When a Fall Backpacking Trip Becomes a Winter Adventure
October 18, 2016 § 2 Comments
The 14 day forecast for Banff looked like the following when we checked 2 days before our 10 day hiking excursion: Sun ————— Sun. You couldn’t ask for better conditions. Sun in the valley doesn’t necessarily mean sun in the high country, but it shouldn’t differ by much. Typically weather can be highly localized in the mountains, and an afternoon shower or snow shower should be expected in the middle of September. I had chosen this time of year for two reasons. The first being cold temperatures means NO BUGS, and second, cold temperatures means fewer humans. It was two weeks past the normal season end, and we should enjoy a certain level of isolation once we got far enough into the back country.
Banff – Drew Butler
October 17, 2016 § 1 Comment
It could be argued (successfully) that I have have known Drew all his life, and that would be true, but you don’t really know someone until you have spent some time in the back-country hiking with them.
Drew and I made up (along with Jim Kirby) Bear Team 1, and together we almost always found the trail to keep moving forward. Almost? Well, we both failed to pursue the apparent loss of the trail heading East out of Wildflower, but no harm done, and we all had fun and were content with the decision made.
Banff – Larry Butler
October 14, 2016 § Leave a comment
“Holy Fuck Larry T Butler!”
“Holy Holy Fuck!!!”
When I climbed out of the Grand Canyon on Bright Angel Trail that day in April 2010, I walked over to a nearby bench that had a comprehensive view of the BAT exit and I sat down to wait for my compatriots, and to call my friend Larry T Butler. I had just had the most fantastic backpacking trip ever, and I was letting Larry know that we were coming back in two years, he, myself and whoever else from our crowd that we could bring along.
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Banff – Scott Hellier
October 12, 2016 § 1 Comment
Scotty is the person I have known the least amount of time, though I suppose you could argue that though I have knownDrew Butler all his life, I didn’t really get to know him until we started hiking together, and by that standard, Scotty is next to last.
Anyway, I first met Scotty in Phoenix when I came out to accompany Marty on this last excursion into the Grand Canyon. A trip that would enter at Hermits Rest, and emerge at The Bright Angel Trail in the Village.
Banff 2016 – The Next Adventure
October 10, 2016 § Leave a comment
Upon returning from Utah in September 2014 (See Albums High Uintas) I immediately began thinking about my next adventure, and I can assure you that at that time, the Canadian Rockies were not on my radar. I have the National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps for Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Grand Tetons, and Glacier and I pored over them looking for circuits that could be done in 6-8 days of reasonable mileage. A circuit is best, as the logistics of shuttling don’t factor into the planning, but if there are no circuits, then how to make a point to point work. Personally I prefer a point to point over an in and out, as I would rather have fresh scenery each day vs a different angle on scenery already seen.
Banff – Walter Martin Everetts
October 10, 2016 § Leave a comment
I have known Walt as Marty because my introduction to him was facilitated by my then roommate, who became my girlfriend, who became my wife, a.k.a. Susan who is sibling to Marty, and Marty is the family name for Walt. To me he is always Marty, but I have gotten used to referring to him as Walt in front of people who only know him as Walt.
When You Carry Too Much Stuff
October 7, 2016 § Leave a comment
I started this recent adventure the way I have started all previous adventures. I just start pulling stuff out and putting it all together. This time we were heading into the Canadian Rockies for a mid September romp in the back-country and because of the potential for snow, I had to make sure that both myself and my companions were prepared for the whatever mother nature could throw at us. While the threat of a heavy snow is always present, generally the high country gets smaller accumulations this time of year. We were hailed on twice in 2014 when we spent a week in The High Uintas Wilderness in NE Utah. Though we were about 4000 feet higher in average elevation then, we would be about 400 miles further north in latitude at the same time of year. Anything could happen.
Banff – Mike Barris
October 4, 2016 § 1 Comment
When Susan and I moved to Little Silver, we joined the New Comers organization and through our involvement became acquainted with Mike Barris and his wife Bonnie Marvel. Our wives met, either directly at one of the socials, or maybe one of the book groups that form as a result of these social arrangements, and it was quickly established that both of their husbands were hikers, and had to meet.
Banff – Andy Shoneman
October 4, 2016 § Leave a comment
My next profile concerns one Andy Shoneman. I met Andy through Mike Barris and his wife Bonnie Marvel when they and some others were trying to put together a monthly or semi-monthly couples dinner out night. At the time, Susan and I were the only ones with kids, but that didn’t affect how often we tried to get out.
Banff – Jim Kirby
October 3, 2016 § Leave a comment
This will be the first of my friend specific Banff National Park 2016 posts where I will profile my individual hiking mates.
A question we were asked often is “How do you all know each other?”, to which it is not a simple answer. I am not sure exactly how long I have known Jim. We either met on a Larry T Butler organized weekend warrior backpacking trip, or we met during one of the infamous Mill Trips, but it has been a fair number of years.
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