The walk from Donald to Golden was a virtual sprint if one can call an SOG of 6 km/hr sprinting. Instead of the planned for 4 hours, I was on my feet for 7.

I needed to make the jump to Golden as the Shoreteam had secured a much coveted temporary day pass through the TransCanada closure where the highway was being blasted wider.

Leaving the next day at 0630, we were the first in line for the 0700am opening. To pay back the efforts of all those who helped with the pass, I decided anything less than Field, more than 40km away, would be weakness.


The mountains were spectacular and the highway closure from Lake Louise to Golden meant I had the road entirely to myself. It was surreal. One of Canada’s most beautiful landscapes to myself. I walked in wonderment, feeling more than blessed and filled with thanks.

I made Field in under 10 hours. A record and personal best that paled in the shadows of the mountains that waited, at least in this day, all for me.