This article features my Fryatt Valley Hike trip report - photos, gear notes, planning and prep.

Introduction

About a year ago, I went to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for several weeks of education. While I was in Ottawa, I studied with a team of professionals. Most of the class were from out of town and wanted to tour Ottawa. Bjarne is from Iceland but had attended law school in Ottawa and had a car for the duration of classes. Bjarne was the only male in a class of fourteen students and one of the only Ottawa residents.

For several weeks, Bjarne volunteered to play organizer, shuttle driver and bodyguard as the ladies in the class toured Ottawa. Ottawa, ON, Canada, May 2016.

Bjarne made sure the class hiked in the Gatineau mountains in Quebec during our weekend breaks. Gatineau Park, May 2016.

It turned out Bjarne and I are both photographers. We became friends. When I left Ottawa, I told Bjarne if he and his family ever wanted to visit Alberta, I would take them on a full tour.

One lazy Sunday morning, late in September, I got a text message from Bjarne. He was flying into Calgary for a conference and was hoping to fly in early the Wednesday before and get a tour of the Canadian Rockies before his conference started the following Monday. Naturally, I instantly agree to play tour guide. I owe him a world class tour of the Canadian Rockies.

4,150+ words, 44 photos