The incredible three on a hike

Hey,

already in the bus I realized the still very snowy tops of the mountains around me. Just two days before the last snow come down! And that in June!!! After I arrived in Banff I went to straight in the National Park Information Centre. The information they gave me there was not good. They told me that there is no backcountry hiking possible because of snow right now. But I didn't believe them and so I went up the Sulphur Mountain to get a better view. In my point of view it looked not that bad. Up from 2200 m it started to get snowy. 2500 m seemed to be the limit without special equipement. So I saw a chance for long trip. The problem was just one pass! The Badger pass with 2550m seemed to be the key point at the route.
In the hostel I met Kay from Berlin and Jooseph from Estonia. Together we decided to test what is possible right now. At the next day we went again in the park informattion centre. There we asked for the permits for our trip but we didn't got them because it's not recomended to cross this mountain passes right now. But we all wanted to try our limits and wanted to check out by ourself whats possible for us.
So we went to the grocery store to buy some food. This was my shoping list: 1kg cereals, 500g sugar, 1kg milk powder, 1kg butter, 1kg salami, 500g raisin, 1.5kg chocolat (mhmm!), 1 kg potato powder, 300g cheese, onions and garlic.

At the next day we started from the hostel in Banff. We went to the Skiresort Norquay. There we made our first stop the lift. The backpacks were so heavy and were not used to it. So we wished that the lift is runnig but it wasn't the case :(. Instead we went up the long way in the 40 mile valley. On the the way we always stoped from time to time to rest and put the heavy backpack away. Short before we arrived at the Mystic Lake campground we came in the rain. After this short shower we were lucky to arrive the camp after more than 24 km. But Jooseph and me wanted to see the Lake too which was about 2 more km away. The way to the lake was very snowy. For one way we need 1.5 hours!!! The snow was so deep that we were stucked in it to our knees! It was very hard to walk and the snow came in our shoes so that we got wet feets :(. The Lake was ofcourse stilll frozen. as we arrived back on the campground we were so tired! We made a warm campfire to dry our feets and cook a warm meal. After that we jumped in the sleeping bags.
At the nxt day the weather was very nice. After I enjoed my cereals and my tea to the breakfast we packed our stuff and continued our trek going up the valley. at this time we always had to walk around deep snowfields which covered the trail. At the afternoon we climbed the summit of th valley and came to nice alpine meadow with a beautyful view. After the lunch break with chocolat cheese and salami we went down along Sawback Creek. Very tired we arrived late at Flint's Park our next camp. We set up the tents and made a nice dinner over the camp fire. I ate mashed potatos with salami, onion and garlic. We tried to wash ourself in the river but it was to cold :))) Very tired we fall in sleep.
At our third day we planed to go to check out the Badger Pass. The way along the river and up to a pass was very mudy because of melting snow. It was hard to climb up. On our way we followed Grizzley bear traps in the snow. The bears cross the passes to get down to the valleys in the spring. It was very impressive to see what performance is necessary when so a big and heavy animal is crossing a high pass like that. We crossed a couple of big snowfields which was hard and wet :(. At one we even had to use my rope and some climbing tricks. But finaly we come to the Badger Pass which was covered with a big snowfield. After we crossed this field we were so lucky to made it safe to the top of the pass. We made what everybody told us is impossible. At the Pass we enjoyed the view before we went on a snowy way down. Because it was already late we decided to ste up the camp short behind the pass. We melt snow to cook our dinner and spent the night at 2400m.
At the next morning we went down in the Johnson Creek Valley. We went out to check out already the next pass. But this one was still snowy too. Everybody was tired from the last days. So we decided to make a break. We went to the next campground and enjoyed the sun to tan our tired bodys. We went to the very cold Johnson Creek were Jooseph and me took a bath in the cold water. Fuck was that cold :))) At the evening we cooked our dinner under trees because it was hailing!
