Hiking Trails - Sawback Trail - Day 9

[103- Baker Lake - click to enlarge]

The Sawback Trail follows the rugged Sawback Range from the town of Banff to Lake Louise over a distance of 74km (about 45 miles). Side trips will increase the distance. The trail is rated moderate to challenging.

On Day 9 the hike leaves the Baker Lake Campground (Sk11) at about the 59.9 km mark to head for the Skoki Lodge covering a distance of about 6.4km to the 60.3 km mark. Skoki is a Potawatomi (Ojibwa) word meaning "swamp".*


[104-Baker Lake trail - cougar track - click to enlarge]


The trail follows the north edge of Baker Lake (2210m) then climbs to the Ptarmigan Valley where Ptarmigan Lake is situated. Ptarmigan Lake (2345m) is a large sized backcountry lake with Brook Trout and Cutthroat Trout. It is located at the top of Boulder Pass underneath the northern slope of Mount Redoubt.


[105-Affectionate marmots - click to enlarge]

At the trail junction (1680m) with the Boulder Pass-Skoki Valley trail the distance from Baker Lake is 1.3km at the 62.1km mark.


[106-Descending to Ptarmigan Lake with Redoubt Mountain 2902m (9521ft) in background. Redoubt Mountain was named by Arthur O. Wheeler in 1908 for the resemblance of a huge redoubt, or military outer defence.**]

The fish in Ptarmigan Lake are predominately Brook Trout that are considered frisky.




[107-Redoubt Mountain's north face]


Here the hiker will turn right to make the steep climb of 0.6 km to Deception Pass.


[108-View from Deception Pass]


From Deception Pass (2375m) the trail descends into the Skoki Valley heading north, over rocky slopes, alpine larch forests into thicker forest. Skoki Lodge (2165m) is 3.4 km beyond the pass.


[109-Skoki Valley was named by James F Porter in 1911** - click to enlarge]

Follow the trail to a junction where the trail veers left after crossing a creek.


[110-Skoki Trail bridge crossing]

Stay on the trail going straight to continue on to the Skoki Lodge. In another 0.6km there is an intersection for the Red Deer Lakes. Stay to the left for the Skoki Valley where in another 0.5km the hiker will reach the main lodge, and the other buildings behind.



[111-Skoki Lodge is a National Historic Site built in 1930 by a group of Banff ski enthusiasts. It was enlarged to its present size in 1936 and continues to serve hikers and skiers throughout the year. Pack horses bring in supplies throughout the summer season.]

Tom Wilson (formerly with the NWMP) opened the first guide service in the Rockies after his contract as surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railway was over. He guided Europeans and Americans on hunting, climbing and exploration trips into the wilderness areas between Jasper and Banff. He was the first guide to show adventurers into the Skoki and Baker Lake areas.

TO BE CONTINUED

ParksCanada – Banff
Backcountry Overview
Trail Conditions
Backpacking Equipment Checklist
http://waputik.tripod.com/gdt_sawback.htmGem Trek maps for Lake Louise and Skoki
Gem Trek maps for Banff and Mount Assiniboine
HI Hostels Intl Survival Guide
*Canadian Rockies Trail Guide by Brian Patton, Bart Robinson (2007), p.104
OutdoorAlberta.com
**Peakfinder.com

Photo Credits: [103][105]-Kris Griffon CC=nc-sa-flickr, [104][109][111]-petes pics CC=nc-nd-flickr, [106]-orlandk CC=flickr, [107]-fotohog Cc=nc-nd-flickr, [108][110]-lafalott CC=nc-nd-flickr.

Fishing - Isaac Lake

Isaac Lake is located in Bowron Lake Provincial Park in the Cariboo-Chilcotin coast area of British Columbia. The lake is 31 km long with some white water. It has an average depth of 200 feet with its deepest point at almost 600 feet. The types of fish found here are: Kokanee, Mountain Whitefish, Lake Char and Bull Trout. A fisherman's paradise.

Photo Credit: gordmckenna CC=nc-nd-flickr. Click to enlarge.

