Snow.

Saturday's hike was to be to Elfin Lakes in Garbaldi Park by Squamish, with a friend I have not seen since high school. We drove up the access road, 16 km through potholes and gravel, in my Mazda... (There always seems to be a 4x4 story popping up in my life...) and close to the beginning of the hike we saw "nature."

Yes, a beautiful bear. Large in size - perhaps a mother??? She/he pranced across the road in front of us. Must admit, there was some anxiety in me. Ok, my anxiety level shot through the roof! Cool and all - totally awesome, but a sharp reminder that they are out there... it is real... there are bears in the mountains of BC.

So we got to the trailhead and I took out the bear spray - shot a "test spray" and had my knife in close proximity up my sleeve. The bear bells ringing on my pack we started up the trail. My friend and I heard these odd noises - she thought they were a bird... I'm not convinced - but then again, what does a bear sound like close up, maybe it was a bird? We kept going and about 15 minutes up the trail there was white stuff.

It's June 25, and the white stuff was sporadic at first but then, reality set in - if there's snow here, and we're going up, it's only going to get worse :o( So, we went and looked ahead at the snow packs and turned around. Who knew?!?!

We ultimately ended up at Smokey Bluffs, also in Squamish. Nothing like Elfin Lakes - the scenery of ferns and rock was nice and all but somewhat disappointing considering what we were hoping to view! But, the rain stopped, the sun peaked in and out, we had a good hike and got to reconnect. It was a great day. It was worth it.

It is my hope that I will get to hike up Elfin Lakes before I head out - apparently it is more weather dependent these days than a lack of planning and trying! A few more hours in the boots accomplished this weekend and feeling good.

23 days until I leave.

29 days until I climb.