Knitting is the new Nintendo

 I have to say, I think Rummel Lake is one of my favorite hikes so far. We didn't have the most ideal day for hiking as it was overcast and drizzly, but nonetheless the views were still beautiful and I can only imagine how spectacular it'd be on a clear day! I think the fall colours might have had something to do with my enjoyment of the ambiance of the hike as well. The yellow larch trees and partially fallen leaves are just so pretty this time of year!

Rummel Lake
Difficulty: easy
Round trip: 8.6km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hrs
Elevation Gain: 355m
FitBit: approx 19,000 steps and 155 floors
This trail head is not marked (and no facilities), to find it from Canmore you'll need to get going south on the Smith-Dorrien (Hwy 742). Turn your odometer to 0 when passing the Nordic Center on your right and your destination is approximately 34km from there. You'll see a sign for Rummel Creek and shortly after turn right (W) onto Mt. Shark Road, signed for Engadine Lodge. There is a grassy pullout immediately to the left, but as some do, they also park on the side of the road beside the trail head, which is at the top of the T of the intersection (the E side of Hwy 742, your left when coming from Canmore).

Directions From Calgary - click for Google Maps

The start of the hike is through the trees on a well defined path where you'll gain most of the elevation at a steady, but very manageable, rate and it levels out part way which I quite liked (versus the hikes that have a steep incline at the end...). Thus it doesn't take long into your day, and with not too much effort, to have a nice view of the surrounding mountains above the treeline!

A Spruce Grouse

You will enter a thicker part of the forest, where the path is lined with roots so watch your step. It opens up again and you will find yourself near to Rummel Creek. There are some planks laid across the water which you may take and when you come to an actual bridge a little farther up you'll want to go back across (otherwise you'll be on the snowshoe trail meant for winter). However, you should really just skip the planks and continue straight ahead. You'll rock hop a bit (how fun :) beside the embankment where the path appears to disappear, but it picks up on the other side. (Trust me, it's not hard).

Option 1 (take next the bridge back across when you come to it)

Option 2 (it's not as bad as it looks)

From either approach you'll continue E. You will see a sign that says Avalanche Territory Do Not Enter (i.e. don't go there in winter...) Being the end of September there was remnants from an earlier snowfall, but not enough to avalanche thankfully!
There are a couple of beautiful cascades over stair-like rocks, at the second one your path will narrow along the bank for maybe 30m, it's a bit of a rush, but nothing to be afraid of. On the other side you'll continue on a boot beaten path at the base of a small rock slide.

Can't see the path, but that's where we came across.

We then came to a point not mentioned in my book. The path appeared to continue straight, but there was a cairn and ribbons marking a  route left through the trees. We opted to follow the ribbon route.
You'll then come to be beside the creek again and when the path appears to end ahead you actually have two options. We didn't realize this at the time so we took a right up the bank, it looked like the most obvious path. But in fact as we discovered on the way down you can rock hop across the creek here from the other side, so that is an option too.
The lake is not far ahead, 10 min if I remember correctly. You'll know it when you see it :)
We spent some time snapping lots of pictures and then sitting to enjoy our PB&J. We were the only ones there other than a man who came a few min behind us and he meandered off to the other side of the lake to do some fishing. It's a spectacular serene place.
Our hope was to also do Rummel Pass, but we ran out of time. We ventured along the main trail over to the north side of the lake and up the rocky slope and got some great snaps of the lake from there, but we did not go further, so next time! In total we were out for just over 4 hours.
On the way down we thought we'd try to go the route we thought might connect with the bridge from the other side, but when we got to the creek again it appeared that the path ended and we were forced to hop across again to continue on the original path. Since then I've read that's what we were wanting to do for the way back was the snowshoe trail so I'll have to look it up in my snowshoeing book and see what it says. Nonetheless it was a great hike and I can't wait to do it again, but all the way to the Pass!

I made a cairn!

Happy Hiking!

