This is the hike that I have been looking forward to since we have planned this trip. My parents took it in 2001 and said it was an amazing hike. Unfortunately, David had to meet Randy, the slide repair man, at the camper with the correct part in order to fix the camper so he was unable to make the hike :-(. With that being said –The boys and I rode in my parents RV up to Canada for the day. On the way – this black bear still on the road and stared at us. He is #14.
We got to the marina and found some red chairs – we were wondering if this is a Canada parks thing or not since we also saw a similar chairs in Jasper.
We bought our tickets for the ferry, walked around the marina a little bit and of course got our red chair pictures.
There was a little bit of time for the boys to skip rocks on middle Waterton lake.
The ferry left at 10 AM and we were on for the 15 minute ride. I'm not going to lie – I have always been a little bit nervous that we would not be able to make this hike and make it back to the ferry in time. By the sheer fact that I am writing this – you know we made it back to the ferry.
This was an 11 mile hike with a 2200 foot elevation change.
The first 2 miles we hiked we did in record speed – primarily because as you got off the boat – everybody just started trekking up the trail. You kept up with the person in front of you or you felt like you were falling behind. After 2 miles – we stepped off, had a snack and a slower pace down a little bit so that we could enjoy the hike a little bit more.
Some of the hiking in this view was torture – switch back after switch back out in the sun and uphill. In addition to that – it was over large, loose rocks – which is not great to hike on.
I know I say it in almost every post – but I continue to be amazed at the things that these two little boys are able to do. On almost every hike – there are not kids even close to them in age that are making the same hikes.
The coolest part of this hike came after about five miles when you had to climb a 10 foot ladder –
And then crawl through the 60 feet natural tunnel that is behind Logan –
My dad had a harder time with that because he is 6'3".
When you came out of the tunnel – you had to hold onto a cable wire for about 100 yards as you walked on a sheer cliff face. This was not Logan's favorite part.
Shortly after you do the most nerve-racking part of the hike – you end up at Crypt Lake.
When you get there – you realize that every single step of the 5.5 miles was worth it – the view was breathtaking.
We had lunch here and I did not wish to leave.
As we hiked back – we did have to go through some snow.
Going down holding onto the cable wire was significantly more difficult than going up.
Hunter and my mom seem to have mastered it. Notice the cliff face on the right-hand side.
You can also see the clip drop off behind me, the boys, and my dad.
This was the panoramic view from that cliff face.
The boys didn't mind the ladder at all.
It is always so much easier on the return trip – when you were going downhill.
It was exciting when we got back to where we could see Waterton lake.
Sitting on the dock waiting for the boat to arrive – we were thrilled to know we have made the ferry with about 25 minutes to spare because the ferry departed at exactly 5:30. We don't know if anyone missed the ferry.
It was calling for rain in the afternoon and we were able to avoid all of that – but able to get this magical picture of the gray clouds with the mountains in the sunlight behind.
I was so sad that David was unable to go on this hike – he would not like the Heights, but he would've loved the view along the way. This may be my favorite hike that I have ever done because of the views for so many of the miles of the hike. Waterfalls, mountains, and lakes- views abound.
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