Chapter 3

Day 40-57

Destinations:
- Redwood National Park, CA
- The Lost Coast
- Crater Lake National Park, OR
- Coos Bay, OR
- Portland, OR
- Olympic National Park, WA
- North Cascades Nat'l Park, WA
- Banff National Park, AB
- Kootenay National Park, AB
- Assinboine National Park, AB


Excerpt from 4 day BP trip in Banff/Assinboine National Park, AB:

I rose early after a fitful night of sleep anticipating the 17 mile hike ahead of me with dread. I scrambled out of my tent and ran to the outhouse then hurried back to the warmth of my sleeping bag. However, I had woken shivering and was now no better. After a minute of vacillating, I started to roll up my sleeping pad. I gathered my things and stepped back out into the crisp mountain air. I flipped the tarp off our packs watching as the frost fell like snow. More awake, I took in the scene around me and watched as the sun rose over peaks in the direction of Wonder Pass. Packing was quick work, and after leaving a note I was on my way leaving my three sleeping companions behind nestled in their down sleeping bags. As soon as I was making my first steps I knew I had made the right decision. The cool air filled my lungs, and I began to make my way along the path which arched the lake. There is a peaceful serenity to the early morning. The calm blue of the mountain lake, the rushing of the icy mountain streams, the sound of rustling inside the wooden cabins, the way the yellow flowers reflect the sun so they shimmer gold, and the way the morning frost makes the wooden bridges sparkle silver. The green trees look soft, so much so that I could believe they were only moss climbing the rocky mountainside. Slowly I ascend to the pass with light purple and bright pink flowers to mark the way. When I turn, I see the valley sprawled out before me and countless rocky snow brushed peaks disappearing into the distance. At last I reach the pass which opens up to a few short trees scattered across the rocky field only to see a view which matches that behind me. The rocky mountains raise before me like a wall. I stop to soak in the morning sun and gentle breeze while sitting among the casual majesty which is Assiniboine National Park.

- Samantha Zawistowski


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