I’ll Be Glad When I’ve Had Enough

Sat. 6^th September ’26

In the words of my friend’s aunt and used frequently when we reach the 15^th tee on a challenging day on the golf course, this phrase sprang to mind a few times as we walked to Miller Lake and back today. To start at the beginning, today we plan to go up Mt. Revelstoke and visit Revelstoke National Park and go for a “proper hike”. Firstly, though this involved a shopping trip in town to buy:

• · Packed lunch as there is no restaurant en-route;
• · Notebook for our blog notes (as both of us squabbling over a single notebook isn’t working);
• · Bear spray as we have now entered Bear country.

Chores done and a walk around the Saturday market later, I return to our hotel room to explain to Dave what we need to do if we meet a bear. Bear spray is like a mini fire extinguisher (loaded with mace/pepper spray) and for which I had to sign an indemnity and give my name and address. Let us hope we don’t need it – especially, as it is only useful if a bear is coming towards you and gets within 2o feet or so. The advice is always to have it in the holster on your hip as there won’t be time to start rummaging in your bag!

All this shopping meant that we did not get to the park until 11am and joined the queue of cars to enter. Parking at the top of the mountain was full and it was now a one car in, one car out policy. Not surprising that it was busy as it is a Saturday at the end of the school holidays and there is free entry to National Parks for a few more days. Luckily, it was a short wait until a few cars left the park freeing up spaces at the top (hopefully). The road up is called the Meadows in the Sky highway and is a 24km windy road up the mountain side through never ending pine trees of all ages. From small baby trees to full grown and ones which have died naturally or have burnt in wildfires.

Half an hour later, we arrive at a small overfull car park but fortunately spot a car leaving so manage to park. This inevitably meant the trail we were walking today was very busy with a large demographic of people from toddlers to fell runners. From those carrying full camping gear to a friendly chap who stopped to talk and say he was scattering his wife’s ashes. That said there was space to walk at our own pace and it was only on the latter part of the way out that we were against the flow of walkers as those who started first thing were now returning to their cars. We enquire of the park warden about the bear warning but are assured he is used to humans and too busy feeding up for the winter to worry about us.

We are only walking a small part of much longer trail but feel a five hour walk out to Miller Lake and back is enough for us. The path was quite varied in surface as well as gradient. The amazing scenery was enough to keep us entertained on our walk, but we did remember not to walk and gawp to avoid tripping over stones and tree roots. We do glimpse the local bear walk through the trees but did not manage a picture. At one point we glimpsed Lake Revelstoke in the distance, a splash of pale blue water amongst the trees. Not being competitive at all, we each tried to get the best composition through the trees. Easier to photograph as it doesn’t move! I think that is why I prefer landscape photography.

At last we reach Miller Lake, a tranquil body of water surrounded by trees (and tourists scampering to get their favourite selfie perched on the edge). We devour our packed lunch and wait for the lake edge to clear of people and take our photos. No, we absolutely do not want a selfie!! There are a number of interesting angles and set-ups we play with until we believe we have succeeded. It was a very brief discussion over whether to do the last km to Eva Lake but decide that is just too far as our legs are already aching and not looking forward to the 2½ hours’ walk back to the car.

So my watch says 15km walked, ascent 513 metres to a maximum elevation of 1,934m and 1,197 calories burnt. Sweat loss statistics are not necessary to share but it is off to the hot tub and sauna to recover and relax our aching limbs. These are situated on the roof of the hotel with views out over the surrounding mountains. The walk was well worth the exercise, and we feel that we have earned a posh meal and a few glasses of wine tonight. The hotel restaurant fits the bill and it was a tough decision between steak or sable fish with hakural turnips and shichimi. After Googling what all these items were the fish won and it was delicious. The guys on the next table had the steak and even they could not finish their mountain of fries which also made me very satisfied with my choice.