6:01AM Wake up so early coffee is the only way to possibly keep your eyes open. They need to be particularly perky for the pictures later.

7:05AM Run around frantically making sure you have everything you need for forever before you dash out the door (makeup, dress, clutch, heels, gift, card, phone, keys, cash, umbrella, kitchen sink, and sanity).

7:20AM Sit in car for 10 minutes waiting for other bridesmaids to meet you at hotel, because clearly you overestimated the busyness of traffic at 7AM on a Saturday morning...

7:46AM Fellow bridesmaid shares how her fiance was questioning why she had to get up so early just to get ready for a wedding... you all laugh!

8:15AM Arrive at the parent's of the bride's home with fellow bridesmaids, come bearing coffee for all.

8:20AM Wander around aimlessly until someone gives you directions on what you should be doing.

8:21AM Makeup! Putting makeup on your face is a good idea, do that. Ensure that it is more bold than usual, but not so out there that it would take any attention off of the bride. Note: Mascara must be waterproof.

8:45AM Time to kill? Take pictures, lots of pictures. Getting ready and decoration pictures.

9:02AM Eat breakfast, nutrition is important. Stay hydrated and well nourished throughout the day. Nobody wants a fainting bridesmaid. Once again distracting attention from the bride is a big no-no so eat those eggs and drink that orange juice!

9:15AM More time to kill? Time for some Facebook and Instagram. Social media: the biggest time waster of all...and essential to tell the world exactly what you are doing at this very moment.

9:37AM Pose as photographer takes some fun pictures of you girls pretending to do hair and makeup together. You grab the curling iron and pretend to curl your hair, but your hair is a straight as a board. Nobody is going to believe that acting...should have thought that through.

9:50AM Hair is next! For real this time! Show pictures to the stylist so she knows what you want. Be prepared for it to look nothing like the picture, however it will still be beautiful, just keep smiling! But don't smile too much while she hairspray's your hair until it can't possibly move anymore because you don't want it to get in your teeth.

10:45AM Time to get dressed! Put on your dress, and please don't smush your hair in the process. And make sure you have everyone check out your bum in the sun to make sure you can't see your unmentionables underneath, nothing shall take attention of the bride this day! (Side note: how can two layers of fabric still be somewhat sheer?!)

11:00AM Smile pretty as the photographer takes some nice pictures of you and fellow bridesmaids. Show off your pearly whites! You need to practice for later right? But first let me take a selfie!

11:15AM The Bride is getting dressed and having portraits done so now you wait... they don't let you see her yet and it's torturous. Why? Because you're her bridesmaids!

11:52AM Crunch time, the wedding is in just over an hour, up until now time has crawled like a sloth stuck in glue, but now switches to a hummingbird on redbull. Press panic button now.

11:57AM It's time for the bridesmaids first look with your dear Bride. Head upstairs, but stop just before the top. Close eyes and let the photographer position you into the doorway for a photo. No peeking! So excited you can feel the emotion welling. She counts and gives the word and you open your eyes. Your Bride is absolutely stunning! At first you're just smiling, but then the tears well. Keep it together...fine, just a few happy tears. Your dear friend is getting married and you are just so ecstatic for her you can't help it.

11:59AM Hug Bride gently, do not get tears on the dress, do not smudge makeup, there is no time for touch ups.

12:05PM Photographer takes a few posed shots of the girls with tea cups and saucers, feels so classy and elegant!

12:12PM Time to go!! Once again, frantically run around making sure you have everything needed and jam it all into the car, hope you didn't forget anything.

12:25PM Blast the 'Watch Me Nae Nae' song in the car and dance like there's no tomorrow. Pull up beside the Bride's car and take pictures of her making faces. Pretty sure that scared look is fake right?

12:39PM Pull into the parking lot at the park early. Pick jaw up off ground. Are bridal party's ever this early!? Bop to the Nae Nae song some more. Take selfie with Bride.

