Last stop in Canada for this trip: Waterton Lakes National Park. As I was checking into the Crandell Campground for 4 nights, the ranger warned me that a bear had just been seen walking down the main road into the camp. I was to keep a bare campsite. I had no problem with that. I had not yet seen a bear and was going to do nothing to encourage a visit.

I had two hikes on my list: Crypt Lake and Carthew-Alderson.

Crypt Lake starts out with a boat ride across the lake to the trailhead. From there you climb steadily until you reach the real reason people hike this hike. A ledge, a ladder, a natural tunnel and more ledge.

Once you reach the lake, you can take a mixed trail of scree and stone all the way around the water’s edge. At the far south end of the lake, you briefly enter the USA, then its right back to Canada.

Carthew-Alderson begins at Cameron Lake and gradually climbs to the spectacular Carthew Ridge with views of alpine lakes, mountain ranges and the Alberta prairies. I ran into Linda and Howard from Armstrong, Alberta about half way up. They invited me to join them for the rest of the hike, and I’m glad I did. They were awesome hiking buddies and told great stories! The one Harold told about setting up a tent in the Bugaboos during a blizzard only to have the tent blow off the side of the mountain was WAY better than my “tent ripped to shreds” story.

When we reached the ridge, the wind was amazing. It was the kind of wind that blows your foot away from where you intended to put it.

We found shelter on the east side of the ridge for lunch. The views were just amazing.

That is one of the best hikes I’ve ever. I know the company had a lot to do with it, but the scenery was just out of this world. The only thing I would do different: you can take a shuttle to Cameron Lake and take the Carthew-Alderson all the way into the Waterton Townsite. 11 miles all told. We were only 4 miles from the townsite where these pictures were taken. I would have LOVED to walk it all the way to the townsite and right into a bar for a pint. Next time.