At day five Jooseph and me were still hungry for adventure, landscape and hiking. Because of that we decided to cross the next pass. Kay had enough from the snow. This was the reason we went different ways. Kay went back to the hostel. Jooseph and me continued hiking. At an amazing day we croosed the Pulsatilla Pass. At the climb over the pass we had to cross some more snow but at the other side it looked better. We went down the Wild Flower Creek Valley. There we had to cross some streamings of the melting snow. The crossing were not always easy. The streaming was strom and the water deep. But we used all tricks and things like rope, trees, branches,... to come over the water. Unfortunelty Jooseph got wet feets :))). At the same day we went further to the Cotton Grass Pass were we have seen a fantastic sunset over meadows. At the evening we arrived at the still snowy and frozen Baker Lake where we camped this night.
At day six we went over the Cotton Grass Pass. As we arrived at the Red Deer Lackes it was rainy. But this was no problem we set up the fly of the tent as a roof and boiled a nice tea. After the rain stoped we contiuned walking. We went down the Little Pipestone Creek. After these many river crossing we aleady thought: Hopefully we don't have to cross this river because that's going to be impossible. Some Minutes later we got the problem the we came to the Pipestone River. We had to cross it but there was no bridge and so it was impossible. We had a diffcult situation because we could not go south because of the Little Pipestone Creek and could also cross the Pipestone River. So ther were just to ways out. The way back or bushwhacking along the Pipestone River untill this was going to be smaller and slower. I went out and found a very old trail which was not always clear. Anyways we decided to go up a long the River in the hope that these is going to get smaller. It was already late and so we camped illegal at a warden hut. We made a fire to dry josephs shoes and ate beans.
At the next day the weather was beautyful. Unfortunetly Jooseph felt bad because of the beans last evening. We started early and walked up the river on the old path. After a while we came to a meadow where we ate breakfast. As I looked at the other side of the river suddenly I saw a black bear about 75 meter a way from us. This was a fantastic moment to see the bear from safe distance and to watch them. :) Jooseph and me just enjoyed this moment before we continued walking again. Then we came to an other creek which was to cross. Actual not a big deal but we made it to a big one. We tryed to bring the backpacks dry over with my rope. But because they are so heavy my backpack fall in the creek :\. That meant my tent and clothes were wet. How I later realized at least the food stayed dry. I just thought ok at least you are still dry :) But then I dryed to throw Joosephs Backpack over. But because the backpack was also to heavy to throw it over I steped in the river and got wet shoes. Ok Backpack and me were wet. But anyways we had a lot to laugh. :))) The next crossings we managed in underware and barefoot :) Finaly we came to good spot to cross this stupid river and we could continue on the trail. We followed the trail up to the fish lake. There we dryed our things in the sun, set up the tent and cooked our dinner. The valley and the lake has been very nice. we enjoyed the full day with a lot of fun and our first bear.
At our last day we had to cross the North Molar Pass which was higher than the Badger Pass. I was worry because of that because I know that ther was no real other way out. As we came to the 2590m high pass it sart to rain and later even to snow!!! We crossed some more snowfields but as we came to the last one it was more ice than snow. That meant for us we could'nt walk on it because it was to slippery. Because of that we scrambled around at a very stepy wall which was not without risk too. Finaly we made over the snowy pass. The which left was easy. We went down from the North Molar Pass in the Mosquito Creek Valley. The way lead us over a alpine meadow in a forest along th creek.
Finaly we arrived after 8 days and 125 km at the Icefield Parkway. We were so lucky that we made it. After 8 days we have seen the firts human there. A crazy feeling. We hitchhiked back from there to Lake Louise and from there to Banff where we arrived at the hostel just looking forward to take a warm shower after these many days. In the Hostel we met Kay and told him the story.
At the next day I went to the park centre to tell them about the trail conditions but they didn't believe me :))))

Greetings from the Rocky Mountains

Karsten

Ps: At this time I didn't post pictures because I had to many good ones to post :) Instead somebody teached me how to create a movie. So click play and enjoy! :)