Fri, Aug 29 2008, Sat, Aug 30 2008, Sun, Aug 31 2008, Mon, Sep 1 2008 - Rocky Mountain Backpacking/ Camping - Sunset Pass (View Original Event Details)
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The trail to Sunset Pass and Lookout is steep and demanding, but the views were worth the effort.
We spent a sunny Saturday afternoon hiking the forested switch back trails up to Sunset Meadows where we made camp. After setting up our tents and hanging our food from predators we back tracked to the trail to Sunset Lookout. We were met with a stunning view of the highway 93 valley that included the North Saskatchewan and Alexandra rivers. Many mountains and glaciers were visible for several kilometres in from west to east of Banff National Park and towards Jasper Park. The group all had time to rest in the sun on “our balcony of the Rockies” and some of us enjoyed a very relaxing and well deserved power nap.
Back at camp we burned up some dead trees, that were dragged back to camp, while enjoying our star gazing of what seemed the entire Milky Way Galaxy.
To our surprise we woke up to a very cold and snowy Sunday morning with at least an inch or more of snow on our tents. Even though our boots may have got wet it didn’t dampen our spirits. We made the steep pull up the Sunset Pass trail past the meadows and into David Thompson Country. The trail offers wonderful panoramic views of Pinto lake, the Cline River valley and the mountains of White Goat Wilderness Area along the highest point. Gazing at the lake while fighting flurries and strong winds we decided rather than risking a further 5km downhill hike in the snow to the North end of Pinto Lake we would hike the long gruelling trek back to our cars at the trailhead.
The evening was spent having a Barbeque at the “cook your own meat” grill at the Saskatchewan River Crossing Pub and then soaking and relaxing in the hot tub at the Shunda Creek Hostel.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Mark G at photos@edmontonoutdoorclub.com. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to thirty of your favourites (only) for a day event, or up to sixty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.