- First Name
- Colby
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2021
- Threads
- 9
- Messages
- 838
- Reaction score
- 2,672
- Location
- MB
- Website
- www.cspencephoto.com
- Vehicle(s)
- 2022 Badlands 2DR
- Your Bronco Model
- Badlands
- Thread starter
- #1
Welcome to the Pup and Peaks Trip Report! Much like my last trip report(Bears or Bust), this one will not only be photo heavy but also Bella heavy, be forewarned. My style of trips are more of a photographic adventure, a journey that the Boreal Badlands is apart of rather than a wild rock crawling/trail event(maybe one day).
Total trip on the ODO: 4,006kms
This adventure was aimed towards fall scenic landscapes with my Chocolate Lab, Bella - due to the timing of the trip, there was no wildlife targeted. The trip was originally planned for the first week of June; the bronco was put out of commission for a myriad of issues, only fully repaired in September. Before the trip I upgraded/swapped in a 3500lb axle into the camper, oil change on the Bronco, topped up the air and fluids. Everything looks good for some highway miles, there isnāt much offroad planned for this adventure.
The full album can be found here - Pups and Peaks
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Eastern Alberta are comprised of farmland and a whole lot of flat... Its a long 13 hours of driving with minimal elevation change and a bunch of fuel ups. We broke up the drive with a dog park in Regina, SK and a sleep in Swift Current before ending up in the mountains.
Lets skip over the rest of the drive and get right into the hills, the mountains, the rugged. I really can't overstate how boring the prairies can be, beautiful but boring.
We made camp at Mosquito Creek within the Icefields. The rain during the drive in was only hint of what was to come. Nevertheless, we were excited to take on each day. Bella normally runs free at the cabin and most trails in MB. She hasn't been leashed up as much as she is going to be this trip so it'll be interesting to see how she does.
The first morning, rain. After breakfast was a hike based out of the Waterfowl Lakesbase area - Cirque Lake. It was much quiter than the parking lot suggested, I suppose everyone went to the lower lakes - their loss, Bellas Gain.
The second morning, rain. This year, Moraine Lake has closed off the road to the public... this posed a bit of trouble trying to find a solution to get Bella up there for one of my anticipated trails. Luckily, I had found and pre-booked a "private shuttle bus" who would allowed us to bring dogs! Larch Valley, here we come! Mid hike we came across a Clarks Nutcracker that was harassing hikers for their food. Being a very populated trail, Bell was tied to the hip (waist leash). She quickly learned her place with regard to how far she can roam and how hard she can pull. This constant tugboat was welcomed during the aggressively ascending switchbacks that we encountered throughout the week, like a little 4WD Bronco in low gear assisting you on your way.
Somedays I swear that this dog is more humane that 95% of people... so kind, patient, and not rude as shit. She's a good pup and certainly took in her first mountain experience.
Third morning, more rain. Yesterday I had cell service to check the forecast... it wasn't very dry. We loaded up and headed north to checkout some of the waterfalls that I missed during the Bears or Bust excursion of last year. The Black Bears along the embankments always drew a big crowd of tourists onto the shoulders... mostly outfitted with iPhones and 18-55mm lenses, I imagine that the experience of being in the presence of wildlife is the big takeaway for most - rather than the pixelated images.
Total trip on the ODO: 4,006kms
This adventure was aimed towards fall scenic landscapes with my Chocolate Lab, Bella - due to the timing of the trip, there was no wildlife targeted. The trip was originally planned for the first week of June; the bronco was put out of commission for a myriad of issues, only fully repaired in September. Before the trip I upgraded/swapped in a 3500lb axle into the camper, oil change on the Bronco, topped up the air and fluids. Everything looks good for some highway miles, there isnāt much offroad planned for this adventure.
The full album can be found here - Pups and Peaks
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Eastern Alberta are comprised of farmland and a whole lot of flat... Its a long 13 hours of driving with minimal elevation change and a bunch of fuel ups. We broke up the drive with a dog park in Regina, SK and a sleep in Swift Current before ending up in the mountains.
Lets skip over the rest of the drive and get right into the hills, the mountains, the rugged. I really can't overstate how boring the prairies can be, beautiful but boring.
We made camp at Mosquito Creek within the Icefields. The rain during the drive in was only hint of what was to come. Nevertheless, we were excited to take on each day. Bella normally runs free at the cabin and most trails in MB. She hasn't been leashed up as much as she is going to be this trip so it'll be interesting to see how she does.
The first morning, rain. After breakfast was a hike based out of the Waterfowl Lakesbase area - Cirque Lake. It was much quiter than the parking lot suggested, I suppose everyone went to the lower lakes - their loss, Bellas Gain.
The second morning, rain. This year, Moraine Lake has closed off the road to the public... this posed a bit of trouble trying to find a solution to get Bella up there for one of my anticipated trails. Luckily, I had found and pre-booked a "private shuttle bus" who would allowed us to bring dogs! Larch Valley, here we come! Mid hike we came across a Clarks Nutcracker that was harassing hikers for their food. Being a very populated trail, Bell was tied to the hip (waist leash). She quickly learned her place with regard to how far she can roam and how hard she can pull. This constant tugboat was welcomed during the aggressively ascending switchbacks that we encountered throughout the week, like a little 4WD Bronco in low gear assisting you on your way.
Somedays I swear that this dog is more humane that 95% of people... so kind, patient, and not rude as shit. She's a good pup and certainly took in her first mountain experience.
Third morning, more rain. Yesterday I had cell service to check the forecast... it wasn't very dry. We loaded up and headed north to checkout some of the waterfalls that I missed during the Bears or Bust excursion of last year. The Black Bears along the embankments always drew a big crowd of tourists onto the shoulders... mostly outfitted with iPhones and 18-55mm lenses, I imagine that the experience of being in the presence of wildlife is the big takeaway for most - rather than the pixelated images.
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