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	<title>Brilang.comOutdoors | Brilang.com</title>
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		<title>Parks Canada&#8217;s Glacier Walk Proposal</title>
		<link>http://www.brilang.com/2012/01/parks-canadas-glacier-walk-proposal/1108</link>
		<comments>http://www.brilang.com/2012/01/parks-canadas-glacier-walk-proposal/1108#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:29:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brian Lang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brilang.com/?p=1108</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Parks Canada emailed me today in regards to the Glacier Walk proposal in Jasper National Park. They provided several pieces of information: Setting the Record Straight (PDF) Questions and Answers – The Proposed Brewster Glacier Discovery Walk Link to Brewster&#8217;s Glacier Discovery Walk website It almost sounds like the proposal has already been approved, and is just waiting on the an Environmental rubber stamp. Here&#8217;s my thoughts on this proposal: By &#8220;privatizing&#8221; a lookout and making it only available to paying customers of a corporation, Parks Canada are denying me my rights to visit this portion of Jasper National Park. The so-called alternative viewpoints do not give the same view as that from the soon-to-be-closed viewpoint. There are no areas in any national park that I am currently precluded from visiting (to my knowledge). There will be one if this proposal is allowed to proceed. The only exceptions I know of are: areas that are closed due to Parks regulations (ie. Avalanche closures, bear closures, elk calving closures, caribou protection closures, seasonal closures, etc&#8230;). hot springs leases &#8211; these are operated by Parks Canada, or a contractor on Parks Canada&#8217;s behalf and are a traditional use of the National Parks. [...]]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Seasons Do Not Start on the Solstices or Equinoxes</title>
		<link>http://www.brilang.com/2010/12/seasons-do-not-start-on-the-solstices-or-equinoxes/827</link>
		<comments>http://www.brilang.com/2010/12/seasons-do-not-start-on-the-solstices-or-equinoxes/827#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:30:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brian Lang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Miscellaneous]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brilang.com/?p=827</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By many ancient traditions, the solstices are the Middle of their respective seasons (as in Shakespeare&#8217;s play &#8220;A Midsummer Night&#8217;s Dream&#8221;). This is especially true in an agricultural society. It is our modern society that has renamed the solstices as the start of the seasons instead. In the Celtic tradition, the seasons were marked with special celebrations: * Samhain marks the beginning of winter and is celebrated at the end of October or beginning of November. * Imbolc marks the beginning of spring and is celebrated at the beginning of February. * Beltane marks the beginning of summer and is celebrated at the beginning of May. In much of the northern hemisphere, this is when crops can safely be planted as the danger of frost has largely passed. * Lughnasadh marks the beginning of autumn and is celebrated at the beginning of August. In much of the northern hemisphere, this is when the harvest begins, with most of it complete within 45 days (mid-September) to avoid the first frosts. These four dates are also known as cross-quarter dates and are approximately mid-way between the solstices and equinoxes. The solstices and equinoxes were also celebrated with festivals, but I don&#8217;t think [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Kettle Valley Railway: Portia to Iago +</title>
		<link>http://www.brilang.com/2008/06/kettle-valley-railway-portia-to-iago/162</link>
		<comments>http://www.brilang.com/2008/06/kettle-valley-railway-portia-to-iago/162#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:05:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brian Lang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[British Columbia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chilliwack Hiking Club]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brianlang.ca/?p=162</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Photo Album KVR: Portia to Iago Photoset on flickr.com May 31, 2008 On Saturday, I hiked approximately 20 km (return) on the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway right of way with 17 members of the Chilliwack Hiking Club. The day was hot and sunny. The trail started out in a southerly direction on a pipeline access road. Not too far along, the trail diverted left onto the old Kettle Valley Railway right of way along the slopes of the mountain. On this stretch we saw old retaining walls, a pretty waterfall, telegraph poles and concrete bridge piers. The we rejoined the pipeline access road and took a snack break just below the road/trail at the site of a small old log shed. Some of my fellow hikers believed that this was the site of a station of some sort for the Kettle Valley Railway. As I was sitting down, I saw a salamander of some sort scurry under a rock, but try as I might, I couldn&#8217;t find it again to take a picture. Wildflowers Retaining Wall Waterfall Avalanche Debris Old log shed Snack Break &#160; At this point the trail started heading in a northerly direction, which was more or [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Mount Robson and Berg Lake 2006</title>
		<link>http://www.brilang.com/2006/09/mount-robson-berg-lake-2006/146</link>
