Sat, May 22 2010, Sun, May 23 2010, Mon, May 24 2010 - Cooking Lake/Blackfoot Backpacking Prep (View Original Event Details)
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Well, it was called a 'Backpacking Prep', and it turned out to be about as close to the real thing as it could have been! Cold temperatures, and lots of rain and mud.
Ten people met at Waskahegan for the event on Saturday morning, despite the gloomy weather forecast, and we got rolling just a bit after 10:00. We followed the Lost lake Trail to Meadow Shelter, where we stopped for a snack, then kept going east then north up to Winter Shelter. The distance that day was probably about 12 km. We set up camp and figured out our sleeping arrangements, got a fire going in the shelter stove, and had supper. One group went out for a hike in the evening before dark and checked out some nearby game trails and beaver ponds, and a second group headed farther up the Winter Trail later on.
The rain started overnight and there was still a bit of drizzle the next morning. Most people had rain gear, and it was just a matter of adapting to the weather. We figured out how to take a tent down from the inside out (to keep the body dry) and how to make sure that everything in our packs stayed dry.
The trails to Lost Lake were damp, but except for a few spots where our boots got weighed down with mud, it was a pretty smooth hike. The rain eased off and just a few sprinkles followed us. We stopped at a bustop shelter on Siksika Trail and had lunch, then kept going to Lost Lake. That was about another 10 km. We set up camp again and got the fire started. Supper, then another evening hike down the Push Lake Trail past Islet Lake and back before dark, with the coyotes howling behind us.
The next morning, we headed back down Lost Lake Trail to Meadow Shelter. The sun finally started peeking out, and we relaxed ft the sheltero for an hour at lunch. Took a few new loops coming back to bump the distance up to about 12-14 km. - Grouse, Spruce Hollow and Nean Lake - and arrived at the trailhead by 3:00. Back to the city, and home for a hot shower!
Interesting event, with lots of wildlife, new experiences, some physical challenges, and some pretty good company. Thanks to everyone for coming out.
Peter McClure
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.