Sat, Apr 1 2017, Sun, Apr 2 2017 - Allstones Lake - Spring Backpacking (View Original Event Details)
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In case anyone is wondering - although this event started on April Fools Day, we really did complete a early spring backpacking event. And it was fun!
It was in fact quite a workout getting to Allstones Lake. My GPS shows that we were travelling at between 1-2 km/h for most of the route. For the first third of the route the trail was mostly muddy, with patches of snow/ice. As we worked our way further the trail was mostly covered in ice, and we eventually reached a stretch where it was entirely covered in snow, up to knee deep in places.
Happily, weather conditions were pleasant for our entire hike, with above zero temperatures. It was only after we arrived at our campsite and began setting up camp that we experienced snow flurries, accompanied by cooler winds. These stormy conditions were very short-lived.
After eating dinner and playing a game of "31" with a deck of cards (made all the more interesting by Beata's modifications to the rules of the game), we settled into our tents shortly after dusk. All three of us had a long, but very restful sleep in the quiet wilderness. We broke camp and left about 10:30 the next morning, making it back down to the trailhead in about 3 hours. After grabbing lunch at the motel restaurant in Nordegg, we were headed on our way back to Edmonton.
As would be expected for an April trip, the weather was cooler, but not frigid, making it pleasant to be outside. Our campsite at Allstones Lake, and the lake itself, are still entirely covered in snow. At the outset, I had hoped that we might be able to do a day hike up to the ridge above Allstones Lake, but the route up was clearly too treacherous to attempt this early in the season.
As we have experienced on our previous winter camping excursions, camping in these conditions does require a lot of preparation and patience -- I've backpacked to Allstones Lake in summer conditions, but it's all the more challenging trying to hike through knee deep snow. But I'm certain that we'd all agree that it was worth it!
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Mark G at photos@edmontonoutdoorclub.com. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to thirty of your favourites (only) for a day event, or up to sixty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.