I am not very good at making friends on social media platforms. My straight-forward, blunt approach doesn’t always land as intended. I have had my share of misunderstandings and mishaps.
So it was a big deal for me to post on a Facebook group looking for company for a hike during my recent week off. Most of my running and hiking are solo endeavours but sometimes I like to share the experience with others.
Thankfully I didn’t hear crickets on my post. After deciding that it would be less awkward and more COVID-19 friendly, I met at the Caroline at the Emerald Lake Triangle trailhead in Yoho National Park. (Also you can escape easily if you have to when you drive your own vehicle.)
A friend had posted photos of her Emerald Lake Triangle recently, which compelled me to suggest the hike. The trailhead is in Yoho National Park, just past Lake O’Hara. It’s a long drive and could potentially be a long day so I welcomed the company. It was a long drive but I knew the views would be worth it.
The trail essentially circles Emerald Lake – and you can do it clockwise or counterclockwise. We decided to follow the counterclockwise route based on the reviews. All in it’s about a 19-kilometre loop with 1,000 elevation gain.
I have to tell you there’s nothing like the fresh mountain air and the mutual love of the outdoors to remove any sort of awkwardness between strangers. Caroline and I got on quite well after the initial introductions and small talk. It was good thing because it turned out to be a long day.
When you’re hiking with someone new, you have to be flexible about pacing and timing. I just wanted the vert so I didn’t care how long it took us. But there were a few times when I had to check myself because I am used to going without lunch breaks or snack time. That’s the trail runner in me.
After a switch-backed climb through the trees, we were finally blessed with views of the mountains and Emerald Lake along the ridge. We saw so many glaciers!
The best part of the hike was navigating below the trails leading to the Burgess Shale Formation – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All the hikes and trails leading to the formation are closed for the year. We were good hikers and heeded the closed trail warnings on the signs.
Caroline was dead set on finding a fossil (picture only) to show her geologist father. However the two marmots sunbathing on a rock were the closest we came to finding a fossil.
It seemed we were the only two on the trail when we met a bunch of hikers as we started our loop down to the lake. The day was peaceful and the weather accommodating. It was good for me to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people. I can be really awkward socially so it took a lot for me to put myself out there. Now I have a new hiking buddy.
Have you ever hiked with a stranger? Have you joined hiking groups? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.