Honestly I haven’t seen a storm like this in a long time. It has been raining hard all night here in Coleman; it’s thundering and lighting and it’s 8C. In the mountains I expect colder temps and dangerous conditions (floods, washouts, slippery trails). Good news is that the smoke has cleared for now 🤣🤣
During the time at the lake in the tent, there were already puddles forming outside the tent. Of course the tent is waterproof but with heavy rain, there is splashing, vestibules are wet and of course we would have had to leave the tent eventually. I cannot really imagine what another 12-24 hours in that weather would have done. The three people camped at the end of the lake, under tarps, would have been sitting in a pooling puddle, for sure. Vivian was also supposed to be up there but I hope she decided against it.
When I left the lake yesterday after the first hour of the rain, there were already huge lakes on the road we had just driven up in dry conditions. Today I expect this road (bad to start with) to be impassable. The race has also packed up the checkpoints so there is no more traffic. It was no doubt the right decision to exit when I still could, instead of even spending a freezing damp night there and then try to get out.
The plan was to find out when Gwen and Keith are leaving for Cranbrook. They texted early in the morning that they had just returned from the race finish line, would sleep a few hours and then decide on departure time. So we enjoyed more time and food with Danita and Kevin, resting and organizing gear.
When Keith texted again midday they had figured out that it would be even better if I caught a ride with Becky who had also paced the same racer and was heading back straight to Kimberley (we have known each other for a while so it was fantastic to be heading home with a friend). So all we had to do was wait for her to get to Keith’s camper, then pick us up at Danita and Kevin’s house. Again everything just worked out, one just has to let things happen 🤞🏻😍
It was sad to say goodbye to my new friends but we all know that we will see each other again. They were so incredibly kind and supportive, and I enjoyed Danita’s cooking, Kevin’s stories and the attention that Allie and Mason gave to Ksanka. As you can see, she adored them.
So for now we will reset for a few days at home, then tackle section C which has all the reserved campsites that are so hard to get. Plus our food box is already at Elk Pass trailhead. We will work on a plan to get there, likely leaving my car at a trailhead near the end and hitching to the start. Our friend from Calgary might also be in the area for guiding and could possibly help out. Garmin check-ins will resume on August 20 when we’re making our way to Elk Pass.
The decision is driven by the fact that I want to (safely) see those majestic mountains around Coleman and in the other areas of Section B. I can come back any time, have a base in Coleman and explore Section B from there. I’d rather do it in dry conditions without smoke so that I can have the views that I’m doing this for – just staring at the trail and trudging on is not worth it, I want to see it all.
Waiting for the worst of the rain storm to pass would mean being two days behind schedule so I can’t make that up just by continuing on (just by sheer distance and the booked schedule).
So with the difficult-to-reserve section being started next week, we will have found a good balance. A few days at home will be useful to restore, reorganize, dry and clean, make some minor gear changes and then head back out for another week. It’s a perfect duration and the food carry will be slightly lighter than for Section B … though at this point we are used to it and the backpack (despite being ultralight) has done well carrying all we need.
I did get a lot of comments on how light and small it is but honestly, I’m packing all I need, just nothing extra. Going lighter is easier on the body, requires less energy (and therefore less calories), is safer as it avoids strains and sore muscles and also falls and slips, and makes it also a lot more enjoyable. I encourage anybody to leave their fears at home and only carry what they really need!
Happy trails! We will return August 20!