M Schols

Second day for Wells Gray but since all the trails around Clearwater were shorter or too much the same we decided to head for Lake Murtle and rent a Canoe and spend the night in the wild since the weather was going to be good for the next day also. So after a short hour on a gravel road (google maps almost pointed us through a dirt road) but always keep thinking for yourself so we searched for a bigger road. When we arrived at the car park... only 2 other cars... but 2 men who just returned from the lake explained us that the boatman should be at the Canoe's from 11 onward untill he cleaned his shit up. Well the hike with gear was 2,5km to the Canoe's but no boatman. More people came from the lake and were able to explain us that the boatman never was here today.... and maybe never would arrive. It is also the guy that keeps an eye out on this non motorized lake 1100meter above sea level. We were planning on waiting for this guy but this Canadian group that just arrived explained that we could wait but that he maybe wouldn't show up today or tomorrow. When I told that there was a boat just handed in and still unlocked this great guy Allan suggested to use that one and pay the boat man when he crossed our path and explained the boatman wouldnt mind since he couldn't miss us. We went with this plan but to be sure I left my business card with a message so we could prove we would pay him. Also if we missed the Boatman he would know his boat wasn't stolen. So far so good... but we paddled kayaks before and rowwed also but a Canoe was a little different so a quick course from Allan made a big difference. We noticed in his lesson that I knew only half of it. And to top it up even further Allan found out we hadn't a cooking set with us... so he lend their stove to us. How great and friendly is this... Canadian people so far are so much more polite than elsewhere but they also are easy in trusting others and helping others out. We promised to give it back to family of theirs in Nelson where we go to in the end. So we rowed off and got the rhytm fast enough when the water became more rocky (as in higher waves and stronger wind). We managed to get past Campsite 1 & 2 and cross a big part of the lake to Campsite 3 within 1hour &25min. Good job. Next job was scout the area (mostly beach), put up the tent, build a campfire, make food etc etc. We had our jobs and succeeded, the stove we saved for if we failed ;-). This place was wonderfull I think it will be one of the highlight for sure. So we slept in the tent at the beach, damn it was cold, a little under freezing point, so more layers did the job staying warm. In the morning the sand was still frozen so we waited untill the sun rose above the mountain ridge. Than we got the food out of the bearproof foodvault (they have these everywhere where you can camp), had breaky with the stove which worked perfect and fast. After that we cleaned up and left the place better than we found it (a rule I learned at work). We paddled back again with wind against us but still a little faster. Before 11 we arrived and cleaned up the boat just before the Boatman arrived, we could have said nothing but we had such a great time we would be honest also. We would pay anyway, but telling him was a little of a bummer ;-). He was not amused but for a few reasons that made sense and some others that didn't. Ok, safety was a good one, but he can't keep track of everyones whereabouts anyway. I guess he likes to stay in control which I can understand ;-). We paid and said sorry and hiked back to the car. All went well and the drive back was a bit tougher than before since google showed us the wrong way again but with a sharp eye and taking it easy we managed to get back in Blue River around 12, had lunch and drove to Valemount to have a shower and diner at Caribou Steak & Grill house to celebrate the good ending of our little adventure :-).Read more