We drove in from Alberta and camped at the Takkakaw Falls walk-in site on the night of the 24th. Many who use that campsite move their gear to the campsite using the provided baggage carts. If there is no cart at the parking lot, go to the campsite and take one from whatever ignoramus is hoarding it at their tentsite.
After a chilly night, we prepared for the hike and visited the falls while we awaited the arrival of friends from Clearwater. It was afternoon by the time we started for Little Yoho. This was a low-speed, low-ambition trip, since we have a 5-year old, and our friends have a 6-month old. They also had their black lab, which, while fine with people, sometimes was an extra hassle they hardly needed. A surprising number of people hiking and camping in the area had largish dogs, including the warden who visited Little Yoho.
The weather couldn't have been better. Usually during dry summer weather in the Rockies, you have fire smoke and/or afternoon thunderstorms. We had neither, with crystal clear skies all day and occasional clouds. Each morning, the sun would hit the tent at 7:30.
An uneventful but slow hike to Little Yoho got us to the ACC cabin and nearby campsite by supper time. We browsed on no less than 5 types of berries along the way. Our friends stayed at the cabin, while we got set up in the campsite, which, despite some bs while registering in Field, was nearly deserted.
(You see, there are two ways to register to camp. One is to register more than 24 hours in advance, by phone, and reserve your campsite nights. The other way is in person, at the info center in Field, on the day your hike starts, to get the unreservable spaces. We, however, were registering less than 24 hours before our hike, in person, and did not want to drive down from Takkakaw just to book into the area on the next morning our hike was to start. So we didn't meet the criterea for either way to register! After much explicating about the rules and crowded campsites, we were granted an exception for our totally bizarre circumstances, the needed reservations were duly completed, lots of cash was handed over, and we were legal to camp.)
Thursday was occupied visiting the glacier at the foot of Isolated Peak, and taking in the stunning views from the top of the Whaleback. Much time was spent napping in meadows. First thing Friday morning I dismantled a few dams that busy campers had constructed in the stream beside the campsite. Later we wandered up to Kiwetinok Lake and Pass, and lounged in the high country. Using a monocular, I spotted a couple of people crossing the glacier from Daly Peak towards Balfour, which was 14km away. Much more time was passed hunting for delicious little strawberries. How come kids can see them far better than adults can?
On Friday night the campsite pretty well filled up (thanks partly to kcountry and party), but we'd snagged the best and most private site, so it didn't really affect us. 5 other kids showed up, but they were a bit to old to play with our daughter. They busied themselves with war games and building a new dam across the stream.
Our last day, Saturday, saw us head out over the well populated Iceline Trail. I don't expect a wilderness experience when hiking with kids, so this was ok. Last time we did the Iceline, it was socked in and sleeting, so the sparkling clear day was a welcome change. I'm happy to report that unlike 6 years ago, there were almost no bogus inukshuks along the trail, and none that I could find remained after our passage. The long descent to the hostel was refreshingly shaded, and so ended yet another wonderful outing.
It sounds like our trip overlapped kcountry's:
https://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topi...TOPIC_ID=13023
so we must have shared the Little Yoho campsite for the night of the 27th.
Walk-in campsite at Takkakaw Falls
Isolated Peak from the Whaleback
President and Vice President from Isolated area
Iceline and the Vice President from Whaleback
A welcome sight
Wild Stawberries
On the Iceline Trail
Descending to Takkakaw Falls
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Meet you at DYE-II?