Monday, 8 August 2016

57.Assiniboine to Mt Shark via Wonder Pass

Distance: 28 km
Elevation: 230 m up to pass and then 625 down to Mt. Shark parking lot

Thursday, we rested and soaked in the sun beside Lake Magog and Mt. Assiniboine. Then, Friday, we got up around 5:30, in the dark, ate breakfast and packed up wet tents and our gear. We dropped the backpacks off at the lodge for the helicopter to fly to Canmore and set off for Mt. Shark shortly after 8:00am.
We decided to go out via Wonder Pass to discover a new route and to go easier on our blisters. It was a little sad to say goodbye to Mt Assiniboine but we were looking forward to a warm, soapy shower at home.
The meadows were full of flowers but these western anemones and paintbrushes dominated.
The blue sky again was a good promise of a great hiking day.
Herm decided to doctor up his blisters one more time before descending the pass. Mole skin and bandaids were very effective and we coped very well.
Herm was using his old, light camera for this trip and it gave trouble all along. The flowers on this Friday hike was the last photo he could coax out so Khosrow sent us his shots. We started down over the pass, down, down, down.
Soon there was a beautiful view of Gloria Lake (and us).
A lot of the hike went along and above a second lake - Marvel.
 Finally we came to McBride`s Camp where we ate lunch at the stream. From here (almost halfway) the trail broadened into a narrow road with some streams and bridges and one long steep hill. We looked forward to dipping into Watridge Lake but when we got there and saw it meant going down first, we decided to skip it and just continue to Mt. Shark. Our feet were sore, our water gone and the end looked very good.
After about 9 hours we arrived at the parking lot, got a ride to Engadine Lodge and waited for Margaret to come from Sunshine to pick us up. It was a very good hiking adventure.

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