Day One: Ascent to Camp July 26, 1998 This is the first of a six part journal written as it happened to Michael Townsend as he and his daughter attended a mountain climbing school between Banff and Jasper. The adventure begins for us today but the actual event began July 5th. |
The first day was touted to be one of the toughest days of the up coming week. However
the 4 hour hike in with all our equipment and food for the week was done when the energy levels were at their highest. While the climb was fairly long, about 6 or 7 kms and the elevation gain of about 2000 feet, excitement and adrenaline was very high; more than enough to carry the load. The beauty of Bow Lake, that glacier blue, the smell of the lake and trees was so very inviting, revealing nothing of the struggle which lay ahead. We would first have to cross a natural bridge of rock, over a thundering chasm of water, which hinted at and provided passage to this natural and potentially dangerous terrain. |
This scene depicts the route up to the mountain climing base
camp (seen below) from which each day's |