My Town Monday - Samuel B Steele - Fort Edmonton

[1-Slough near Smoky Lake (Victoria Settlement)-click to enlarge]

In July 1874, Samuel Steele began his trip west in service with the North West Mounted Police with the rank of sergeant-major from Fort Garry, Manitoba. The cavalcade that left Manitoba had assorted wagons, Red River carts, oxen, cattle, farming equipment, provisions and horses.

During the NWMP's stay at Fort Victoria, arrangements were made to leave the cows, calves and weak oxen for the winter months with a contract of $15 a head for the oxen and cows, and $10 each for the calves.

Once they left the Victoria Settlement, their progress to Edmonton was slow over difficult terrain and their horses had to be helped along whenever they fell. The problem with the horses pulling the wagons was that they were overloaded, there was insufficient grain to feed the horses and they were not acclimatized to the weather or area.

[2-Swampy marsh, typical of the parklands - click to enlarge]


When a messenger arrived with instructions to bring the division into Fort Edmonton that same day, a distance of twelve miles, they were unable to comply as some of the horses could not go on. Two men were left to pitch a tent where the horses could be sheltered from the elements, while Steele and the other horse teams continued on.

The trail was the worst they had encountered: “knee-deep in black mud, sloughs crossed it every few hundred yards, and the waggons had to be unloaded and dragged through them by hand….The poor animals, crazed with thirst and feverish because of their privations, would rush to the ponds to drink, often falling and having to be dragged out with ropes from where they fell. One of the men would hold up their heads while I placed the hitch. It mattered not how often they were watered, the same performance had to be gone through time after time.”[1]

Determined to carry out his orders, Steele and the men kept going even during the night with some wagons veering off the road into extensive marshes only to have to return. At 5:00 a.m. the next morning, they reached Rat Creek (just south of where Norwood Public School is at 9520-111 Avenue, Edmonton, the rat in the name refers to muskrats)[2], a small stream about four miles from Fort Edmonton. Steele informed the oxen driver, Gagnon, that the men and horses would not be able to go on as they were exhausted from being on the move for the last 21 hours. Steele set up camp while Gagnon proceeded on to Fort Edmonton.

Later that day they continued, and once they reached the first dry piece of trail were able to reach the fort (at that time located where the Alberta Legislature is now).

Fort Edmonton , also known as Edmonton House, was one of the many Hudson Bay Company’s trading posts and located at the end of the Carlton Trail. In 1915 it was dismantled after the new Alberta Legislative Building was erected.

[3- Alberta Legislature and Fort Edmonton in 1914. The train tracks are on top of the High Level Bridge crossing the North Saskatchewan River]


In 1969 a reconstruction of Fort Edmonton was begun five km upstream from its original location and Fort Edmonton Park was born.



[4-Fort Edmonton]

[5]


[6]

[7]



[8- Rowand House was a three storey house built by John Rowand, administrator for the Hudson’s Bay Company, for the sole use of himself and his family]

[9- Note this barn has fitted log corners, quite the engineering feat]


TO BE CONTINUED

For previous posts on this series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

Sources:
Forty Years In Canada by Col. Samuel B. Steele (1915) [1-pp. 73]
Illustrated History of Canada, Edited by Craig Brown (2007)
Alberta Online Encyclopedia - Historic Trails [2]

Photo Credits: [1] benjicarson CC=nc-sa-flickr, [2]-Wendy Cooper CC=nc-sa-flickr, [3][8]-wikipedia, [4][7]-CanadaGood CC=nc-nd-flickr, [5][6][9]-Evan CC=nc-nd-flickr.

My Town Mondays were founded by Travis Erwin in Amarillo, Texas who has handed the reins over to Clair Dickson. For other participants please visit the new location here.

Eugenia Falls

[1-click to enlarge both photos]







The falls, at 30 meters high, are located in the Eugenia Falls Conservation Area of 23 hectares along the Niagara Escarpment. They were discovered in 1852 as a result of a ‘Fools Gold’ rush.

