Golden Taps Bar

On the highway side of the Kicking Horse River is the mainly tourist oriented commercial district (most local services and homes are the other side of the bridge). One of less obtrusive spots in the touristy area is Taps Bar, where I had a cold one after my walks and, in this photo, while waiting to go to the bus terminal to continue on my journey. You can see my baggage leaning against the wall near the door. I am living out of those two bags for five weeks! Friendly staff, acceptant locals, nice dark beer, good memory.

Covered Bridge

In the days before steel construction, covered wooden bridges were an essential part of life in these cold climes. Now they are mainly tourist attractions. The Golden community built this one over the Kicking Horse River in about 2001. It is Canada's largest single span wooden bridge and was an excuse for a national convention of those that have the skills to build them. It took 24 days to put together and will last a couple hundred years (uncovered wood bridges last about 20). It is also very functional, providing a safe pedestrian walkway linking the two main parts of the town.

From this bridge I was within sight of Mary's Motel and the end of my walk.

CP over the Kicking Horse

Golden lies at the confluence of the Kicking Horse and Columbia rivers. The Columbia is a mighty river, forges a valley through these magnificent mountains. That valley was the path of initial european intrusion into this land, and now forms the path of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Even in winter it is a busy arterial route for long haul freight. I heard this one behind me as I returned towards town from the river junction. It is crossing the the flat steel bridge over the Kicking Horse River. I saw some with up to five locomotives in front and one behind!

View from the track

Continuing the walk, was surrounded by beautiful vistas like this one. Unlike most pictures I've taken in the mountains, it actually captures something of both the isolation and the grandeur of the the surrounds. The peak in the sunlight in the background just took my breath away when the sun first struck it! As the day wore on and the clouds slowly cleared from the surrounding slopes I was seeing scenes like this with every step.

Absolutely beautiful!

Midway on my walk

The trail wound between the railway and a strip of woodland on the edge of town. Here's a picture of me in my clobber, taken with the camera timer. I found it interesting how the snow doesn't seem to be evident anywhere where there's plants of any real size growing.

The thermal hat and jacket are also from my wardrobe back home, all made in Australia and well up to the conditions I've met so far.

Snow Catcher

The trail passes around the back of town and alongside some sidings of the transcanadian railroad. A couple trains were waiting there, headed by this contraption. Canada might have a tory government these days, but it's more thanks to machines like this that the trains run on time!

Playtime

The town has a network of tracks through and around it that can keep a hiker busy for a day. It wanders past a couple schools, which are like schools in Aust except for the snow, and the signage.

My Blundstones

Always keen for a new adventure, I put aside my fear of being caught in a blizzard or charged by a bear, kitted up into my newish Blundstone boots and went for a hike.

These boots were excellent! Steel capped, water proof, comfy, slip resistant and insulated soles (advertised to rate against 140C, but I thought that means they'd be good against cold, and they were). A bargain if you can get them - even if they're not a fashion accessory!

Snow!

I awoke on my first morning in Golden to snow falling and a white landscape. If you can make out my expression, I don't look too certain about the whole thing! The cold coming up through the ugg boots didn't help either.

It might have been the first time I'd seen snow falling, but I think I was the first person the young lass who was a cleaner had met who hadn't seen snow. Her expression matched mine.

Mountain Mill

I went for a short walk past the western outskirts of Golden shortly on arrival. Here you can see what defines the town; mountains and mills. An interesting cross of tourism and primary industry, with a main service stop for the Canadian Pacific Railroad and artistic subculture makes for an interesting place.

The mountains in the distance turned red in the sunset. Sadly I didn't catch that on camera.

Rocky Mountains High - Mary's Motel

After saying goodbye to Vancouver I sat on a bus for 16 hours and found myself in the heart of the Rockies at Golden. A town of 4000, to me it was preferable to the tourist mecca's of Banf and Lake Louise (down the road) as a place to break my trip. I stayed here two nights (my unit is the one with the open door.

The room was basic, and smelt like a caravan park did in my childhood, but it had all I needed (after a trip to the supermarket). And besides, I'd rather have surrounds like this than a Hilton Room!