We started down a fairly wide trail in the Willmore Wilderness area, leaving the back country staging area parking lot. The lot had been full of cars and horse trailers. Just before we had left, a pair on horses had set out. There was also two rangers untacking their horses, and getting ready to leave after a morning partol of the area. I presumed we would see a few people. As we ambled down the wide path, we could see many imprints of hooves in the dry soil, and a few shoe/ boot treads as well. We were a little concerned about the shared use trailsing being boggy, or churned up by the horse hooves. Owing to the dry weather, and the rocky composition of the soil however, this was not the case at all. We had to pick our way across some rocky areas, some places where the flooding had run down paths, stripping the soil away, but no mud!
After a couple kilometers, we turned off on a smaller trail, intending to complete a broad loop that should take three days, two nights. Well, we hoper to get back to the car early afternoon on Monday, and with our late start, it was really more like two full days and two nights. The smaller trail was good, and we were making good time. We crossed the border of the Jasper Park, past the signs advising us that carrying firearms was not permitted in the park, or they must be safely locked up or something like that. I was really focusing more on the hills rising up around us, and the trees.
We forded a river, having to take off our shoes to do so, and saw our first and only fellow hiker. He was carrying a big bag, and had a small dog on a leash. Rather unusual, but each to their own. He crossed the river as we were still pumping water thru our purifier, and disappeared from sight. And that was the last other human we saw.
Shortly after that, in a broad meadow where three valleys converge, we saw a trail sign. Turns out we had already walked 9km, according to the sign. We could go on, down the well work trail, or we could go to Wolf Pass, 24 km down a different valley. We looked in the direction the sign indicated and saw nothing but a grass and shrub covered meadow. Then, Justin spotted a trio of small dead trees, raised teepee style, and with a small orange refelctor. Further on, we could just make out one nailed to a tree. So that was the path. We looked at each other, shrugged, and took the path less travelled.
Wherever you are, Be There 