DAY ONE
The game plan: To hike approximately 10km in to Circlet Lake and set up camp (FYI: no campfires allowed in this park).
Once the camping fee was paid ($5/person/night -- great deal!), the packs organized and on our backs--we made our way to the trailhead. How nice and level it looked! This was going to be a breeze--this was the first thought that popped into my head. The first 30 minutes or so, we walked along a boardwalk through a nice meadow. The weather was perfect, slightly overcast, and a nice breeze. Lovely!
Then...I saw the first ridge to climb. It is amazing how quickly our leisurely stroll through the meadow turned into a hike through the mountains -- and just a
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The game plan: To hike approximately 10km in to Circlet Lake and set up camp (FYI: no campfires allowed in this park).
Once the camping fee was paid ($5/person/night -- great deal!), the packs organized and on our backs--we made our way to the trailhead. How nice and level it looked! This was going to be a breeze--this was the first thought that popped into my head. The first 30 minutes or so, we walked along a boardwalk through a nice meadow. The weather was perfect, slightly overcast, and a nice breeze. Lovely!
Then...I saw the first ridge to climb. It is amazing how quickly our leisurely stroll through the meadow turned into a hike through the mountains -- and just as quickly the sun came out in full force.
For lunch, we all agreed to stop for a while to enjoy our energy bars and sandwiches. We hadn't been sitting for more than a minute or two when we got some unexpected company...the whiskey jacks (they are related to the blue jay), as curious as they are, came in to see what was going on. These birds have no fear--they were landing on our heads, shoulders, and if you held your arm out, they would land there. Keep a close eye on your food, they will try to take it from your hand if you aren't careful! At first it was a real treat to have them around, but they soon turned very annoying--much like the constant buzz of the horseflies.
The total time of our hike, including stops water and lunch, was about 4.25 hours.
DAY TWO
The game plan: To summit Mount Albert Edward!
We left our camp at about 9:30am; about 20 minutes later we reached the first of many inclines -- a nice incline of loose rock. The perfect beginning!
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