Fri, Jun 17 2016, Sat, Jun 18 2016, Sun, Jun 19 2016 - Bow Hut stay - Iceland Prep Trip (View Original Event Details)
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Early Friday morning we left fine Calgary weather and arrived at the Num-ti-Jah parking lot to find overcast skies. Our six carpool groups arrived and started at slightly different times but we all merged at the infamous rock bridge. A misstep here is certain death. A few were nervous (rightfully so!). The group which had arrived first (Slawek, Mike, and Caroline) helped everyone get across smoothly.
The rest of the hike to Bow Hut was relaxed. Overcast skies meant that we weren¡¦t sweating buckets in spite of hauling in heavy packs. For some, it was the first backpacking trip of the year, so steeper sections proved a little challenging. Nonetheless, by 2pm everyone was safely at the hut and in good spirit.
In the afternoon, half the group went scrambling behind the hut towards the glacier. Shabir and I napped for a good 30 minutes, got up and clambered up the hill behind the hut and saw the scrambling group across a tarn standing awed by a frozen waterfall and posing for photos. We caught up with them. Mike was leapfrogging the group during the scramble. The rest of us followed him. In the end we were on a large, smooth dome. We walked to the summit cairn. Shabir¡¦s GPS app said that we were on Mt Onion. Henceforth every group-photo chant became ¡§Onion¡¨!
For dinner, Stephen took the prize for the most elaborate undertaking for his first night¡¦s meal. It involved making a pizza from scratch (including kneading dough and rehydrating marinara sauce)! After dinner, some of us went out with tripods to get night photos. The moon was out so it was impossible to capture the Milky Way. Slawek got up at 2am to do his night shots. Can¡¦t wait to see his photos.
Others at the hut were playing board games or engaged in raucous conversation. Folks were even brave enough to bring up politics. Charley and Racquel were trying to push the liberal agenda on Lorrie. Later Lorrie and I got to gang up on Charley. Us conservatives were the only ones who carried up beer and were the envy of onlookers.
Saturday morning Kim took the prize for the most awesome breakfast by baking croissants! After breakfast the entourage hiked down to Iceberg Lake. Some took a more arduous path. Having been there before, I was able to steer those who came with me down an easier trek. It was absolutely beautiful at the lake and we had a lovely picnic. During the hike back to the hut dark clouds rolled in and it began to snow. The weather increasingly worsened.
A fire was lit and the hut warmed up quickly. Racquel, Shabir, Lorrie, Mick, Stephen and I sat by the fire in turns. Caroline, Peter, Mike, Slawek, and Charley were engaged in a boisterous game involving dice which stole everyone¡¦s attention. I couldn¡¦t help but join in that fun. Marvella and Chris managed to read novels in spite of all the ruckus. Kim and David braved the snowstorm and built a snowman! Kudos to both!!! Mikhail (14), after some solitaire, was invited by a group of twenty-somethings to play Cards Against Humanity. Yes, I¡¦m a horrible parent. Some adults from our group joined too.
A few times Iceland came up and those going in August shared information we have been gathering. We tried our best not to make the rest of the group feel excluded.
Chris smoked up the entire hut Saturday night cooking his one pork chop (which he insists is a ham steak and not a pork chop). The weather worsened throughout Saturday night. The snow continued through Sunday early morning. We had some concerns about getting back safely ¡V but then found the trail in pristine condition at the base of the headwall just some 150 meters below the hut. Back at the rock bridge quite a few of us got pictures of themselves on the rock. Being the COC safety champion, Mick played it a little extra safe during his crossing. ƒº
This was Mikhail¡¦s first COC event. I want to thank everyone who helped me with parenting duties ¡V from showing him how to use a water filter to helping him across the rock bridge. Mikhail had a great time and will do a school science project on the water cycle and show his class the source of the Bow River.
It was also Peter¡¦s first COC trip. Welcome to COC, Peter!
Here are some spectacular photos he took:
Peter's Photos.
I was very impressed with how our COC team collaborated in performing chores around the hut, from carrying in fresh water, to disposing grey water, cleaning cutlery, dishes, pots, and pans, cleaning the hut, lighting the fire, chopping wood, etc. A big THANK YOU from me to the team.
Some of our Bow Hut and Iceland crew will also join me for a scramble up to Abbot Hut in July. I¡¦m really looking forward to that trip. Unfortunately, the Hut is now full and I can¡¦t take anyone from the waiting list. Next summer I promise to book entire huts for our COC family!
Raihan
More photos from Slawek! Amazing stuff! You may need to be signed on to a Google account to view them.
Slawek's photos
And here are the awesome photos posted by Shabir! Shabir's photos