by Peggy Hurdle

It all started on the morning of Friday, August 3, when people started arriving, in the rain, at the Hurdles’. Spirits were high and anticipation great. This year instead of renting two large vans we used only one and the Hurdles’ VW Golf and utility trailer with space for four bikes and a ton of gear. After an hour of figuring out how to pack two tons of gear, we hit the road.

The trip to Lake Annette in Jasper was uneventful. We got ready to go and took an awful lot of pictures while the clouds rolled in. Finally we rolled out as the winds shifted around us. Don and John took off on a side trip that was supposed to be the 93A alternate route. We later heard it turned out to be the road to the sky tram, which is a bit steeper than the intended trip would have been!

The rest of us rolled on while the clouds encroached and the wind swirled until the inevitable happened. We got to test the rain gear for about half an hour before the showers ended. We made it to Athabasca Falls and found this year’s friendly hostel hosts who settled us in and read us their interpreta- tion of the hostel rules. John and Don got in about 5:30 and told their tale of woe. Mike and Bernice made a really good supper. Some of us sampled the “mountain rustic” shower … heat up the water on a camp stove, fill up a 20 litre water bag, hoist it up in a “shower stall” made out of tarps, and let ‘er rip! Rain came and went through the night. Morning came and we started off in the grey damp.

Day 2 was mostly about climbing Sunwapta Pass and gradually leaving the clouds behind. We hit the summit then experienced the thrill/terror of the descent. Rampart hostel came into view: more friendly hosts, a nice sauna, a supper made this time by the Hurdles and Wayne Grover and a really good sleep.

Day 3 was another climbing day: Bow Summit. Peyto Lake was as blue as ever. The ride to Louise was nice, the showers at the end of the day better. Another good supper compliments of Barb and Ed. Sleep came easiest to those with the coolest bunks. The Lake Louise Hostel needs to work on its ventilation in hot weather. A number of us remarked on the change we felt—almost sadness—when we left the mountains and the Icefield Parkway behind and fell into line on the TransCanada. The noise and the congestion were an unwelcome change from the heart of the mountains!

Day 4, Lake Louise to Canmore. When we got up it looked a little threatening but turned out clear and pleasantly warm. A tailwind pushed us downhill to Banff. The picnic spot at Cascade Pond, a real gem found a couple of weeks ago by Ernie Mah, was pleasant and easy to get to. After lunch, the tail windreally pushed us into Canmore at 40k or better most of the way.

Day 5, a rest day in Canmore where we all checked out ALL the bike shops. The main purchases were leg and arm warmers, which were saw a lot of use the next few days. Continuing with good eating, Tom and Karel prepared a lovely barbeque while Maria made a really nice salad to complement the supper.

On Day 6 we bade a rainy farewell to Canmore and headed for K Country. The Bow Valley Trail (1A) through Exshaw is quite scenic—probably even more so in sunshine! Judy at the Barrier Lake visitors centre took pity on us and allowed us to claim squatters’ rights in her fireplace area, while Mike and Bernice whipped up a gourmet lunch out on the sheltered deck. We made our way south into K Country and the Pocaterra Hut, where we fixed two flats in the parking lot. The Pocaterra Hut was familiar to all the skiers in the group and brought back many good memories. But—oops! The group campsite wasn’t near the Pocaterra Hut. Rick and company came back from the park office with the combination to the lock on the access road gate to the actual group campsite. Then the real fun began.

The Pocaterra group campsite is a pretty place with a nice big camp kitchen. But it’s at the end of a 2 km goat track! The Golf and trailer managed to make it up about 2/3 of the first hill, then stalled out as the buzzing front wheels created a shower of gravel. The joy of front-wheel drive! Meanwhile, about half the group had already walked, or ridden slowly, into the campsite. It took about an hour before things got straightened around and cyclists, Golf and trailer—which had been bulled up the hill by about a half dozen cyclists, reminiscent of those photos of soldiers pushing wheeled cannon up the hills in France—were finally reunited. Luckily, the downpour held off until nightfall when all the tents were up. Rick and Wayne’s beef stew warmed the cockles and soothed the ragged tempers. Rain on canvas lulled us to sleep.

Day 7 dawned thankfully dry. We rolled up wet tents, said a prayer for traction on the Golf, and made our way out the goat track to the main road. Fortunately for the cyclists, Don had found a ski trail running through the low country which avoided all the hills. Highwood Pass beckoned. We grunted up the pass—hey, piece of cake after Sunwapta, right?—and stopped for photos at the summit. At 2200 metres, it is the highest stretch of paved road in Canada. The rest stop was just over the sum- mit and gave everyone a good chance to layer up. Whoo, it’s friggin’ cold up there! Some of us felt sleet on our faces as we descended through the high country. The Cat Creek picnic area, our rest stop in the lower (and warmer!) country, has a delightful little trail leading up to a waterfall. An intrepid group of five, with Don in the lead, went exploring while the rest of the gang took off down the river. We found the Highwood Inn B&B late in the afternoon and got ourselves checked in and showered. What a place! Really comfortable and Chris was great. The Highwood Inn even had a movie theatre and fine rooms.

Day 8 took us to the Chain Lakes campground. We started off mid-morning surrounded by clouds and just missed a rain/hail storm. Supper was prepared by the Barb and Ed team and once again was very good. After supper we all sat around Peggy’s computer and looked at the pics that had been taken over the past few days. Quite a difference from our visit to Pocaterra. The main kitchen had everything including lights, heat and water.

Day 9, Chain Lakes to Pincher Creek. Some of the group saw a baby bear and wondered: “Where’s Momma? She can’t be far away.” We cycled up and down the Porcupine Hills, which felt like another mountain pass. Pincher Creek is where we saw the wind turbines for the first time. Very impressive! The wind was strong, but the wind on the following day was an eye opener. The Lundbreck Falls were very nice. This is where we all took lots of pics.

Day 10, Pincher Creek to Waterton. What a ride into Waterton! I never knew the wind could be so strong and in our face and warm all at once. We all (except Bob Atlee, whom we lost) grouped around for a very nice lunch. The mule deer in Waterton were very friendly. The day was sunny, warm, and lots of wind. The wind was the strongest and warmest that I (Peggy) had ever experienced. Waterton is a place we definitely need more time to explore.

Day 11, the trip home. We started off driving back to Pincher Creek where we had just cycled the day before. For the first time in over a week, we were in a motor vehicle instead of cycling, and it felt odd. I think everyone in the group really appreciated sitting in the car and taking it easy at least for a day. I bet the next day everyone got up in pouring rain, ate too much, got on their bikes and headed up the nearest, biggest hill they could find, into the wind. Am I right? The wrap-up potluck supper was held at the Hurdles’ on Saturday, August 18, for a good recap of the trip and a chance to share all the pics we’d taken during the trip. Having a computer along with us enabled us to review our pics every so often, which provided good humour to everyone. Our trip pics will soon be up on a website for everyone to enjoy, if they’re not already.