy 40 and there is a sign that says Galatea to turn right when possible. The trail head is easy to see. Walk down the hill and across the bridges and after the second bridge go left onto a detour trail.

Anyways! Here is my experience!

I was a little iffy about going on a hike today because of the weather but I went anyways! I even got my younger brother Jacob to come with me! Jacob hates hikes to it was really strange that he ended up being the only person who wanted to come. We got out there and first thing we saw was the trail closure sign. I still wanted to check it out so we went onward!

We didnt know where to go because there was no signs and the trail changed so much from when I did it in Young Women's. We went the wrong way but a couple on bikes told us where to go. We got on the trail and got on our way!

We were doing pretty good but each time we crossed a bridge we were getting more and more nervous because the bridges were just getting worse and worse. We came up to one bridge that was missing half of its planks. I felt we could still get across but Jacob was really scared. Really it was quite scary because if we slipped we would be dead. The once creek was now a raging river full of trees and large rocks that was just inches away from the bottom of the bridge. In order to get the courage to get across I offered a prayer that we would be kept safe and have the courage to move forward that God has a bigger plan for us and that he would not let us perish. This helped and I went over first and then I helped my brother across the part with no planks. We then figured it couldn't get any worse so we went on. We walked and the noise of the river rang in our ears. We walked some more and ran into a very washed out part. I crossed and followed the path, or what I thought was the path, and there was nothing. So many trees had fallen and the path was either broken or covered. We looked at the river and we spotted what looked like pieces of a bridge hanging about in the river. This is where we decided to spot and go back. We got back and were proud that we got over our fear of the raging water. We kept on telling the river to "Eat It!" and we would throw some rocks or twigs in the water. It was fun.

We got back and decided to eat some food on a little bench by the river, and then we went on our way. Jacob was crazy and sprinted up the hill to the car, which was pretty steep. It was a good adventure in the end.

The river

The Creek

First bridge

Flood damage

The trail

The scary bridge

No more path

Can you see the pieces of the bridge in the river?

Selfie!

The thinker :P

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Moose Mountain Moo

Day Hike
Distance: 6.5km (up)
Elevation gain: 473m
High Point: 2437
Time: 5-6 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

Access:
Go to Bragg Creek. Turn left at the main stop sign onto Cowboy Trail (hwy 22). Then at the next big stop sign take a right onto hwy 66. Follow that road and the turn off is the first right after Patty Flats onto Moose Mountain Road (there is no signs). Then climb your way up the dirt road, and there will be a parking lot on the right right before you hit a gate to the sour gas station.

Experience:
My original plan was to go to Paradise Valley and Giant Steps with my family for father's day, but then my Dad couldn't come so we changed our plan last minute to Moose Mountain. People then changed their minds, and it ended up just being Mom and I going on the hike. Mom was a bit nervous at first because she didn't have a strong man to protect her if there was trouble, but that soon went away when we got there.
We got out of the van and there was a lot of vehicles up there! There was no one to be seen so we tried to find the right way to go, and we found the sour gas station (which is the wrong way) and then we went down a deer trail. At first it looked well worn, but as we kept on following this random trail we got lost. The path was getting less and less noticeable, then all of a sudden we appeared at a large trail that was well used. It was a relief to see the actual trail in front of us. We then got on our merry way!
The trail starts off flat and then it goes down for a bit. Its kinda steep but not too bad. Then the trail has a slight incline for a long time. This part was super easy! Mom and I both just forgot how long we were hiking till we came out of the trees and saw the flat before the first hump. We stopped at the bottom of the first hump because it was going to be a steep rocking climb to the top. We ate some food, and took some pictures here because it was beautiful. There was lots of wild flowers growing out of the moss.
The climb up the first hump seemed short and we also thought it was the top of the entire mountain, but as we seemed to have kept going up we landed on top of the hump. From there we could see the real top with the forestry lookout on top. We debated whether or not to go up it, and we both decided we could at least try it. So we started our adventure up the second hump. It is steeper and narrower than the rest of the hike, and I think a lady that was coming down could tell I was debating if I could even make it so she came over to me and said the easy way to go and "It is very doable, and the view is worth it." With her encouragement Mom and I tackled the second hump very slowly because it was a bunch of loose rock and it was steep! We also had to go through some snow which is always fun.
We made it to the top! We said we would try and there we were! At the top! We got up and there was a very nice picnic table, and higher up there is the helipad, guest book, and the hut! There was an actual person in the hut. We also signed the guest book! I took a picture just to prove it, and then we sat on the helipad and ate a delicious sandwich. There a lot of people on the hike, and it just so happened that the people we were sitting next to brought a bunch a beer up just to get a little tipsy while on top of a mountain. Aren't they the smartest people in thee entire world! We didn't want to stay to long so we left because it was starting to rain! All the signs we had read said to not be out of the tree line if there was a thunder storm, so for good measure we hurried out of the rocky area back into the trees. Moose mountain has been known for getting thunder struck quite a bit if you didn't know.
We were starting to get really tired by now, but we were off the humps and on our way back to the van. We did our Zombie walk, and made it back in good time! It took us 3 hours to get to the top, and it took us 2hours and 15min to get back.
I gave this hike a difficulty of Moderate because the flat part was really easy and the length wasn't to bad. It was just the humps that were quite difficult. If you are a new hiker this hike is awesome because you can get to the bottom of the first hump and still have a nice view. This hike has to be one of my favorties so far because it has nice views, but it is also very friendly to dogs, bikes, and chubby people (me :P).