Big hike to Bertha Lake

After coming across a link entitled 19 Secret Places In Alberta To Bring Your Girlfriend This Spring, I remembered a draft post that I wanted to share with everyone on the blog.

Considering today is -45°C (with windchill), here’s a nice reminder that warmer weather is just around the corner, which for many means exploring the great outdoors.

Of the common interests Melissa and I share, it would be a love for the outdoors. Although we live on a prairie, we’re blessed to live a 2-hour drive from the Rocky Mountains in Alberta/British Columbia.

The Bear’s Hump in Waterton Lakes National Park was the first hike we had ever taken together. Here’s what the view was like before the Kenow Wildfire:

Back in August 2018, we challenged Bertha’s Lake. And a rewarding challenge it was! Emphasis on challenge. This was our starting point, which was wildly different from the Waterton we once knew:

If only I knew what were in for…

Let’s get this straight: I’m completely nonathletic. I get tired just thinking of doing things physical. I love nature walks, and a bit of a hike is something I enjoy too.

Last year, we accidentally did a 10.5km hike on Mt. Baldy loop, which destroyed my knees by the end. Nothing that a beer wouldn’t fix though.

So this time around, our goal was Bertha Lake. For some reason, I didn’t anticipate it to be anywhere near as difficult as Baldy, which is advanced, while this one is moderate. Maybe whoever wrote the guide should re-check the definitions?

Before the “real” hike started. Slightly above the townsite.

Quick stats: 10.4km, 460m elevation, and 4.5 hours. The only stat I considered was the last one. To put that into perspective, my heart didn’t explode on the climb up but I reached 400% of my exercise goal.

I couldn’t believe how hard this was. I think it’s because the elevation gain felt like a solid up, unlike Baldy. After each switchback, I hoped for the lake…and then finally:

This is a lake on the top of a mountain! It was beautiful, which only made the sandwiches and beer we packed taste ever better.

All along the way, we admired the resiliency of nature. The Waterton area was scorched by a massive wildfire in 2017, so many of the areas we’d normally enjoy have been closed off. It made for a beautiful, yet surreal hiking experience:

Another great hike crossed off the ol’ bucket list this past summer.

This kept me going. Thank you, Lois’ friend.

2 thoughts on “Big hike to Bertha Lake”

    • I feel like I’m better prepared to handle something like that now. Melissa wants to do something called “Crypt” next…I don’t know if I should take that as a sign.

      Reply

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