| Hiking with the Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies |
The Skyline Hikers was formed in 1933 by the Canadian Pacific Railroad to promote hiking in the Canadian Rockies. In
1961 the railroad decided the hiking group was no longer contributing to its profitability and discontinued its association
with the organization. Since 1963, the organization has continued as a non-profit group maintained through the efforts
of volunteers.
The organization currently sponsors five six day hikes into the rockies each summer beginning in mid-July. We were
privileged to participate in the first session for 2006. The only foreigners were Jackie and me and Andy and Barbara
from the UK. An outfitter and volunteers had set up camp with canvas tents for four people each. We were privileged to
be tent mates with Finlay and Margaret Morrison from Ontario. Foam pads were provided and we placed our ensolite
mattresses and bags on the foam. Most of our gear was brought in by horseback so all we carried in was a day pack.
This year the campsite was located in the Spray Valley in Banff National Park, an eighteen kilometer hike from a gravel
road.
On Monday morning, our group of fifty boarded a bus in Banff for an hour and a half ride to the trail head. Unfortunately
for the group, a rain storm moved in the night before. As the group exited the bus, each person quickly pulled out rain
gear for the hike into the park.
1961 the railroad decided the hiking group was no longer contributing to its profitability and discontinued its association
with the organization. Since 1963, the organization has continued as a non-profit group maintained through the efforts
of volunteers.
The organization currently sponsors five six day hikes into the rockies each summer beginning in mid-July. We were
privileged to participate in the first session for 2006. The only foreigners were Jackie and me and Andy and Barbara
from the UK. An outfitter and volunteers had set up camp with canvas tents for four people each. We were privileged to
be tent mates with Finlay and Margaret Morrison from Ontario. Foam pads were provided and we placed our ensolite
mattresses and bags on the foam. Most of our gear was brought in by horseback so all we carried in was a day pack.
This year the campsite was located in the Spray Valley in Banff National Park, an eighteen kilometer hike from a gravel
road.
On Monday morning, our group of fifty boarded a bus in Banff for an hour and a half ride to the trail head. Unfortunately
for the group, a rain storm moved in the night before. As the group exited the bus, each person quickly pulled out rain
gear for the hike into the park.
The eighteen
kilometer (12 mile)
hike sounded easy,
but that was not the
case. Most of the trail
is used by horses,
and with the rain
coming down, the trail
turned into a cesspool
of mud. Trudging
through the mud was
much more work than
a dry trail and made
the hike a much more
exhausting trip. Note
that even the Brit
couple from a rainy
climate look
challenged.
kilometer (12 mile)
hike sounded easy,
but that was not the
case. Most of the trail
is used by horses,
and with the rain
coming down, the trail
turned into a cesspool
of mud. Trudging
through the mud was
much more work than
a dry trail and made
the hike a much more
exhausting trip. Note
that even the Brit
couple from a rainy
climate look
challenged.
The picture above was taken at the end of a rainy day. There were stoves in the tents, but since firewood was scarce,
we were discouraged from using the stoves. However, on this rain soaked day nearly every stove was fired up to dry out
and get warm. The tent on the right was the "donut" tent with a big hole in the middle. In the evenings we sat around a
campfire in the donut and sang songs and listened to announcements about the next day's activities.
we were discouraged from using the stoves. However, on this rain soaked day nearly every stove was fired up to dry out
and get warm. The tent on the right was the "donut" tent with a big hole in the middle. In the evenings we sat around a
campfire in the donut and sang songs and listened to announcements about the next day's activities.
Hanging out clothes on the tent poles and tent ropes
was a favorite past time.
was a favorite past time.
Park rules prohibit hiking in groups larger than ten. The Skyline Hikers rules required at least six hikers--grizzlies have
never attacked a group of six ore more. So, we hiked into camp in groups of ten with a leader at each end.
On the way in, we stopped to see a carving in a tree made several decades ago by a ranger. By late afternoon we
arrived at camp. The picture below was taken on one of our two dry days out of the six days we spent on this venture.
never attacked a group of six ore more. So, we hiked into camp in groups of ten with a leader at each end.
On the way in, we stopped to see a carving in a tree made several decades ago by a ranger. By late afternoon we
arrived at camp. The picture below was taken on one of our two dry days out of the six days we spent on this venture.
