August 23-26, 2014
We are a group consisting of a chemical engineer; a medical doctor; an environmental lawyer; an archeologist; a high-school student and an university student canvassing for clean water in the States. After packing our packs and counting our tea bags, we set off for a four day hike in the world class alpine area of Skoki. We will have a new moon on the trip, which means we will have brighter and larger stars with a distinct Milky Way in the night when we have to unzip our tents to get out to relieve ourselves. Our first night at Hidden Lake we enjoyed the reflections at dusk: gray, turquoise and pink mountain reflections which still the mind. On the return to our warm cozy tents, we spotted a fat porcupine scrambling up a larch tree, proceeding to eat the bright green needles. The only people we will meet out here will be hikers who got here the same way we did….which makes for meeting great friends. The only rain we experienced spat on us briefly coming down from the highest pass. We were surprised by the lack of wind, and thankful that our tents were only wet from the heavy dew, never rain. Having dinner by Baker Lake one night was wonderful, with a warm breeze, fish jumping, and the iconic lonely call of the Common loon. Mule deer moved silently through camp at dusk to say goodnight. Morning coffee by the lake had us seeing a silent Marsh hawk, and as we hiked along, we saw a bald eagle up close and female Big Horn sheep. We have been walking in acres of larches in the alpine, which in a few weeks time, will be golden. On our last morning, we reflect on how short life is, and how a beautiful trip like this makes us feel alive.
Jane Whitney
Yamnuska Guide and Trip Leader
