A Mountain Refresh

Washington Outlook

I never fully realized how pivotal moving to Washington at 18 would be for my character development. I had been on hikes before the move, but it was never my first choice. Yeah I thought nature was cool, but I never understood why people made it their whole personality. Why people spent hours suffering up an incline just for minutes of a viewpoint. And then I moved to Bellingham, WA. What a shock that was. I was surrounded by people who seemed to have Tourette’s with their additions to the English language such as “stoke” and “shredding the gnar.” And then something strange happened. I started actually enjoying my time outside and making it a bigger priority in my life.

Fast forward to 2025 and going on my first big backpacking trip. Backpacking was never something I envisioned myself doing until I started getting mountain withdrawals. Being in Southern California has its perks, but I miss how close the mountains used to be and how accessible hikes were in Washington. When I got invited on a backpacking trip in the Canadian Rockies, it seemed to be exactly what I needed. An endless mountain range, refreshing company, and anxiety inducing hikes.

Lake Louise and Lake Moraine

We hadn’t planned on seeing the famous lakes of Banff until we got there and were staying at the Lake Louise campground. We were practically in their backyard, it felt wrong not to play tourist. Unfortunately you can’t drive to the lakes, so we got shuttle tickets last minute thanks to those late cancelations.

Lake Louise was stunning, but Moraine was the main event. The water a shade so blue I never thought I’d see in a lake. I could’ve stared at the water all day if it weren’t for the swarms of families interrupting the peace (not their fault). I wonder if the lake wished it could get out of there as fast as we did. With it being August, I don’t know why I expected any less of a crowd.

Backcountry Beginnings

Now came the time for the backcountry shenanigans. Bear spray and mosquito net secured, we made our way to our first campsite in Yoho National Park. It was so freeing to lose service and pay attention to the details around you. The wind blowing through the trees, the birds cursing us out, the sound of thunder so close you couldn’t question if it was there.

Waking up to a thunderstorm wasn’t on my bingo card for the trip, but it was surprisingly peaceful despite the possibility of getting struck by lightning through the loosely secured tent. It averaged one thunderstorm a day while we were there so eventually we could time out the day to avoid getting stuck in the rain. But when nature calls, she’s going to make you listen.

Iceline Trail

The hike along the Iceline trail offered stunning views of glaciers as well as the beginning of a long day of trekking with my ridiculously overpacked backpack. The awe never seemed to leave me as I took my pick between the waterfalls, the glaciers, or the forest down below the elevation. I was completely content and so grateful for the privilege of experiencing that landscape.

Our sunshine was cut short as we heard thunder in the distance and knew we had to take cover back in the trees. At the moment, we were the tallest objects on that mountain and were prey to the lightning sure to come. We picked up the pace to Camp Yoho as we made our way back into the tree line and out of immediate exposure.

As the sky greyed above, we sought shelter in the Stanley Mitchell Hut an hour before the rain washed our footprints away. We played cards and spoke to fellow travelers while we waited for the sun to find its way back through the clouds. In an effort to not waste the rest of the day, we hiked through the fresh mud behind the hut to one of the best views of the trip. The contrasting white of the mountains against the dark green Christmas trees will forever be engrained in my mind.

Tent Ridge

Our last hike of the trip was in Canmore on our way back to Calgary. This was the hike that pushed me even more than our backcountry exploring.

Tent Ridge offered panoramic views that left me breathless beyond the hike itself. This hike was recommended by an artist at the Banff farmers market. She just so happened to leave out the part where you are practically rock climbing on an exposed cliff. For some reason, I thought scrambling just meant kicking away at loose rocks. Oh how wrong I was. Scrambling is quite literally hiking on an exposed cliff edge. You are scrambling to get up using any means possible to not fall to your death and give your parents an unwanted phone call.

Was I panicking when I was doing it? Let’s just say my fight or flight was activated. However, I’m so happy I didn’t turn around and let my fear beat me out of this incredible view. Even as much as I love being outside, I still get freaked out by unfamiliar hikes. What matters is the mindset you have while taking it on. I only became anxious because I was allowing my mind to take me to the worst places. I was focusing on the drop below, the continued rock scramble ahead, and my inexperience with this terrain. Instead I should’ve been focusing on the short amount of scramble I had left, the experienced women with me, and the views I was sure to get at the top. I was so proud of myself when I finally got past my fear of falling and negative self talk.

The views at the top of the ridge look to be straight out of NatGeo and I couldn’t believe what my eyes were witnessing. Even though the wind and rain were pummeling me, there was nowhere else I wanted to be. We ate, soaked it in, and then got soaked as we made our way back getting whipped by the gripping wind. The path down was much easier than the scramble up and I was in so much awe of the journey. 

We get so caught up with what could go wrong that we forget to focus on the present moment and recognize our strengths. I am so grateful to have people in my life who push me to see my limits and test them. From river jumping, to hut poaching, to panic attacks I’m so grateful for the adventure this trip brought. It’s been five months since and I still think about how badly I wish I could be back waking up to the songs of nature in the morning. To start my morning with no timeline, no reminders, no responsibility. Just me, good company, and my lush green playground.