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We had a great weather window so decided to go hike Prairie View Viewpoint and see how the monsters did.
Here's Henry at Barrier Lake.
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Natalia and Walter having lunch at the dam.
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Henry sitting on the first bench at the edge of the dam.
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While it took a wilderness poop, a good number of Hi-chews, and some whining, these little monsters
made it up to the first view point at Prairie View, a distance of ~7.5km and ~500m of elevation gain.
Strong outing!
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Natalia and Walter looking down on Barrier Lake.
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We decided to try Henry in soccer this outdoor season and he's here figuring out the ball.
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The first session was a bit damp to say the least.
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My friends Andrew and Crazy Carl on the Bow.
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We hiked up to Silver Springs Lake near Elko and the boys thought this rock was pretty cool.
"Take a photo for Uncle Justin" Walter said although I have no idea why.
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I was trying to take a photo with Henry and Walter decided to photo bomb.
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Our first look at the lake. It takes a few hundred metres of climbing and a couple km of distance, but it's
a pretty cool spot.
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Walter was thrilled to have found minnows here (and why we brought the nets).
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Many people choose to come up here to sun bathe and to jump off the big cliffs into the lake.
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My boys were far more interested in hunting for minnows and snakes.
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Walter found some 'big boys' here. The lake surface was rocky with some sharp edges so if I
was going to come back I would bring water shoes.
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Henry was THRILLED to have caught a snake here. I think this may be a bull snake but Henry managed
to
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We were set for 30mm of rain in Fernie so Natalia decided to move our shelter over top the tent
and stick a ground sheet INSIDE the tent. Both worked and we stayed dry.
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The skies opened up and dumped a pile of water on us but the campground and tent took it like a champ.
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We went for a Looooooong breakfast at Smitty's owing to them being understaffed and then went to
the info centre to kill some more time. Walter liked this old drilling rig.
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Being hydrological engineers after a rain storm is always fun to move water around.
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An older couple from Calgary gave the boys some paints and ceramics to paint so they had a
party playing with paint. I wouldn't say painting would be a regular camping activity for us.
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The next day was still a bit damp so we spent the morning on a hike up the Fairy Creek to
check out the first waterfall in this area. Walter liked the 'magical' nature of the creek with the
mist coming off of it.
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Henry liked the burnt out shells of trees.
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At the mushroom marking the first waterfall.
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With old-growth cedars and neat bridges crossing drainages, there's always something to
look at on this trail.
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Even though Mom's still learning how to use gears, she also did great on this trail.
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Pushing bikes when the trail got too steep.
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Dinner at the campground was chicken skewers and tzatziki.
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I got one last morning ride in before we left - this is from the start of Hyperventilation.
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Cool sign - painted wood signs look cool on trail signs.
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Nice panoramic shot looking across the valley to the ski hill.
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I thought this ride was fun with ~500m of elevation gain, some steep trail, and some tough
switchbacks. I either need to get better at turns or figure out how to do track stands.
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This trail gets the PP stamp of approval!
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At the top of Hyperventilation, it connects to Hyperextension and then flips over the ridge to give a
neat perspective and a different look than the start of the trail. This makes you feel like you
actually accomplished something and I thought this trail was my favourite so far in Fernie.
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The boys got to check out the massive truck in Sparwood, which apparently was a 'one-off'.
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The kids and Natalia with an old car photo.
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Waterproofing the tent after our Fernie trip.
