This is one of my favorite hikes of all time. Wilcox Pass to Tangle Creek. An alpine hike of seven and one half miles or so. A little challenging, but the reward is immense. Do not forget your camera on this one or you might as well throw yourself off of the mountain.

Leaving the Columbia Icefields Parkway very near the Athabasca Glacier turnout, you begin the hike up to Wilcox Pass by climbing vigorously at first, and then more gradually as the trail progresses. Eventually, you crest Wilcox Pass only to find your way back to Tangle Creek while passing through forest and alpine tundra.

This particular day was stunning! Fall colors were so bright you almost needed sun glasses. The weather was perfect, and the clouds were going to make for fantastic photos. The only thing that could make this any better would be a cooperative grizzly or two. Keep dreamin' dude. Maybe they were out there, but too shy for us.

We hiked along with Dave, a friend of ours, talking (to keep the grizzlies aware of us), taking pictures, and just wondering how in the world we could ever leave to come back home. Athabasca Glacier is visible ahead, and becoming more so as we climb. We continue to marvel at our prospects. Mt. Hilda is off to our left and making for good, rugged, beauty. On our way up we begin encountering lazy male bighorns bedded down in the golden landscape in bachelor groups or individuals. They were magnificent. Their horns were massive and showed signs of many a long rut. I rattle off many shots, trying in vain to get the perfect shot of a bighorn with Athabasca glacier as its backdrop. I got some shots, but not ideal. No matter, the day can't get any better anyway.

We continue on. After lolly-gagging around with the bighorns, and the golden landscape around us, none of us notice that the weather is beginning to turn on us, and in a big way. The wind begins to pick up and clouds come racing across the frontier. I have rarely witnessed weather change so dramatically, and so quickly, in any of my travels. We went from beautiful photo ops to bracing for weather within ten minutes. Barely enough time to contemplate our fate. We decide to continue on no matter what the weather does. It seemed as though the clouds were in the jet stream and were determined to give us a good show. Fortunately, we came prepared. All except Dave that is. The rain was beginning to pelt us pretty hard when I remembered I had a second nylon parka for Dave. Always come prepared is our motto. In this case, I do not know why I brought two parkas but it saved his camera from a sure drenching.

The rain quickly turned to snow while the temperature continued to drop. What a beautiful sight this was. Climbing a high mountain pass, and encountering weather along the way, is one of my favorite mountain experiences. Shortly after cresting Wilcox Pass we encounter more bighorns, only this time it is groups of females. They are not even deterred by our presence. In fact, they pass so close to our position you could easily hear them breathing and see the steam rising from their coats. We quietly let them pass. They eventually stop very near the trail to continue to browse while we decide to continue along the trail. The snow has lessened and the wind has been blocked by the mountain chain to our left. It is still very cold!

As we wander down the mountain pass we pass through stunningly beautiful tundra, stopping frequently for photos, but the lighting is not ideal. We continue on. The forest begins to march up towards us indicating we are closing in on Tangle Creek. What a great day this has been.

We eventually break out at Tangle Creek and head back to our vehicle.