12:43PM Secure Kleenex in bouquet...just in case.

12:50PM Time to make way over to ceremony site. Walk carefully as heels and grass don't always get along. Bridesmaids in position create shield around Bride so she can't be seen by meandering or late guests. Cross fingers that doggy in the park isn't too friendly.

12:58PM Hide behind the bushes from ceremony site. Can see guest and hear the music faintly. Nerves and excitement rise.

12:59PM Take time for prayer. Pray over the bride, the day, and the marriage. Uber important. Keep tears at bay, not the time, you only have one Kleenex.

1:00PM It's starting!

1:02PM Bridesmaid's cue to walk. Wait, a leaf! Is it too late to stop? All that time waiting and your fellow bridesmaid has a bright yellow leaf stuck around her heel. It's too late. You walk across a little footbridge and across the grass to where the guests are seated. Having practiced this numerous times at the rehearsal you rock it. The little Pacman group gingerly yet elegantly makes your way across the green doing your best not to aerate it too much as you go.

1:03PM Walk down aisle. Smile. Not too much, make pace with bridesmaid ahead, not too fast, not too slow, cheeks are quivering, this feels unnatural. Hold bouquet just right. Make eye contact with someone, don't sink into the grass, eye contact with Mother of the Bride, yes, happy natural smile :) Take place at front. Nailed it!

1:04PM The Bride and her father step out and walk towards the ceremony site. So happy, so beautiful, so perfect. Eyes well once again, but smiling comes easy.

1:10PM Sing hymns without the words: "Wa-ter-mel-on, waaa-ter-melon". Air band practice in grade five has now paid off.

1:21PM Feel something on leg. Do. Not. Panic. Keep calm. Casually look down and brush it off. It wasn't a spider so you're okay. Quickly scratch the itch and ignore it.

1:28PM They are pronounced Husband & Wife! Yay! Everyone claps and cheers! What a beautiful ceremony, and you didn't even need the Kleenex!

1:30PM Walk over to picture site with bridal party. Heart swells watching the Bride and Groom walking together hand in hand ahead. Such love <3

1:35PM Two other bridal parties are in the same location for photos. Dual it out? You could take them! Photographer opts for side spot on bridge. Still beautiful. Wait while family gets photos taken.

1:50PM Ringbearer from other party starts to cry. Not gonna lie, a Scottish kilt on the little guy is pretty adorable.

1:56PM Watch other parties take photos. Not judging, but your Bride is prettier, your colours, and dresses are nicer, and your party looks out for others. Fellow bridesmaid goes to tell neighbor bride that there is a tree branch stuck in the tulle of her dress. Bias to the max :)

2:13PM Mother of the Bride and Maid of Honour come bolting across the bridge, cruise past and take their stance on the 'photo spot' when the other party is finished.

2:20PM Your Bridal Party takes places and photographer snaps a few photos. Smile, look into the distance, look at Bride, be natural, have fun, but don't squint too much from the sun!

2:30PM Time to drive to second location for more bridal party photos. Fellow Bridesmaid has so generously brought protein bars for snacks, but they are almost liquid from the heat in the car. So hungry, so yummy, eat very carefully and do not, I repeat, do not get chocolate on dress!!

3:00PM Bridal party photo fun time! Do as told: stand here, walk there, look over, make silly face, hold the veil, pretend that, help with bride's dress, smile pretty, look serious, pray that your face actually looks like you think it does in your head!

3:47PM Feet tired. Succumb to temptation and remove shoes. Grass feels nice. Note, do not step on ant hill. Sit down and eat some snacks, thank the Groomsmen for bringing food!

3:58PM Someone comes running and says there is a tow truck. Fellow Bridesmaid and Groomsman go running to move the vehicles. Cheer them on while you continue to relax on the lawn. Turns out tow truck is just chilling out. No need to panic.

4:10PM Watch Bride have pictures taken. She is extra beautiful, must be the 'newlywed glow' :) Snap a few of own photos.

