8/16/2006 (Wed) - Columbia Icefield Campground, 65.54 miles.

Today turned out to be a long day. I got up around 5:15 a.m. and left camp around 6:45 a.m. I don't know why I took some 1 1/2 hours to get ready. It was probably because of the cold - temps in the early morning hovered around the mid 30's.

The day started slow because I was surprised that I needed to put on almost my full biking gear on - vest, shell, warmers, both layers of gloves, as well as my skull cap. Even with this, it wasn't completely comfortable: my feet still felt cold (though not unbearably so). I just tried the Perl Izumi shoe covers and found that they didn't fit my shoes (yes, another equipment I didn't try till the trip started...). I'll try my Smartwool socks tomorrow to see if that works better.

I had "brunch" with Arnold and Makiana today at Sunwapta falls. They left about an hour after I did but still managed to catch me in about 33 miles (I did make a 1/2 hour excursion to Athabasca Falls though). I am amazed by their fitness. I am also dismayed about my bike's speed - perhaps my load, the dual suspension, and the fact that I am still nursing my right knee (hurt during my training a week ago) - are to blame...

Today, I had originally menat to bike to Beauty Creek Hostel - about 55 miles from Wapiti. However, when I got there a little after 2 p.m., the place had a "no vacancy" sign. I looked around for the manager in hopes that a space had opened up. Unfortunately, and eerily, while the doors were all unlocked, there was not a soul to be found in the entire compound. I strolled through the kitchen, and before I left, took some water to extend my bike ride, some 12 additional miles to the Columbia Icefields.

The latter part of that 12 miles turned out to rank among the hardest in my life. While my right knee did not act up, my left quad (muscle above my left knee) began sometimes to go into spasm - especially when I tried to dismount, as I straightened my legs. I've had the same feeling before the last couple of days - toward the end of a hard ride through Palos Verdes as I make the last ascent up Crenshaw.... This was worse this time, because I had a heavy load and because I had to finish and can't call for help or take a shortcut!

Somehow, with plenty of stops and gentle peddling, I was able to make it to the Ice Center and eventually to the Columbia Icefield campgrounds. I bought some food at the Ice Center (a sandwiche and 2 bananas) and "limped" into camp. At camp, I met two guys from Ontario there for ice climbing. They were to start at 2:30 a.m. the next day - to make sure that the ice they climb would be frozen! To my right at camp were 2 nice couples touring the parks on way to visiting their daughter in Vancouver.

Columbia Icefield campground (and as it turned out, the campgrounds for the next few days) were semi-privimive and did not have showers. I spot cleaned myself and later ate the food I bought without cooking today.

Finally, I saw 2 carribous early in the morning, and later, as I was making a big climb in the afternoon after passing by Beauty Creek Hostel, I saw a huge herd (probably at least 40) of sheeps roaming on the side of the road. Hope I am not too sore to bike tomorrow!