Westman Wilderness Club completes difficult hike in Banff

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This article was published 15/11/2018 (2592 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Five members of the Westman Wilderness Club recently completed their most difficult hike of the year.

Spanning six days and five nights, the group set out on a multi-day wilderness backpack trip through the Sawback Circuit in Banff National Park from Sept. 20 to Sept. 25.

“It didn’t go quite as planned,” club member Sue Palmer said.

The group drove west, staying first in Canmore, Alta., to prepare for the hike.

Arriving at Johnston Canyon in Banff, the group was greeted with the easiest leg of their trip — a paved two-and-half-kilometre walkway leading up to water falls, followed by a three-kilometre hike to the “Ink Pots,” a series of small coloured ponds.

Pressing on for another 18 kilometres, the group set up camp after a hard eight hours of hiking.

Originally the group set out to conquor a 74-kilometre loop, but on their second night before they could begin the hike along the highest pass they woke up to eight inches of snow. The snow was so heavy, Palmer said it caused their tents to sink down.

The heavy snowfall made it difficult and dangerous to attempt the loop.

“We could hear avalanches all around us,” said Di Ingram, club secretary and Banff hike leader.

Navigating the hike can be an adventure in the best of conditions. The trail was not marked and wasn’t on a map, so the group followed a map on Ingram’s GPS.

Staying another night at their original campsite, the group opted for a day hike, with safety remaining their top concern.

While the hike had its difficult moments where members found it challenging to push on, Palmer said that it was all worth it in the end.

Moments of experiencing the wonder of nature make each hike a unique and fun experience, Palmer said.

“Those moments stay with you, you forget everything’s you’ve been through.”

At the end of their latest hike in Banff, she said everyone was rearing to go for another one. The club is considering a visit to Waterton National Park for their next big trip.

Rather than a weeklong hike like they did in Banff, the group plans to instead set up a base camp and focus on day hikes.

“You go as prepared as you can be, but also prepared if someone has an accident or injury or becomes sick,” Ingram said. “We help each other through.”

The group works hard to prepare for the more intensive hikes, organizing gear to bring between members and going on more intensive hikes during training.

While the weeklong hike is a highlight for some members the group has a love for the great outdoors year round.

Founded in 1976, The Westman Wilderness Club aims to bring people together with a passion for getting outside to experience nature.

Holding meetings quarterly at the start of each season, the club engages in an assortment of activities ranging from canoeing and mountain biking to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, to summer and winter camping.

Activities typically span one day, but the group also does weekend camping trips and longer hikes such as their recent experience in Banff, Palmer said.

“We try and make things to everyones ability. If somebody is new or just new to the activity you try to make sure that they’re safe and they have what they need,” Ingram said. “We will take people totally green and we work up.”

The club has even loaned gear to members looking to try out a new sport she said.

Some of the favourite areas among club members include Riding Mountain National Park, Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Turtle Mountain Provincial Park, the Brandon Hills and the Assiniboine River area.

The club has more than 50 members who span a range of ages and skill levels.

Membership in the club is $15 a year, or $20 for families.

“You just enjoy nature, and the peace and quite,” Ingram said.

Visit the club at westmanwildernessclub.ca/ to learn more.

»ckemp@brandonsun.com

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