This was the trail we all wanted: so much so, that I was hovering at the computer 9.00 on Jan 1st ready to book 4 nights and wilderness passes at the campgrounds as soon as they were released.

Six months on and a long old drive from Whistler, we were just feeling a little jaded from the miles, however interesting, when round the corner and suddenly there was Mount Robson: a massive rock wall slapped across our path, sprinkled with snow and clear to the top.

Having carefully ensured all our food was just as light as dehydrated as could be, I couldn’t resist a real treat before we set off. A watermelon so massive it fell out the bottom of the carrier bag, scoffed at the start of the trail. Barmy.

An easy 7km walk to Kinney Lake (just as well, getting used to our 13kg packs) for the first night camp. The next day was of the finest walks I have ever experienced. In a mere 16km and 700m ascent there were jewels around every corner: Rapids, White falls, Falls of the Pool, Emperor falls, then Berg lake and the glaciers tumbling in – Mist Gacier and Berg Glacier, complete with little tiny icebergs breaking off and floating around.  The Canadians seem to be very exact and honest with their nomenclature. Mount Robson towered above majestically throughout. Set up camp at Robson Pass.

Day three: a there and back hike to Snowbird pass. Walking up the side of Robson glacier, marvelling that anyone ever managed to climb Robson and unsurprised that the early attempts by Coutard over 100 years ago up the glacial south route were unsuccessful. Up a rocky waterfall and we were in the open meadows, streams turning to water slides over the smooth glacial rock and the pass in sight. Threatening clouds and thunder nearly cowed us into turning back from fear of lighting strike in such a totally exposed place, we paused, watched and thought the storms had passed us by, only to be blasted by hail on the top of the pass, catching a glimpse of the icefield on the other side. Half an hour later we were basking in the sunshine for a long picnic by the water.

Day four: we moved camp down to Berg lake, and hiked up toboggan falls (I slid down part of them, again, so so aptly named….much to Beth and Catherine’s horror) and on up to a wonderful cave system which I ventured inside for a lovely mini adventure. On and back to Hargreaves glacier, a barren moraine strewn place, stunning none the less, with one particular moraine ridge that Judy could not resist, and I had to follow and hold my nerve.

Walking out the next day we cant believe that anything else on this trip would match up to this hike. But it did.

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