Jewell at the edge of the rockies.

Hike #2 for the 2019 season.

Number 1 would have been a boring repeat of Lady MacDonald so thought I'd skip that one. It doesn't help that the weather hasn't been on our side as of late- typical springtime mountain seasons, all 4 in one day. So the hike of choice today was Jewell pass to Barrier Lake. Even Andrew came! For those who know us will know that, that was a feat in itself.

So considering this morning was well and truly overcast in Canmore we had ruled out the idea of a summit ( I mean what is the point if theres no view??) Andrew and myself decided to tag along with Paula and Carol up Jewell Pass.

Turns out that the usual entrance on Highway 40 behind Barrier Lake is closed off so we had to start up by Heart Creek. Just passing Lac de Arcs on Highway 1 heading towards Calgary your turn off but see heres where we got sneaky. You can start at the Heart Creek day use area and walk a measly 2km in around Heart Mountain to Quaite Valley. Or as we discovered if you drive an extra 2km up the Highway 1 there is a "carpark" along side the highway which connects up to the end of the 2km from Heart creek connecting to the Quaite Valley track. Literally 200m in from the truck we cross-roads with the Heart Creek exit. Smart I know.

From here you follow the gravel road for another 1.6km up the valley. Since it is still mid- April there is a decent amount of snow still here and occasionally you need to trudge through it at this point (wait for it). Not far up this road it narrows out and you come out at Quaite Valley Campground. Loads of firewood is precept for you, many little campsites tucked into the trees and fresh drinking water from the stream available. Andrew being Andrew took note and kept that in his library of places to stay overnight.

Andrew waiting for all us girls

Up valley from the campgrounds was where things got muddy. Take note that this side of Jewell Pass is north facing so doesn't get anywhere as much sun. Mud-to-ice back to mud for around a kilometre before coming face-to-face with just snow. The ground this late in the winter season was so well compact in the snow that it was easier to maneuver until putting the boots into the sides and sinking to mid-shin in slush. On the uphills there was plenty of ice melt that we had to dart around. Around 2km in from the campground is the forks where you can either decide to head up Prairie View or through to Jewell Pass. Since the day was a pretty miserable one we decided the latter.

Up to this point is was overcast and the odd sprinkle of rain. Once passing the forks she rained. consistently. Only a few hundred metres from the forks the snow dwindled out and turned into the forest floor and we wandered ridge line next to a creek bed. This weaved and bobbed through the trees before coming out to a bridge, and also a waterfall. I didn't even realize that we were going to pass Jewell Falls. Its so fascinating to see what was once a gushing waterfall overflowing with crystal blue water in the summer months, is a silent and mesmerizing white-blue haze that is frozen in time.

Myself and Paula infant of Jewell Falls

Andrew and I didn't have spikes so the descent down from the falls was a slippery one. From here there was not much snow on the trail and you follow the river bed down the valley all the way down to the bottom where you meet again with the trail to Prairie view and also down to Barrier Lake front. We decided to wander a little up to another campground and attempt to find some shelter for lunch - there is none heads up. Sitting frozen lake side we quickly demolished our lunches.

We decided to make the decision to follow back Jewell Pass back as it was 6.6km one way rather than taking Prairie view back which would have been around 9.5km back. Not only for time but the fact it was raining and we were all at the point of wanting to not be trudging up a mountain saturated.

For once in my life I was actually able to somewhat keep up with Andrew. He is a power horse. Literally goes faster on an uphill which is confusing to me- I do think he slowed down a bit to accommodate us girls. Not long after making our way uphill the rain turned into snow and it continued to snow all the way back to the truck.

Considering the weather and how early in the season it was it was nice to get a summer warm up that wasn't too much of a heavy incline. Sometimes its nice to not summit (I totally lie, I love summits). But I wasn't about to do a 4 hour hike in the rain to not see anything.

That and I was super happy that Andrew decided to come with me. Because it is a rare occurrence.