The Athabasca is so beautiful here; I am glad it is remote and sees little human traffic. How fortunate we are to have such places and how much more fortunate I am to possess the skills and health to be able to travel to such places. The mountains here are very impressive: Some of the highest peaks in the Rockies can be seen from this valley.

My blisters bother me from time to time. Had I the opportunity to ski more in the backcountry this winter, this probably would not have happened. I certainly don't regret turning back before the summit of Snowdome. In fact it was dumb not to address those blisters earlier. I am paying for it now, wincing over each root. The terrain becomes more variable the higher up we travel in this remote valley. And the trail — which isn't much of a trail at all — has been better than expected, undulating more as we ascend.

Our rig has been attracting some attention with its canoe trailer and 1968 retro-camper. A couple of Italian tourists approached us in the parking lot at the trailhead (Sunwapta Falls) and asked about our trip. They saw our stuffed packs and it reminded them of their past. Fondly, the more brazen of the two men said, "I remember when we used to do that in our country." I didn't think too much of it at the time, but why do people think age is a barrier to this type of activity?

It's easy to see that the old proverb is true 'money never made anyone happy.' Peoples' memories of hiking, canoeing, camping etc. are always recounted as a fond time in peoples' pasts when they tell the stories. People are so very enthusiastic to talk to us and live vicariously through our meager day's adventure. And they chuckle under their breath as they walk away saying we are "crazy!" Yet they love our stories that remind them of their own and drive off in their $100,000 traveling homes on wheels. I hope I'm never too old to have so little time to enjoy outdoor adventure or can afford such expensive ways to travel.