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09-09-2013, 09:24 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,202
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Another Trip Report - Pic Heavy - Diver went backpacking to The Forks in Peter Lougheed Kananaskis
Well, in light of the recent changes about posting pics  , I thought I'd better post another trip report.
I must say, it is GREAT seeing more trip reports and other photo's lately. This is what I really enjoy about this web forum. Lots to enjoy in this province we live in!
I didn't have a lot of time to put this together, so I'm falling down in the quality of this trip report, lots on the forum have kicked my butt lately with the stories and photos. Anyhow... here goes.....
So last week, my wife and I took a short notice trip west for a quick overnighter backpacking trip. We decided to go to a designated campground in Peter Lougheed called the Forks, which is about 7km west of the upper kananaskis lake. This is a site that is operated by Alberta Parks, and is one of few designated backcountry camps that allow fires.
I had a few other places in mind, but with the flooding, the mountains are pretty much a mess and will take years to clean up some of these trails. The hike in is about 2hrs, and is generally pretty easy hiking. A great place to take your kids for a backpacking experience.
We had some nice times around the campfire with 2 guys in the Israeli army, 2 ladies in their 70’s, and two ladies that scared me. Bonafide cougars. Thankfully my wife was there to protect me.
For a sick fat guy, I ended up sweating A LOT on the way in, and having a snooze in the tent in the afternoon I had incredibly painful leg cramps. I could do nothing but cry like a baby and wait until they subsided enough that I could stand up and drink a few litres of water and take some ibuprofen. Big reminder to stay hydrated folks. Coming home, I had lost 5lbs in mostly water.
We left Calgary around 5:00am, and made it to the trailhead nice and early before it got too hot out. I was sick with a horrible head cold and was not thrilled being sick, but wanted to do a backpack trip bad enough to go. We’ve been doing a lot of hiking in the last while, but hadn’t actually done an overnighter in ages. I’m glad to be ‘back in the saddle’ so to speak. Reminded me of a few little tricks I want to incorporate into my gear to be lighter weight and more efficient.
Lots were leaving the backcountry as it was the Monday of the long weekend. The evening was nice and quiet, with the next day being quiet as well.
Not much to this story, but maybe as I have time I’ll add some more anecdotes from the trip. Here’s some pics in no particular order. The flood damage was significant but the trail was very well repaired already.
Normally I don’t give out specific location info, but this is a very popular hike anyhow, so I thought I’d share for othere. P.S. the axe at the wood pile was washed away in the flood. Bring a hatchet!!
Even though it’s in the park, the views around the upper lake are still some of my favorites.
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09-09-2013, 09:25 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Alberta
Posts: 24,070
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As always, thanks for sharing buddy!
I would have carried your old broken butt out if you called me 
__________________
Only dead fish go with the flow. The rest use their brains in life.
Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck
I wasn't thinking far enough ahead for an outcome, I was ranting. By definition, a rant doesn't imply much forethought..... 
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09-09-2013, 09:25 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,202
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09-09-2013, 09:26 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,202
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09-09-2013, 09:28 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,202
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09-09-2013, 10:00 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Calgary
Posts: 3,857
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Sounds and looks fan-freakin'tastic!
Thanks for posting another Stellar report ABD, a couple more of these and you can have yourself a book!
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09-09-2013, 10:00 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,435
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My ankles start to ache just looking at that. Nice pic's, thanks for posting!!
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“One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce, and canonized those who complain.”
Thomas Sowell
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09-09-2013, 10:08 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 693
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You are the picture master of AO, thanks for posting the awesome pics.
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09-09-2013, 10:27 PM
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Alberta
Posts: 5,385
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Hey diver greAt pictures. Was wondering what kind of spider that is and that looks like a concrete bridge that got watched down this stream
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09-10-2013, 11:21 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,202
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BGSH
Hey diver greAt pictures. Was wondering what kind of spider that is and that looks like a concrete bridge that got watched down this stream
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No idea what kind of spiders those were, just big and ugly.
That one bridge was on foundations made of big rocks in metal cages. Everything got washed away. They have temp bridges up that work just fine.
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09-10-2013, 12:02 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,269
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Thanks for sharing!
That is some majestic scenery.
Those twisted up log jams have always creeped me out for some reason.
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09-10-2013, 01:20 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,045
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Thats amazing that the axe is gone. That thing was soooo heavy, but I guess so was the water that must have ran through there.
Good pics!
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09-10-2013, 01:23 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,202
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roughneckin
Thats amazing that the axe is gone. That thing was soooo heavy, but I guess so was the water that must have ran through there.
Good pics!
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I looked around downstream, but the watermark was about 3/4 of the way up the sides of the wood box. looong gone.
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09-10-2013, 01:43 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Innisfail
Posts: 2,022
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Nice as always
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09-10-2013, 05:22 PM
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Gone Fishing
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Penhold,Alberta
Posts: 701
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Thanks for posting the pics AD. I haven't been out to Kananaskis since last fall so it is interesting to see the carnage along the trails. Those log jams are gonna cause havoc come spring run off!
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09-10-2013, 05:58 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 2,677
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Wonderful pix with I was there.
__________________
Often I have been exhausted on trout streams, uncomfortable, wet, cold, briar scarred, sunburned, mosquito bitten,
but never, with a fly rod in my hand have I been in a place that was less than beautiful.
My blog - casting on the waters
fishing regulations and facts on fish handling
Fishing Regulations
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09-10-2013, 06:05 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,845
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Great pics. How many pounds do you pack in the dogs pack.We have a pack for our lab and she packs our water on day hikes.
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09-10-2013, 06:54 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sherwood Park
Posts: 4,326
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Awesome post buddy, now after reading, who is calling who old 
Luv the puppy, looks identical to one of mine lol
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09-10-2013, 10:56 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,202
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pixel Shooter
Awesome post buddy, now after reading, who is calling who old
Luv the puppy, looks identical to one of mine lol |
Hey now!  I may be fat and out of shape, but I'm still in my early thirties... well... till Thursday anyhow...
Get that clot better so you can go exercise those geezer legs!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dago
Great pics. How many pounds do you pack in the dogs pack.We have a pack for our lab and she packs our water on day hikes.
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I'd say 10ish pounds, but he's capable of carrying much more. We tend to keep it to his food and water plus some 'treats' for my wife and I. On the way out, he packed our cookset, fuel, and some other things. Duke's 100lbs, so he's capable of carrying a fair bit. One thing to keep in mind is that if he sees a creek he tries to be in it, so the contents of the pack need to be waterproof or ok if they get wet.
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09-10-2013, 11:03 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: out in the boonies
Posts: 2,495
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Fantastic pics!!! Thanks for sharing!!
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09-10-2013, 11:06 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Calgary
Posts: 4,085
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great lake pics , mountain lakes were like glass where I was as well
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09-11-2013, 12:14 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: 3rd rock from the sun, formerly from 4th rock from the sun
Posts: 5,000
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Now that looks like a great way to have spent a few days on
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