Hiking the Chilkoot Trail

Oh, glorious day! The best hike, a swim in a lake, the last day…

However, it started in a drizzle and with a wet tent, which is not the nicest way to start the day. Sean had picked half a mug of wild blueberries last night, so those were a nice fresh treat in our breakfast muesli, especially with the addition of a tiny peanut butter package taken from A&W the morning we left Whitehorse.

The slope of shale that had flummoxed me completely coming into Happy Camp was a-okay today with fresh feet, a full tummy, better confidence, and two poles; thank goodness. Hiked the relatively easy 4 km to Deep Lake where we had a snack and dried out in the sun. There were a few other campers there who are just getting going, and who are attempting to get to the pass and back to Deep today (big day to be starting after 11 AM, I thought)!

Another 5 km along a high crest above a gorgeous raging river brought us to Lindeman for lunch (chicken instant ramen, of course, with the addition of bone broth powder from Laurie). Sun was out and life was good. The lake looked so inviting, but we were determined to swim at Bare Loon, not here.

A final 3 km through forests of the spongiest floors ever walked brought us to Bare Loon Lake. I loved today’s hike – lots of good steady uphill, no shale, few big rocks, no tricky balance tests for me! It was also gorgeous, with Lindeman vistas going on forever, sun, dappled glades, and stubby cute pines galore. Some further ‘first foods once back’ were discussed: fully loaded nachos, lasagna, giant glass of Sauvignon Blanc. I chatted books for a bit with Carol-Ann and Laurie; must remember some interesting-sounding titles they shared.

Arrival at Bare Loon Camp was so sweet. Stunning lakefront tent pads amongst the trees, standing ready for us in the afternoon sun. Sean + I set up our tent quickly, spread out our soaked fly on another nearby platform, then got into swim stuff and in we went. Oh, the joy! The water was brisk but beautiful and it was heaven to wash. Stayed in for a good chunk of minutes before warming up on a sun-baked flat rock. So. Damn. Good. It’s amazing how much a clean body can affect one’s mood and outlook. I had determined (even before the swim – but being clean and feeling revived in that way cemented things even more) that I wasn’t quite ready to end the hike yet; two more days would be fabulous. I’m sad today was our last full day, and tonight our last night in camp.

Snacks, tea and chatting in the cute little open-sided picnic hut was followed by a dinner of Moroccan Lentil Couscous and hot Tang, which has become a sleeper hit of the trip. Quite delicious! 

Now, most are Yahtzee-ing, some are exploring nearby, and I’m content with my writing. My face feels flushed from the sun today and probably from contentment too 🙂

This place is a slice of heaven, and this trip has been an important reminder of what I can accomplish. The challenge has demanded determination and resilience, and I’m proud of myself. It’s also been a great reminder of how good of a team Sean and I are. Eleven years married in a few weeks! He is truly my rock in every way.

Through the trip we’ve been collecting trail names and I feel the need to immortalize them here:

• Dayna: Chef (always boiling water for us)
• Carol-Ann: Fire Pants (overheating reference…)
• Laurie: Yahtzee (she couldn’t not roll them!)
• Kellie: Bear! (MUST be done with bear paw action, from when she spotted them at Happy Camp)
• Matt: Bear Bait (double entendre)
• Rob: Trash Panda One (can’t finish your Happy Yak? Rob’s your guy)
• Heather: Tang (that bag was HUGE when we started! She carried it the whole way and never tried it…)
• Sean: Sparky (due to an unfortunate / hilarious incident with the camp stove and a dish towel)
• Mark: Trash Panda Two (see Rob, above)
• Katrina: Tinderella (she’s single, ready to mingle, and very open to regaling us with her tales)
• Ann: Electrolyte Sarah (every 45 minutes!)
• Me: Wobbles (if someone was going to fall into a creek… it was going to be me)

I’ve enjoyed chats with each person in the group and have been able to appreciate something each one has brought to the collective. It’s been nice to see what everyone brings to the overall dynamic. There isn’t one outlier, everyone has been an important piece of this hilarious, supportive, jolly, determined puzzle. It’s been a blessing.