Nothing could have made me any happier than standing on the Northover Ridge looking out at the surrounding summits, glaciers and tarns on Saturday.
I have to tell you, I was literally moved to tears. Sometimes the simple, beauty of the mountain landscapes just stops me in my tracks. How lucky am I to be standing amongst such majestic, natural beauty?
Earlier that Saturday morning we started from the Interlakes parking lot to tackle the ridge counter clockwise route. Before we reached the parking lot, we spotted two bears eating berries in a ditch. What a cool sight to start our day.
There’s generally a 50-50 split on which route – clockwise or counterclockwise – is the best. Once again we decided to hike counterclockwise starting at Interlakes. Last year three of us made it to the col before turning because of the poor weather. Thankfully we were blessed with blue skies and cool temperatures.
Three-bear day
The hike up to the col turned out to be eventful. All along the trail we saw evidence of bears in the dug up roots, flattened flora and scat. I think there were bear aware signs at the trailhead too.
But it was only when we spotted another bear in the trees running down the slope that things got exciting. Minutes later we spotted him again running in the valley adjacent to several hikers on a trail. They were separated by trees so there wasn’t any danger to the hikers. It was clear to us the bear was purposely avoiding the humans. And the humans had no idea the bear was so close.
We were mindful to stay close together for the rest of the day after the spot of drama.
Beyond the col
What a difference to be able see the surrounding vistas from the col. Last year there was nothing to see but clouds. After spending a few minutes taking on the col, we readied ourselves for the ridge.
In places the ridge was narrow and slightly rocky. You really had to keep a clear head to navigate a few spots. I didn’t take any pics of the sketchy part because I was juggling poles (more of a hindrance than anything) and trying to stay upright.
Before we hit the narrow spot, I felt a little queasy and I had to stop to regain my composure. I felt much better after having something to eat. The others said it was probably adrenaline that upset my stomach.
Other than a little stomach uneasiness I had no trouble navigating the sketchy parts on the ridge. Once we the ridge opened up, we began to see more and more people headed in both directions.
No doubt the blue skies brought out the masses. It was a perfect day to leisurely stroll the ridge while taking photos and enjoying the views. We noted it’s also a great place for contemplate life’s big questions.
Heading down was bittersweet but the beauty of the Northover tarns and in the distance kept our senses on high alert. It seemed at every corner another picturesque scene unfolded. How could another hike top this?
We noticed several tents near the mountain lake and wondered about the glorious sunrises and sunsets in this picture-perfect setting. It was only when we reached the boundary sign that it dawned on us that we were on the border between British Columbia and Alberta.
Our way back to the parking lot turned out to be a little more tricky than we had anticipated. At one point we were confronted with a large snow melt that created a waterfall. It was very dicy to cross and we had to really watch our footing and get the heck out of there before it melted any further. We were thankful that we did not have to climb up and over the melt.
As well sections of the trail appeared to have been covered by a recent rock fall. Sue who had came up the ridge clockwise before had not recognized the trail at all. In another spot, the water at Hidden Lake had risen so high that it covered the trail so we were forced to do some light bushwhacking.
We learned from our hike last year to stay to the right along the riverbed while heading to the ridge from Three Isles. This provided to be a great time saver, and we were in much better moods heading to the ridge.
All in all this was a fabulous day with great company. Provided you are fit enough – it is a long, loop – I say add this hike to your list. Portions of the trail are not maintained so you should be flexible and willing to get a little dirty. Take your time. We clocked in 36.4 kilometres with 1,600 metre gain in elevation at a steady hiking pace.
Ideally you will want to go on a day with stable weather for safety reasons and to ensure you will be rewarded with the amazing views of mountains, glaciers, wildflowers and lakes.
Is there a hike or run that you do every year? Have you ever cried because something was so beautiful? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.