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Published: September 5th 2010
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HMNZS Kowhai
Juz and Rob floating on the lake. At our fav spot! Well, we have 9 more days of work and then we are off! We have spent the last few months in the office, cleaning, serving pancakes, answering phones, dumpster diving, cleaning 'washrooms', cutting trees and making many bundles of firewood, as well as security and chasing Black bears. It has been an interesting time for us both, as thinking outside the box is discouraged and coming from professional work, that aspect has been hard. For all the boredom and frustration we have managed to save a tidy amount for the next exciting adventures. We have had a nice time in Revelstoke and the environs have offered plenty of things to see and do on the 1 day off a week we have had.
One of the favourite 'days off' we have had, was a jaunt up Mt Cartier. Revelstoke is situated in a glaciated valley, the river has been dammed up and downstream, and the mountains are 'smoothed' and steep. We decided that we had to enjoy the day off and a nice walk into the tops would be great. Rob researched the walk and most guide books and internet blogs recommended a 2 day trip, however with only 1
Mt Cartier
Rob in one of the alpine avalanche paths going up Mt Cartier. day off..... We left the van at 7 in the morning and spent the next 7 hours, 2020m and 17km plodding our way up the zig zag track. We climbed steadily and crossed over flowering meadows of past avalanche paths. We heard Pika and stalked 2 alarmed Marmots. The last section involved a rock scramble up a scree and a creep around a rock ledge. We reached the top and peered over the other side to more snow covered mountains that seemed to go on forever. We had a quick lunch and made our way down the hill to Chad. At 7pm, with very sore feet and legs, we arrived at the van. We chugged home for early tea and bed revitalised for another busy week at work!
The following day off we enjoyed a sleep-in, coffee at our favourite cafe in town, and a nice bike at Mt Macpherson. Rob had found a cast-iron camping oven while dumpster diving in the week, so we tested it out by making pizza. It was awesome, and it inspired us to bake cake and cook stew in the following weeks. It was also the start of the cherry and berry season,
Reaching the crest
Reaching the crest of Mt Cartier, still 1 hour to go! so every afternoon we went out harvesting.
On the next day off we biked up the Jordan River as far as the road would take us. We had attempted this valley before, however had been unable to cross over on the submerged log in the melt water stream. The submerged log was no longer underwater and so we carefully carried the bikes over. On the other side was a fabulous patch of blueberries and huckleberries, both similar looking, both blue, blueberries being smaller and buff in colour. Huckleberries being bigger and more delicious. We leapt around fighting off the mozzies and collected as many as would fit in our drink bottles.We tried to continue up the old road, but the vegetation was too thick so came back to graze on fruits of the forest!
On the “must do’s” in Revy is the Keystone Basin trail. An old mining trail that sidles around the mountains above the treeline in the alpine meadows. All the wild flowers we coming out, as well as mosquitoes, however the views were super and the track flowing and nice to ride. We saw cougar prints in the snow and had a nice dip in
Revelstoke
View up the lake to Revelstoke. an alpine lake at the hut. It was an awesome ride and day.
Early into August, I was working 60-ish hour weeks, so our days off involved sleep, shopping and coffee in town. We also spent some nice time paddling the HMNZS Kowhai around the lakes chasing beavers, exploring coastlines and waterfalls. One afternoon we decided on a small bike ride up the parkway. We both knew that it was 26km up to the top, but in our tired brains, neither of us registered the distance. We headed off and at the 20km point we were exhausted. We couldn’t stop now! So a little bit of friendly competition with each other and personal belief we arrived late in the afternoon at the top of Mt Revelstoke. We walked the 5 minutes to the summit and enjoyed the peace and quiet, and views of the mountains. The 3.5 hour ride up was well worth the effort, as were the wildflowers and no one else was around. We were tired teddies and rolled down the hill in 50 minutes, including a stop for a young bear to amble across the road.
Another long week at work and so a run
Looking East
Lunch at the top, looking east over the Rockys and paddle in the boat was all we could manage. We have been spending a few nights down by the lake through the week, just to get away. It is a stunning and quiet spot (i.e. away from the trains!).
The last day off, we spent up at Glacier National Park walking the Perley Rock Trail. A rocky outcrop that over looks the mountains and the Illecilleweat Glacier. We had a lovely day in the mountains, chasing Pika and Marmot. We collected a huge amount of blueberries and huckleberries, which we are still getting through!
Time for new adventures into the USA for 3 months and then to Europe in January. Should be more exciting blogs soon!
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