		<comments>http://www.brilang.com/2006/09/mount-robson-berg-lake-2006/146#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Sep 2006 19:17:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brian Lang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[British Columbia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GMMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brianlang.ca/2006/09/06/mount-robson-berg-lake-2006/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I just returned from a trip to Berg Lake in Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia. The weather was perfect &#8211; blue skies, and no clouds! Here are the details. September 1-4, 2006 Pre-trip accomodations: Robson Meadows Campground Photo Album Mount Robson 2006 Photoset on flickr.com Friday, September 1 Miette River, Jasper National Park. David and I stopped beside the highway just west of Jasper townsite to have lunch en route to Mount Robson. After eating, I wandered over to the river to see what I could with my new camera. Mount Robson as seen from our campsite in Robson Meadows campground. David and I arrived early enough to secure trail permits for our group of nine hikers for the next day. Fraser River, Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia. This west-facing view is from the bridge over the river on the road heading south from Robson Meadows campground. A trail leads from this location to Overlander Falls. Overlander Falls, Mount Robson Provincial Park Fraser River, Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia. This west-facing view is from the bridge over the river on the road heading south from Robson Meadows campground. A trail leads from this location to Overlander Falls. [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Maligne Pass 2006</title>
		<link>http://www.brilang.com/2006/08/maligne-pass-2006/143</link>
		<comments>http://www.brilang.com/2006/08/maligne-pass-2006/143#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Aug 2006 02:52:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brian Lang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alberta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GMMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brianlang.ca/2006/08/08/maligne-pass-2006/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I just returned from a trip to Jasper National Park’s Maligne Pass. The weather was cold at night and warm during the day &#8211; just right for hiking. Here are the details. August 5-7, 2006 Pre-trip accomodations: Most of the group stayed at Beauty Creek Hostel. I stayed at Bea&#8217;s Hive in Jasper. Photo Album Maligne Pass 2006 Photoset on flickr.com Saturday, August 5 Pobokotan Creek, Maligne Pass trail, Jasper National Park Maligne Pass Junction, Maligne Pass trail, Jasper National Park Our group, Maligne Pass trail, Jasper National Park Poligne Creek, Maligne Pass trail, Jasper National Park We started out on the Pobokotan Pass trail at 20 after 10 under a partly cloudy sky. Fresh snow and heavy rain the day before promised (and delivered) muddy conditions. The first 6 kilometres were a fairly easy walk along Pobokotan creek &#8211; mostly high above the creek on the slopes of the end of Endless Chain Ridge. We stopped for lunch at the Maligne Pass junction. Then we tackled the remaining five kilometres to Avalanche campground repeatedly crossing Poligne creek. After arriving and setting up camp, we lazed around the campsite for the rest of the day. Eventually dinner was cooked. A [...]]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Tonquin Valley 2006</title>
		<link>http://www.brilang.com/2006/07/tonquin-valley-2006/140</link>
		<comments>http://www.brilang.com/2006/07/tonquin-valley-2006/140#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 Jul 2006 13:21:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brian Lang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alberta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GMMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brianlang.ca/2006/07/04/tonquin-valley-2006/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I just returned from a trip to Jasper National Park’s Tonquin Valley. The weather was hot and sunny! Here are the details. July 1-3, 2006 Pre-trip accomodations: Mount Edith Cavell Hostel Photo Albums Tonquin Valley 2006 Photoset on flickr.com &#124; [piclens-lite-link] Saturday, July 1 We started out on the Astoria River trail under a clear cloudless sky. Much sunscreen was applied! We stopped for lunch at the Astoria campground. At the Chrome Lake junction we stopped to fill our water bottles. Then we tackled the switchbacks in the heat of the day. A lot of sunscreen, insect repellent and water were consumed. We stopped again for water at a stream above Switchbacks campground and were swarmed by mosquitos. We then hiked through the mosquito infested slopes of Old Horn mountain until we reached Clitheroe campground. Stats: Distance: 16.9 km; Elevation Gain: 400 m; Elevation Loss: 150 m. Hiking time: 8.5 hours. Sunday, July 2 Another hot and sunny day. Our objective for the day was to explore the Eremite valley. We started off down the hill from mosquito infested Clitheroe campground, past the warden cabin, and through the bog at the southeast corner of Amethyst Lakes. When we reached the [...]]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Radium Area Dayhikes</title>
		<link>http://www.brilang.com/2005/08/radium-area-dayhikes/81</link>
		<comments>http://www.brilang.com/2005/08/radium-area-dayhikes/81#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2005 14:55:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brian Lang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[British Columbia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GMMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brianlang.ca/2005/08/22/radium-area-dayhikes/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I just came back from an interesting day-hiking trip near Radium Hot Springs, BC. We had a great time in the beautiful sunshine. Here are the details of the trip. August 20-21, 2005 Accomodations: Misty River Lodge aka Radium Hot Springs International Hostel Participants Phil, Mahiri, Maureen D., Celeste, Maureen M., Dolores, Ravi, Donald, Madeleine, and me. Photo Albums Lake of the Hanging Glacier 2005 Photoset on flickr.com &#124; Stanley Glacier 2005 Photoset on flickr.com &#124; [piclens-lite-link] Saturday, August 20 &#8211; Lake of the Hanging Glacier Saturday dawned clear and cloudless and the forecast was calling for +30C as we set off from the Hostel. The day&#8217;s adventures had begun! First off was the drive to the trailhead. We headed downhill towards the mill in Radium and turned off at the entrance to the mill onto the Horsethief Forestry Service Road. The first stretch of the road was a reasonably good gravel road. After driving for a while, and crossing several one-lane bridges, the road got quite rough. It looked like some of it had been recently reconstructed. The going was quite slow as the &#8220;gravel&#8221; got bigger and bigger. Eventually we came to a shallow stream washing over the [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Backpacking to Egypt Lake</title>
