British Columbia boasts about 17 thousand glaciers, so obviously, I had to hike at least one of them :-)
There's a wooden cabin located in the oldest provincial park for overnight stays.
Kokanee Glacier is one of the most magnificent places I have ever visited. It is open to visitors from spring to autumn. In winter, you must be one of the lucky few selected from thousands of applicants to fly in by helicopter to the cabin. There's no easy access, and the risk of avalanches is high. So, if you wish to stay in the cabin during the winter months, flying there is a must.
We hiked in late summer and found ourselves surrounded by snow as we ascended.
Leaving our car at the bottom of the glacier, we surrounded it with chicken wire to protect it from porcupines, which have a penchant for chewing on rubber.
Given that we were about to enter grizzly bear country, we equipped ourselves with bear spray and flares—a necessity when hiking in the Canadian wilderness. Being prepared for the worst and making plenty of noise as you hike up is essential.
I can confidently say that the space, the smell of fresh air, and the indescribable beauty of the wilderness were worth the risk of encountering a grizzly bear, although thankfully, we didn't.
We crossed a stream and several avalanche paths before reaching Kokanee Lake. As we hiked further, we passed a couple who had stayed in the cabin the night before, returning down the trail. We chatted for a few minutes, and the young man was astounded by our diverse accents, asking, "Where are you guys from?"
"I am from the Czech Republic, I am Slovakian, I am Iranian, and I am from Georgia (Asia)." "Oh wow, and I am from Nelson." Nelson is the closest town to the Kokanee Glacier, so the guy was pretty local.
One of the reasons I love traveling is the countless funny stories I accumulate. It's amazing what experiences and people you encounter even in the most remote places. While meeting a local guy wasn’t particularly special for us, I'm sure he remembers us still, especially because he had never traveled abroad.
Welcome to true wilderness—the magnificent beauty of deep forests, verdant meadows, imposing Rockies, ancient glaciers, eagles, and bears. What you bring in, you must also take out. Pack wisely, carry everything on your back, and take back any food packaging or waste to your car.
Once there, you can admire nature and truly understand what it means to be in the moment. You put your problems into perspective and realize how wonderful Earth truly is—the picturesque beauty, the enchanting streams, the ancient forests, and the abundant blueberries, known locally as huckleberries.
Indeed, in places like this, you realize how little people need to be happy.
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