With no work permits in near sight, I have made the decision not to wait any longer for politics, bureaucracy, or delayed procedures of the immigration office and leave this beautiful country. I might be able to get a work permit on the long run, but not within the next year.
I'm torn between sadness and joy. Having to leave a country that I would love to stay in and saying goodbye to new friends is as heartbreaking for me as it is wonderful to return to my loved ones in Europe and find a new adventure there.
(Updates on when exactly I will return will follow... be patient!)
But first, the last bits and pieces of this adventure, and I enjoy them to the fullest!!
After working hard this summer, it is absolutely time for some exploration in the Rockies without having to look after guests. Wild things happen when you pair up with another tour guide and responsibilities are dropped!
Silke and I drive the Icefield parkway up and down a few times in 2 weeks. One night it is already dark and the starry sky gives the mountains beautiful silhouettes. Amazing thing is that I still know where I am just by seeing the silhouettes. (Mind you, it is a stretch of 250km!)
We do some day hikes and multiple day hikes along the way until our heads just can't take in any more. And then we do one more stunning hike. And then two more nights in the backcountry. Because we can.
To start with, some pics from on the road:
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Abraham Lake
Along the one road going into the Rockies that we both
had not driven yet! (the 11, from Rocky Mountain House) |
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| View from Sentinel Pass |
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| Temple mountain in all its glory with golden Larches |
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What guides do after the season
(Have a drink on top of a mountain) |
We walk about 200km in the span of only 2 weeks. It is so addictive to hike in these mountains! I just can not get enough of it. My body is exhausted, my mind is overwhelmed and still we decide to go on another overnight trip. I cannot possibly show you everything, or share the feelings one has when standing on top of a ridge looking down at a gorgeous valley.
But, let me try :D
(If you are overwhelmed at one point by this long post, remember this is not even half the story. Imagine my brain trying to process all this!)
Iceline trail
We have our mind set on this trip when we start our road trip from Spruce Grove, but then we get distracted by other opportunities with my friend Lorraine. At the time we actually start going up to Berg Lake it is already a week later, and we are halfway on our unintended 200km of hiking in 2 weeks.
While having a good hearty breakfast in town, we spontaneously decide we have to go today to avoid at least most of the rain according to the forecast. There goes our hope for at least one day of rest between our hikes. We do some grocery shopping for food, get stuck in construction traffic jams and start our hike after noon. A wee bit on the late side. After hiking 22km and 1000m elevation gain with a backpack full incl. tent, food for 4 days etc. we still make it up before darkness! All the training of the last days seems to have helped.
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| On the way up, Emperor Falls. Very majestic!! |
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| Latest trend: Ponchos. |
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| Two hot chicks. Right?! |
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| Mount Robson and Mist glacier |
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| Berg Lake |
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| View from the day shelter's porch |
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| View from Hargreaves route |
Berg lake is at the foot of Mount Robson and has the Berg glacier flowing directly into it. Sometimes pieces fall of and ice bergs float around in the lake, hence the name of the lake. We are slightly disappointed when there is only one little chunk of ice as big as a cat on the day we arrive. But after a good rainstorm on the second night, paired with lots of noise, we are treated on a great view the next morning!
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| The smallest chunk of ice on day of arrival |
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| Ice chunks as big as cars on the day of departure! |
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| Oh, Canada. |
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| Valley of the thousand falls. See, rain is really good! Waterfalls are spectacular when it rains! |
Boulder Pass, near Skoki lodge
We are back in Jasper and Lorraine calls me. "I've got another cabin reserved, do you want to come?" While I am thinking about really needing a break from hiking I hear myself saying "of course we come!". Our dream team grows, we bump into Merel. She comes along too, and together with Lorraine and Alison we are suddenly 5 guides. Guaranteed good times! (And good food :D)
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Starting out in the fog
We are bushwacking because Lorraine doesn't like the trail. |
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| Dream team! |
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| Soon we are far above the clouds, and see Mount Temple. |
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| Ptarmigan Lake |
At Ptarmigan Lake we sit down and have lunch. As everybody is enjoying the view, we don't see the grizzly bear behind us roaming around. Not until Merel spots him and tells us. She has to add "I'm not kiddin' " before we actually turn around and get up quickly to move. About 30m behind us the bear is happily feeding on insects and roots and luckily not interested in our sandwiches. We keep some distance, stand together, take out the bear spray and wait. Another group with a dog, coming from the other side, makes the situation a bit tense for a minute. But the grizzly is not too impressed and decides to move away so we can all continue our hike.
This was the first time for me to encounter a bear while hiking actually. Mostly I saw them from the car or further away. Exciting for sure!
And this brings my bear counter up to 46 after being stuck on 45 for a while. On our way out we see another bear, further away this time and on the other side of a lake. A nice safe distance! That makes the bear counter get to 47 in total after this trip.
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| "I'm not kiddin'" soon becomes the sentence of this trip. |
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| Life is hard... |
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| The parts that make a hike that much more fun! |
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| Some deer outside our cabin |
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| Luxury Camping again! |
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| Beautiful starry sky! |
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| September = Mushroom time! |
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| Off-trail again? Yup! |
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| Off-trail again!? No! This IS the trail. |
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| Skoki Lodge |
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| Fun with camera's and a flashlight |
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| Packed up and ready to go down again! |
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| And then it starts snowing. Welcome to Canada. :) |
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| Boulder Pass |
Lunch spots
All good hiking trips, all different weather, every single one a different experience. As you might have noticed by now, I consider a good lunch (or dinner) spot important. These are some of the examples in my free weeks in the Rockies: (Yes, it does feel very weird to have lunch on a chair at the kitchen table these days. Something is just not right while doing that!)
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| Cooling the feet while eating lunch! |
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| Pasta dinner on the road! |
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| On the way back from Skoki, half-way hut is a good shelter! |
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| Luxury lunch on top of a ridge! |
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| Arrival at mt Robson, everything will taste good tonight! |
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| Tea on the way down from Berg Lake, well deserved! |
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Tea (with some 'extra') in front of the cabin in Yoho,
again cooling our feet at the same time! |
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So much fun while eating dessert
on the patio of the cabin! |
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Oh, that patio is good for everything.
Look at the view while eating pre-dinner (popcorn!). |
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| Superb view on the glaciers of Mount Robson |
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| Dream team tea time! (Noticed the rum bottle...?) |
It is time to leave and head back to Vancouver. Saying goodbye to my friends and the mountains is not easy, so I poke a tear away. (Ok, I cried like a little baby, but who cares...)
Lasting memories are made, more will come in future. I am sure!
Looking forward to seeing you again!
ReplyDeleteI'll poke away a tear too, when you arrive! ;-)
Kisses
Me too! And you always can go back!
ReplyDelete