The Magic Satchel

Prior to leaving work on Friday I spent some Google time looking for hikes in the area we would be camping in that had some elevation gain. The closest I could find was Plateau Mountain, and lacking a better knowledge of the area this is where we decided to go. We didn’t have a map, and only a vague idea of where to go once we got out on the road, but we somehow managed to find the start of the hike without any turning around.

You start out on a road that is blocked off by a locked gate, and walk up at a relatively easy incline… on the road. This continues for a while and I say “well, it is great to be out here walking but this hike better not all be on this road or this is going to suck”. We continue walking on the road and reach the top of the ridge with no difficulty at all. The road continues off to our left and directly across from us is our goal, Plateau Mountain.

Yeah, the road we were on took us up 90% of the elevation gain we were expecting to have to work for, and there wasn’t an obvious alternative to the road to continue on to the top of the mountain. At this point I think we agreed this hike was sitting in the 2 or 3 out of 10 category for challenge, fun, views… all the stuff you hope for when you go on a hike.
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Ahh camping, is there anything better than not being in the city for a few days to help get your head cleared out and things back on track?

This past weekend was a late change of plans (from none to hmm.. camping? to getting invited to camp with friends) but thanks to “the list” and the fact that camping gear is always easy to get out and throw in the car, next to last minute planning is no problem. I got off work early-ish and we headed out to Chain Lakes Provincial Park and had a pretty casual first night, sitting around drinking and listening to a couple of friends play guitar and banjo.. yeah, banjo!

The only complaint was no firepits at the individual sites. Seriously… camping without a fire is like chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips. Sure, the cookie is still good, but it isn’t as good as it could be with that missing element.

Anyway, we made it through the evening without fire and Saturday morning Josh and I decide we are going to go hiking before the heat made us not want to move. That post is coming up next, but needless to say after a dusty hike in near 30 degree heat the first thing we did when we got back to the campsite was change in to swim trunks and went to jump in the lake. Glorious is the word I choose to use to describe the feeling of the cool water, and it definitely saved me from being a total zombie for the rest of the night. I still had a nap after dinner, but I think I’d have had serious heat stroke if I didn’t have the lake to take the edge off.

Saturday night was more of the same as Friday… drinking and guitar / banjo playing, and that was just fine by me as I relaxed in my chair with my new favorite fruity drink – Blueberry vodka and sprite. mmmm, tasty.

Sunday was pack up and return home, and let me tell you this – I knew I had too much sun when the first thing I wanted to do when I got home wasn’t have a shower, it was go to sleep. The shower I had later just let me know I had burned the top of my head, and I think from now on I’ll have to be a hat wearing hiker.

“Camp more this summer” is already a success, and I know there are at least 2 more trips planned so I’m pleased with this.. I just need to work on the “hike more”.