4:30PM Stay hydrated! Fellow Bridesmaid, voluntells groomsmen to bring Starbucks. He takes orders and you ask for a PSL Frapp, it's code he doesn't understand. They bring the drinks and all are happy. Yay!

5:00PM Bridal party is released from photo fun time. Time to head to cocktail hour at the hotel.

5:30PM Arrive at hotel and take time in washroom to freshen up. Panic because deodorant is missing. Resign to the fact that you may be a smelly bridesmaid. Decide to touch up makeup, open makeup case and there is deodorant! Confirm to self, sometimes you're too smart for your own good...

5:40PM Mix and mingle at cocktail hour, eat some yummy food, take photos of the deorations, and catch up with friends.

6:25PM Bride and Groom arrive and bridal party gets ready for fabulous entrance.

6:30PM Bride and Groom announced into reception for the first time as Mr. & Mrs. :) Happy Happy Day!

6:35PM MC introduces bridal party. Stand briefly and do the queen wave casually when announced, smile and sit, the show is not about you after all.

6:45PM The head table is served dinner. Eat gracefully, you never know who is watching! Fellow Bridesmaid casually puts spoon on nose. Take picture.

7:48PM Dessert is ready, but the chocolate mousse cake has run out. Linger awkwardly at dessert table with fellow bridesmaid until more is brought out. Take big piece. (To quote Lord of the Rings: "My precious!!")

8:30PM Program begins, MC starts with game for bridal party. Group version of the shoe game. You are given coloured signs and are required to show the pink side (for Bride) or blue side (for Groom) in response to each question. "Who proposed?" pfft that's a no brainer. Blue. "Who farted first?" Easy haha. Pink. "Who would eat the other first in a zombie apocalypse" What?!  Lol we have to to answer that!? ....cautiously raise sign...Pink? Look at what other's in the party said, majority is pink. Yup that's your Bride. Everyone laughs, what a fun game :)

8:42PM Beautiful toasts are given by the Maid of Honour and Best Man, plus speeches by the Parents of the Bride and Groom. Just enough laughs, not really any tears, but just sentimental enough. Clink glasses with fellow bridesmaids, To the Bride! Yum, this punch is delicious!! Bride and Groom conclude with their thank you's. What a lovely couple!

9:34PM Bride and Groom cut the cake. Snap lots of photos. They feed cake to eachother, Uh oh! Some cake goes down bride's dress! Bridesmaid duty to run to her rescue? Nope that's the Groom's job now and he's mighty thrilled too ;)

9:42PM Bride and Groom's first dance, so much love.

9:58PM The dance begins! Music is so loud can't hear self think. The strobe lights are so bright and flashy can't see straight. The DJ starts the smog machine...cough, cough, hack. But all of it's okay because at this point one doesn't need to think, see, or breath right?! Dance, dance, dance, and Watch Me Nae Nae!

10:36PM Come and go from dance, yell chat some more with friends above the volume of the music, sit at head table and observe others dance. Fun day, but long day. Have Diet Pepsi for caffeine boost, eeew why is diet Pepsi fountain pop so yucky!

10:43PM Join dance again, dance circle forms...ugh you strongly dislike dance circles. No one goes in center of circle and so man with tie on his head starts pulling people into center one at a time. Eeep! He's going in order around the circle. Leave dance circle before he gets to you. Awkward, potentially embarrassing crisis averted. Phew!

11:10PM Bridesmaids want to Nae Nae again, go over to DJ to request song. Tell DJ song name, he can't hear, say it louder, he still can't hear, yell the song name at the DJ, he says they don't have it. Tell him they already played it once and it was too short. He nods.

11:13PM The next song is the Nae Nae song. You dance your hearts out with your Bride and it is awesome.

11:16PM The DJ plays the Nae Nae again. You keep dancing.

11:19PM The Nae Nae is still playing. The Bride is having a good time and gets Groom to join in. He actually does the 'stanky leg'!

