Hi all! I left Radium Hot Springs this morning. I awoke to frost on the tent but I was nice and toasty in my tent. It is an ultralight Easton 1 Kilo aptly named as this is how much it weighs. Amazing! My sleeping bag is a Western Mountaineering Versalight. It is light and very versatile. It lives up to it’s advertising. It sits on top of my Exped 7 down sleeping pad. As warm, but not quite as comfy, as my own bed. The black bear did not get me although he did have a chance later in the day (foreshadowing).
Beautiful farmhouse along Highway #95
Beautiful morning fog along Highway #95
Close-up farmhouse along Highway #95
What the hay? Highway #95
The second leg of the Golden Triangle is very different from the other two. There is no big pass. The grade is rolling but not flat. It is very pastoral with beautiful mountains on either side with ranch land and a very long water land management area running 270 miles through the Columbia Valley. You pass Mount Ethelbert (at the forefront of Bugaboo Park) whose top is lightly frosted with snow. The trees are still in fall colour bloom here as this valley is always warmer than the eastern slopes of the Rockies. You just peddle and peddle and admire the expansive views.
Mount Ethelbert along Highway #95
It is very quiet along the highway at this time. There are logging trucks and everyone local seems to drive a truck. The logging trucks give of the scent of pine as they pass in the opposite direction so they are not entirely unpleasant. The drivers are kind and give plenty of room as there is really no shoulder to speak of. It is best to be just left of the right road market as the road is smooth there.
Nothing is open on this road and everything is for sale. It seems the realtor to have is Bob Tegart who seems to have a monopoly as a real estate agent. You see you notice things like this on a bike.
Again, I had to do without a proper lunch. I was hoping to eat at “The Spilli Bean” but it is seasonal. I tell you those protein bars, beef jerky and almonds just don’t make the mark! I am not keeping up with my caloric expenditure. Oh well, it’s always good to drop a few pounds.
About 13 km out of Golden I looked up and about 100 m in front of me a black bear strode across the highway (a bear’s idea of an extreme sport) and looked at me. The Radium campground bear had followed me! Ha! A car coming from the other direction which encouraged him into the bush and out of sight. Good bear!
It does seem like it takes forever to get to Golden. At least things are open here. I stopped at the Overwaitea to replenish snack supplies. It was warm and 17 C. Wow the weather has been just great! I then did a tour of historic downtown Golden (5 count them 5 minutes) and then proceeded to the local campground. Every campground, and even the chalets I stayed at. have been conveniently placed beside active railway tracks. The goods must be delivered which accounts for at least 3 awakenings during the night!
The campground is lovely and quiet with falling leaves on the tent. I had a hot shower (oh the joy of it) and have settled into my tent to write this blog and then read a bit of my e-book before fatigue envelopes me.
Tomorrow is the tough third leg. Kicking Horse Pass! At least I should be able to get lunch in Field or Lake Loiuse. I am back on Highway 1 on a Friday! If all goes well I should be back at Castle Mountain Junction tomorrow night. Adieu until tomorrow.
Morys Musing 
Leave a Reply