Bugaboo Provincial Park, BC - August 2012 Hiking Trip

 "Everybody needs beauty ...

places to play in and pray in where nature may heal

and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike."

~John Muir

 In August, two of our Chrysalis staff and six of our amazing students traveled to the Bugaboo Provincial Park in British Columbia for a challenging weekend hike.  This is not a trip for the faint of heart, and our girls proved themselves up to the challenge!

With regard to the Bugaboos Mountains, Wikipedia relates that the location is in the northwestern extreme of the Purcells in the Columbia Mountains,  in the south-east region of the province. Originally named the "Nunataks", the Bugaboo spires were first noted by a surveying expedition in the late 1800s. Mining brought the first Europeans to the region with a small, ill-fated gold rush occurring in 1895 and 1896 near Bugaboo Falls. The area was prospected and staked, but the meager deposits turned out not to be profitable.  The name "Bugaboo" originated from this rush; the term was used by prospectors for a "dead-end".


Climbers became interested in the group shortly after. In 1910, an expedition entered the area, guided by the renowned European climber Conrad Kain.  He would return to the area six years later and pioneer many difficult climbing routes. The Austrian climber described his route up Bugaboo Spire as his most difficult Canadian ascent^.

 Our Adventure Team leader, Julie, had this to say about our girls on this trip:

"I am AMAZED with this group of girls, what a team!  On the 3,182 foot hike to the campsite this group hiked as a unit, one behind the next, supporting and encouraging one another.  Harmony was in the air.  The hike to the Crescent Spire (another 1,200 feet of elevation) was challenging for the girls, but they were quick to offer each other encouragement and instruction.  Never once did I hear a girl say she could not do it; rather she would breathe, put one foot in front of the other, and press on.  The elements we encountered were snow, boulder fields, scree slopes and two short areas of class IV moves."

"On the summit the group shared laughter and a great sense of accomplishment....as they should have!  There was no complaining or arguing, the experience was unbelievable!  Everyone had a grateful and positive mindset.  They were in awe of the scenery and they felt so accomplished.  It was an incredible growing experience for all of them!"

"In every walk with nature one receives

far more than he seeks."

~John Muir

~Robin Greene

Chrysalis