I was able to close out this summer in style! Peter, Rod and I were joined on the Labour Day long weekend by James and Simeon for a backpacking adventure. For probably the last time, the campsite decision was left mostly up to me and, with quite a bit of consultation with Peter, Ribbon Lakes was chosen as the destination.
We had decided to do something in either Banff National Park or Kananaskis. I consulted the lists of backcountry sites in Kananaskis again and checked the routes in. Tombstone, which three of us did three weeks prior, seemed to have been a good warm-up so I wanted to pick something a bit longer. Ribbon Lakes promised a few different options for getting in and out so I thought it would be great. We decided against going in and out over Buller Pass and only going out that way meant a long, long car shuttle. If you come in along Ribbon Creek, you have to tackle a rock face with the help of some chains. All descriptions said that way was tougher to come down and, since I thought a loop would be more exciting, we decided on a small car shuttle which allowed us to go in along Ribbon Creek and out along Galatea Creek. On the way out, we would have to cross Guinn's Pass.
Ribbon Creek turned out to be an easy walk in perfect weather. With James in the lead, we set a fast pace up to Ribbon Falls. We passed a few groups and encountered a park ranger, with whom we chatted at length. After the falls, the trail rapidly started to gain some altitude to the rock face. Our quick pace up the creek left us a little tired going up towards the chain section but we made it after some frequent rests. James and I charged ahead up the chains and were soon at the top. Peter, Rod and Simeon were a little slower up the last of the trail before the chains and had to wait a bit more as Rod experienced some cramps in his calves. The chain section wasn't as difficult as on-line guides had led me to believe but one section was probably a bit more difficult than anything I had scrambled before. It was definitely doable without the chains but they were helpful since I wasn't so nimble with a large pack on. I ended up going back down without my pack and lugging Rod's up as he suffered with his cramped legs; his gamer energy drink might have left him lacking some electrolytes. Peter and Simeon didn't mind lightening their packs at this point and sharing their water and snacks with Rod to help him out. Once at the top, it was again an easy walk to the lake and our campsite.
The next day was supposed to start out tough but would be downhill from the top of the pass. After a short walk through the trees, we took the turn up to Guinn's Pass and really started to go uphill in a hurry. The path was well-packed on the scree slope so walking wasn't difficult. Again, James set the pace and I stayed right on his heels. Rod was a ways back with Simeon and Peter a little further down the trail. It was a good grunt up Guinn's Pass but the view was definitely worth it. The other side proved to be another scree slope but not as well-packed so I was glad I was going down it. Again, James and I led the way with the others following at their leisure. After gathering together on the south side of the pass, we were off down Galatea Creek. James and I got into a nice rhythm and we flew down the path without any breaks. It was an overcast day and nice to put in a long, uninterrupted walk like that. The sun came out just before we hit the final parking lot and we had 40 minutes of lying in the warm sunshine before Rod appeared, followed quickly by Simeon and Peter.
After having the heaviest backpack during the Tombstone trip, I think I was the lightest on this one. I had pretty much the same equipment except James was carrying my tent poles and Rod's Grand Stew and I had forgot my camera. The stew would be even heavier this time since three of us would be sharing it. Peter weighed his pack once he had returned home and found he was carrying 16.6 kg, or nearly 30% of his body weight. My pack weighed 12.8 kg in the end or just 16% of my body weight. It's no wonder Peter struggled up the pass and I was on James' heels all day. As I took Rod's pack up the chains the first day, it felt like it was definitely a little heavier than mine.
We're all looking forward to more adventures like this next year and we hope a few more friends will join us.
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