The name for the falls had been suggested by ex-soldiers of the French Army (Crimean War) after Princess Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III.

For more information about the falls and the gorge go here.


[2]

















Source: Grey Sauble Conservation Authority

Photo Credits: [1][2]-Calypso Orchid CC=nc-nd-flickr.

Bench of the Week (12)

This bench is located at Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia. (Click to enlarge)

RuneE of Visual Norway began the impromptu meme of benches on Fridays.

Riverdaze has an splendid location for a bench.

PERBS has a bench in exquisite detail.

Dina has an interesting bench at a back gate.

Kerri has a bench waiting for a buffet.

Ackworth Born, Gone West has a memorial bench.

Photo Credit: jaxxon CC=nc-nd-flickr.

Hiking Trails - Sawback Trail - Day 8

[97-Rocky Mountain Sheep have lost most of their natural fear of humans]

The Sawback Trail follows the rugged Sawback Range from the town of Banff to Lake Louise over a distance of 74km (about 45 miles). The trail is rated moderate to challenging.

On Day 8 the hike leaves the Baker Creek Junction (1830m) Wildflower Campground (Ba15) at about the 53.5 km mark to Baker Lake Campground (Sk11) covering a distance of about 6.4km to the 59.9 km mark.

Upon leaving the Wildflower Campground the hiker may not find a bridge over the Wildflower Creek and will have to wade through.


[98-Anthozoan Mountain, 2695m (8842 ft) was named in 1925 for the fossilized coral found in the Devonian limestone of the mountain - click to enlarge]

Due to the possibility of trail deterioration after leaving Wildflower Creek campground it is advisable to stick to the marshy meadows below the east ridges of Anthoazoan Mountain.

The trail then climbs through forest across avalanche paths along a rough trail on the east side of the creek.


[99-Chipmunk]

Approximately 2km later the trail enters boggy meadows where the hiker should be prepared for mosquitoes. At the north end of the meadow the trail crosses a side-stream and rocky area, followed by a short steep climb on a rough and muddy trail. Above is an alpine meadow with the trail crossing to the eastern side of the creek.


[100-Baker Lake - click to enlarge]

At 58.9km mark turn left at the Junction to Deer Lakes for the trail to Baker Lake.


[101- Fossil Mountain, 2946m (9666 ft) was named in 1906, for the numerous fossils found in its slopes - click to enlarge.]


At 59.9km the Baker Lake Campground (Sk11) is in a treed area, but Baker Lake itself lies in marshy meadows. This campground has a notorious reputation for camp robbing wolverines.


[102-Baker Lake from campsite - click to enlarge]

There are trout in Baker Lake and the fisherman will have to compete with local Osprey.

TO BE CONTINUED

ParksCanada – Banff
Backcountry Overview
Trail Conditions
Backpacking Equipment Checklist
http://waputik.tripod.com/gdt_sawback.htmGem Trek maps for Lake Louise and Skoki
Gem Trek maps for Banff and Mount Assiniboine
HI Hostels Intl Survival Guide

Photo Credits: [97]-timmredpath CC=nc-nd-flickr, [98][101]-Kris Griffon CC=nc-sa-flickr, [99]-Chris & Lara Pawluk CC=nc-flickr, [100][102]-orlandk CC=flickr.

Montmorency Falls

[1-Footbridge over Montmorency Falls - click to enlarge]



The falls, at 84 meters (275 ft) high, are the highest in the province of Quebec and 30 m (98 ft) higher than Niagara Falls. The Montmorency River flows into the St. Lawrence River near Île d’Orleans, northeast of Quebec City. The falls were named by Samuel de Champlain in 1613 in honour of Henri II, duc de Montmorency, who served as viceroy of New France from 1620 until 1625.


[2-Montmorency Falls - click to enlarge]



Earlier historical posts I prepared on Samuel de Champlain:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.



Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmorency_Falls

Photo Credits: [1]-lucathegalga CC=nc-nd-flickr, [2]-denseatoms CC=nc-sa-flickr.