		<link>http://www.brilang.com/2005/08/backpacking-to-egypt-lake/44</link>
		<comments>http://www.brilang.com/2005/08/backpacking-to-egypt-lake/44#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Aug 2005 14:30:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brian Lang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alberta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GMMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brianlang.ca/2005/08/02/backpacking-to-egypt-lake/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I just came back from a backpacking trip over Healy Pass to Egypt Lake in Banff National Park with a dayhike to Whistling Pass thrown in for good measure. The weather was perfect! July 30 to August 1, 2005 Pre-trip Accomodations: Castle Mountain Hostel. Photo Album Egypt Lake 2005 Photoset on flickr.com &#124; [piclens-lite-link] Saturday, July 30 Got a late-ish start as our group slowly got organized. We set off from the Sunshine Village parking lot and headed up the Healy Pass trail. Nothing much but forest for the first several km, but then we started to break out of the trees into wildflower filled meadows. The most spectacular that I can remember seeing. Unfortunately my HP Photosmart 935 camera didn&#8217;t do it justice. We continued our upward trek to Healy Pass through the wildflower meadows under bright sunny skies. Perfect weather for a day in the alpine meadows. We did meet a ranger near the pass who told us to keep our eyes open for a young grizzly that had been sighted in the area over the last few days. (We didn&#8217;t see it). After a break in Healy Pass, we headed down the other side towards the Egypt [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Backpacking the Iceline trail</title>
		<link>http://www.brilang.com/2005/07/backpacking-the-iceline-trail/43</link>
		<comments>http://www.brilang.com/2005/07/backpacking-the-iceline-trail/43#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2005 15:15:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brian Lang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[British Columbia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GMMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brianlang.ca/index.php/2005/07/19/backpacking-the-iceline-trail/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I just came back from a backpacking trip to the Iceline trail in Yoho National Park. We had a little bit of rain to dampen our spirits, but only scattered showers on Saturday afternoon and evening. July 16-17, 2005 Pre-trip accomodations: Whiskey Jack Hostel, Yoho National Park Photo Album Iceline Trail 2005 Photoset on flickr.com &#124; [piclens-lite-link] Saturday, July 16 Got up early. Had Breakfast. Got ready to hike. Started hiking &#8211; nice and level! For all of 50 metres! Then the trail started climbing. And climbing. And climbing. It&#8217;s a long way up from the valley floor to the Iceline trail. The roar of Takakkaw Falls was our constant companion during the climb, even when we couldn&#8217;t see it through the trees. Once you reach the &#8220;level&#8221; of the Iceline, you find that it&#8217;s not very level at all. The trail undulates up and down around and across glacial moraines for most of the distance. We had some showers during our hike so we got a little damp. We paused for lunch beside a glacial stream. When we finally reached the last moraine and started down, the first touch of colour we saw was a clump of bright red [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Kananaskis Country Day Hikes 2005</title>
		<link>http://www.brilang.com/2005/06/kananaskis-country-day-hikes-2/80</link>
		<comments>http://www.brilang.com/2005/06/kananaskis-country-day-hikes-2/80#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2005 05:26:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brian Lang</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alberta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GMMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.brianlang.ca/2005/06/05/kananaskis-country-day-hikes-2/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I just got back from a wet weekend of camping and hiking in Kananaskis Country near Calgary, Alberta. We had a good time in spite of the rain. June 4-5, 2005 Camping: Owl Camp &#8211; group campground. This was the GMMC&#8217;s spring get together. Photo Album Owl Camp 2005 Photoset on flickr.com &#124; [piclens-lite-link] Saturday, June 4 &#8211; Prairie View Trail We set off from the Barrier Dam trailhead in the pouring rain &#8211; many umbrellas were put to good use that morning. This trip had originally planned to scramble to the peak proposed to be named in honour of Grant MacEwan, but the poor weather side tracked us to this lower, more sheltered trail. Twenty-six intrepid adventurers headed up through the forest with the goal of reaching a viewpoint or two. Eventually the rain stopped and the rain gear got packed away. By the time we reached the site of the old fire lookout the clouds had cleared enough to give some nice views of Barrier Lake, Barrier Mountain and points south. A little higher at the Prairie View viewpoint, we had a good view of the prairie for which the viewpoint is named. At that point we stopped [...]]]></description>
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