One of the main reasons we choose Golden as our next destination was for its proximity to many of Canada’s National Parks. I (Melanie) was particularly hoping to tackle some mountain hikes with epic views. Between Glacier, Yoho, Banff, and Kootenay National Parks, I figured we’d be able to achieve at least one. However, what us inexperienced mountain lovers didn’t realize is how late in the spring (or sometimes summer) the high-altitude trails become snow-free and accessible. So having arrived in April, we had a month to kill before we were able to really get out to some remote spots.
We got settled quickly and, again, each kid got their own room (lucky kids!). We made a quick jaunt to Kelowna to pick up our trailer and were happy to be re-acquainted with summer clothes and shoes and toys. We found a dance company willing to take the kids mid-session so the three of them started dance classes once a week. We had a few online courses that the girls were doing and we also volunteered at the local Food Bank once a week. Our home was half a block away from an indoor climbing gym so we got a membership and gave climbing a try. Our calendar quickly filled up!
We left one day a week to use as our “explore nature” day. Over the course of two months, we were able to explore:
Cedar Lakes
An easy trail often used by mountain bikers that lead us to two different lakes. We saw loons and tracked down a tricky geocache.
Canyon Creek
This trail had a very steep start but the views were lovely. Our rest spot was at the top of a small waterfall. We decided to plant a geocache there with a geobug. It was first found a few days later!
Thompson Falls
By far my personal favourite spot. This area along the Blaeberry River was so lovely when we visited. The water was a shade of blue that is hard to describe. The river rocks were so different and unique to those we’d seen to date. We even found what may have been a fossilized log – it was hard like rock but brittle and looked like a fallen tree trunk. The falls had two parts to see, the second of which dropped 20ft to an awesome canyon. We walked this trail before the snow in the mountains had started their big melt so I imagine the river and falls would have been even grander later in the spring.
Local Trails
The town is full of great walking and biking trails. One week we hiked a 1km loop and found 6 geocaches; mostly micro caches with super unique hiding places.
Wapta Falls
Once the highway 1 construction was completed, we had easy access to Yoho but only with two weeks of our time left in Golden. We chose to hike to Wapta Falls. Which had spectacular views, despite the light rain.
Claire celebrated her 10th birthday in May and, although she had hoped for a pool party, we were able to find some fun activities to do in celebration. She started with a manicure, of course! We had her favourite meals and she requested a very specific cake (and thankfully our neighbour had cake pans and a hand mixer so that I could make it!). Later in the week we drove to Revelstoke and went to The Enchanted Forest and SkyPark for the day. The kid tree course challenged them all in different ways but they did the whole thing with a bit of teamwork. We found tacos / burritos for dinner and the birthday girl went to bed with a big smile.
June became our busiest month as weather conditions opened up many new opportunities. Erik found Rock Solid Guides who hosted a two-day outdoor rock-climbing course. He decided to take the course to see if he thought we’d enjoy climbing outside too. He then booked a guide to take our crew to a beginner crag for a day. We had mixed emotions about doing this – some excited, some nervous, and some feeling like they were being dragged along. However, once we got started, everyone realized they were entirely capable of climbing and we all attempted each route. And the best way to celebrate conquering a new feat, is with a cold ice cream cone!
June also brought the opening of rafting season. We booked a family rafting excursion with Glacier Raft Company and fast-flowing Kicking Horse River. We hit category 2 rapids early in the ride and our guide soon discovered that our raft was full of thrill seekers. He did a great job keeping us entertained; seeking out special waves to create large splashes, spinning the boat in circles to pretend that we were out of control, and showing us how quickly we can stop if we get sucked into an eddy. Our experience ended with a yummy BBQ and a bus ride home. To our surprise, the kids all wished they could keep going to ride the cat 4 rapids further up river. Sadly, one must be 12 to ride those rapids. It’s now something they look forward to doing again.
We were also very fortunate to be in Golden when the newest attraction, the Golden Skybridge, was opening. There are two suspension bridges - the highest in Canada - overlooking a canyon, as well as a walking trail, viewing platforms, and a fun play structure. Since we had visited the Capilano bridge in Vancouver, we were feeling confident that we’d be able to cross this bridge. We did, without issue, but it was certainly a different experience. First of all, it was much higher and longer. Secondly, it really swayed. And finally, the views were spectacular! From the rushing river and waterfall below, to the rugged Purcell Mountains in the distance, seeing this area from the bridge was an incredible opportunity.
And last, but not least, on our list of June adventures was an aerial tour of Golden in a friend’s plane. This was the first flying experience for the kids. Despite some nerves before takeoff, they did great. They were amazed to see the town from above, picking out buildings that they recognized, and noting how small things they looked at are actually very large: the trains, the piles of tree logs, the community pool, and the ski hill. We flew close to a mountain peak and felt the plane start bouncing up and down with the updrafts (not their favourite moment). We also got to see some glaciers hiding amongst the peaks of the Rockies. But their favourite moment was spotting our trailer in our driveway as we descended for a landing. What a memorable experience we were gifted!
During some of our downtime, I personally took an interest in weather and weather prediction. As such, I found myself looking up a lot more often. I quite enjoyed watching the rivers swell as the snow receded and seeing the cloud formations during the melt season. There are many photos in our photo album of rivers and skies, so I promise to only share a few of my favourites to demonstrate the landscape changes that come with seasons.
Sadly, with such a packed schedule, the 2 months disappeared quickly and it was, again, time to pack up and move on. We were extended an invitation to do some more outdoor climbing with friends in the David Thompson corridor in Alberta. We couldn’t resist the offer! Stay tuned for more.