The Rainy Rockwall

AUGUST 12, 2006

After our relaxing and restful days in Banff we headed back up into the mountains. The Egypt Lake area north of Sunshine Meadows was spectacular hiking as the Great Divide Trail stayed very close to the actual continental divide for many miles, climbing up and over several passes each with impressive views of the area. The smoke from a large forest fire in Washington state had been blowing north and the sky was filled with an eerie orange haze and the distinct smell of smoke for several days. After spending two beautiful days hiking north from Sunshine Meadows, we climbed steeply up to Floe Lake and the start of the famous Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park. This is when the rain started... and didn't stop for the next two days.

As we finished dinner at Floe Lake the rain began to fall so we hurried to the shelter of our tent. The rain continued most of the night and for the first time on our hike we had to pack up in the rain in the morning resulting in most of our gear being damp (and heavy) as we set off for Numa Pass, the highest point on the Rockwall. The clouds fell low and heavy, obscuring any views and as we were literally blown off of the pass by the wind. The rain stopped briefly during our lunch break only to return with a fury as we crested Tumbling Pass. Large hailstones and some very close lightning strikes had us taking cover in a small grove of trees. When the hail turned to hard rain we hurried off of the pass and down to our campground for the night. Unpacking our wet gear in the rain resulted in a very wet camp. Sleeping in a slightly damp sleeping bag never makes for a very good nights sleep... ahh the joys of hiking in the rain!

Oddly enough the Rockwall Trail was very busy and we shared our wet campground with several other hikers who also braved the nasty weather to hike what I'm sure is a beautiful trail in better weather! After some debate we decided to hike out to highway 93 a day early rather than venture up and over another pass to Field. The trail to the road had a bridge out which made for a precarious creek ford with rushing flood water nearly up to our waist! But by the end of the day we were safe and dry at the Castle Mountain Chalets with our wet gear hanging everywhere, drying out and Christy baked a chocolate cake! Not the typical trail magic, but magic nonetheless!

THANKS TO:
Paul Pelegrin from Sunshine Meadows Shuttle for some special trail magic shuttling us to and from Banff!
Vladmir & Donna from Calgary for the ride out of the rain!
Bob, June & Joan from Manchester for the ride to Lake Louise!