11:22PM Time feels like an eternity now. Is it possible to still be dancing the Nae Nae?

11:25PM The Nae Nae is over and the dance proceeds. You don't think you ever want to Nae Nae again. Why do you keep having to say Nae Nae, you don't even know what it means!

11:48PM Bride and Groom are getting ready to leave. There is no official send off so Bridesmaids form an arch together and cheer them off into their happily ever after.

12:37AM Dance is petering out and so is this Bridesmaid. Duty calls to stay to the end.

1:00AM DJ pulls the plug and the reception is officially over. The mint cleanup crew is up and going, gotta get everything packed up.

1:47AM Dreamland is calling, crawl into bed, another dear friend married off, smile to self, a splendid and successful day for sure.

1:48AM Zzzzzzzz

What do you do when you get an extra day off work for a long weekend? That's a rhetorical question. Go hiking of course! This time I recruited a handful of friends to come with and we had a blast. No rainy drizzle would get us down! Grotto Canyon turned out to be the perfect overcast day trail and in answer to a quick prayer, we still got some warm sun mid afternoon :)
Grotto Canyon
Difficulty: easy
Round trip: 4km to 7km
Hiking Time: 2-3 hrs
Elevation Gain: 100m to 235m
FitBit: approx 9,000 steps and 58 floors

The trailhead is nice and close to Canmore so this one makes for a great short day trip from the city. Driving west on Highway 1 take the Highway 1A exit for Canmore, go left/east onto Bow Valley Trail (Hwy 1A) at the stop sign. Reset your odometer to 0. When you get to 9.8km turn left into the Grotto Pond picnic area parking lot. The trail is marked with a sign on the west side of the lot.

From Calgary - click for directions on Google Maps

The initial trail is easy going and whenever it appears to fork just look for the directional signs. You'll hear the hum of the Baymag plant to your left, but once into the canyon that noise will fade. You'll pass through a small makeshift parking lot (another option I suppose, but with no facilities) and at about 1km you'll come to a small ridge with a bench which offers a nice view of the Bow Valley. 
From here you can see the mouth of the canyon slightly below, that's where you want to go. The hiker sign that indicates a path ascending into the trees slightly, ignore it! Then just follow beside the creek, it's very shallow and there are plenty of narrow places to traverse when you are required to skip over it. Just be careful of your footing on any wet rocks.
There are several unique factors about this canyon trail. The first is that it is a popular place for climbers. We only spotted one pair, but it's fascinating to watch and try to comprehend how they can climb a surface that appears basically flat with few hand/footholds. So neat! (Even if you don't see any climbers look for the bolts drilled into the rock.)
The other drawing feature of this canyon is the 1000 year old native paintings on one of the canyon walls. You would likely miss it if you aren't aware. It's about 40 min from the trailhead on a rock that juts out from the left. Basically at eye level they are now a faint red. You'll see a few warriors, a canoe, buffalo and more! It's fascinating :)
Just a few minutes past the rock art you'll come to the spot where to to the right in the distance is the slim waterfall that feeds the creek. If you are satisfied with the progress you've made you might choose to turn around here, but the path through the canyon continues to the left for those who desire to see more.
A little ways further the canyon opens up wide and the creekbed is now dry. The terrain is slightly rougher with larger rocks and boulders, but you'll get a nice view in front of you and as you continue, behind as well of some snowy mountain peaks. You'll also pass some hoodoos. Once at approx 3km, 1.5hrs from your start, the views lessen and so there is no real reason to continue.
Though at first it was a bit dreary of a day for us, the sun did come out. We took our time as we meandered, myself quite enjoying taking in all of the things that others in my groups spotted that I might otherwise have missed. In total with a few snack breaks we did the return trip in about 2 hours and 45min. We rounded out our day trip by going into town for some yummy bagels and hot beverages. Not a bad day at all :)
Happy Hiking!