01/08/2025
25th– 27th June 2025
🌧️ Three Days of Rain — or How to Choose the Perfect Timing
Okay, truth be told, we didn’t exactly choose this timing ourselves. Assiniboine Provincial Park operates on a reservation system, and those coveted backcountry sites? They usually vanish the moment bookings open at the end of January. At that point, we had no idea if Lu’s work permit situation would even allow us to go. So we waited… and waited.
If I remember correctly, we didn’t end up booking until May. Miraculously, we managed to grab two nights — each in a different campground, just as we’d hoped.
The first wave of concern hit us on June 21st, when we looked up at the peaks around Banff and saw them freshly dusted with snow. A quick check of the Assiniboine webcams confirmed it: it was snowing there, too.
Weather forecasts had previously called for some rain and a cold snap about a week before our trip — but no one mentioned snow. And just a day before departure, it was supposed to be sunny and 20°C. Well, the forecast changed almost hourly, and for a moment, we genuinely considered calling the whole thing off.
As if that weren’t enough, I managed to get sick a week prior (thanks, weather changes), and wasn’t exactly in peak condition. But then we reminded ourselves that time in Banff — and in Canada in general — is ticking down fast. So we said screw it. We’re going. Rain or snow or thunderstorm — we’re not staying home like a pair of slippers.
We tried to mentally prepare for three days of hiking in the rain. Keyword: tried. Because, honestly? You can’t mentally prepare for that. What we did was pack an extra set of dry hiking pants and brought along our trusty winter boots, which had survived many snowy trails before. Thankfully, we’d already upgraded our camping gear for colder weather — new mats, new sleeping bags — so at least we weren’t afraid of freezing at night.
🏞️ Day 1 — The Adventure Begins (June 25, 2025)
I asked my friend from work if she could drop us off at Mt. Shark parking lot — our starting point. The idea was to finish the hike at Sunshine Village and catch the shuttle back to Banff.
We were supposed to meet her around 8:30–8:40 a.m. outside the restaurant where we work. Classic us — the morning was chaotic, and of course, we showed up late. As we arrived, we found out she and her fiancé had a late night out with friends… and now they were up early just for us. And then we were late. Whoops.
Rain had already started as we drove, just a light drizzle — and they gently asked if we were really sure we wanted to go. But we were already packed, already on the road. Of course we were going.
They offered to come rescue us anytime if needed, which was super kind — but we knew we’d be out of signal range for the next three days. So, no turning back.
We set off in that soft drizzle, and to be honest, it wasn’t that bad. The movement kept us warm, and we hoped the weather would improve. Spoiler: it didn’t.
Three hours later, the rain stopped, and we were starving. We’d spotted a shelter on the map and aimed for it. When we arrived, we found a full-on wooden hut — locked, unfortunately — but the view was nice, and more importantly, it did not start raining again, yet. Lunch break: activated. We spent approximately 20 minutes on that beatiful place, found our jet boil and have even hot tea with our meal.
Not long after, the sun decided to pay us a short visit. Off came the rain jackets and hoodies! We passed Marvel Lake, with no one else on the trail except two trail runners. The calm, the sun, the views — it was perfect. We soaked it all in, figuratively… because the literal soaking was yet to come.
As we are approaching Wonder Pass, the trail got steeper. Rain jackets went back on as a fresh drizzle rolled in — and yes, we were sweating uphill in them, but it was better then getting more wet from the rain.
And then Wonder Pass really lived up to its name. Not in a magical, fairy-tale way — more like boom, instant fog, heavier rain, thunder rumbling around us and lightning crackling nearby. We were soaked through in minutes, freezing, and honestly a bit shaken.
Still, we tried to embrace the beauty of the place. I attempted to take photos and videos, but frozen hands aren’t exactly made for touchscreen controls and unshaken videos.
Descending from the pass, the rain finally stopped. But now we were cold. Really cold. Luckily, we stumbled upon the Wonder Lodge cook shelter. Hikers from nearby cabins were cooking there, and we used it as a changing room to peel off our soaked layers. One group even offered us a spare bed in their cabin if we got too cold that night — a moment of real kindness which pleasantly warm us.
We pushed on to Magog Lake campground, praying not to get rained on again. Another soaking and we’d have no dry clothes left.
We passed the permit check (we saw for the first time, that someone from parks Canada physically came to the campground and were checking the permits, but it has been told us, that it’s because this spot is very frequented/ requested), pitched our tent, and headed to the cooking shelter for dinner, where we also tried to hang our wet clothes in the breeze. Fingers crossed they’d still be there — and drier — by morning.
💡 Fun Fact:
Mount Assiniboine is often called the “Matterhorn of the Rockies” because of its sharp, pyramid-like shape. It’s so remote that you either have to hike for days to get there or take a helicopter. No roads. No cars. Just boots or blades.
🏔️ Day 2 — A Game of Layers and False Hopes (June 26, 2025)
We woke up early, knowing the forecast called for more rain later in the day — likely by evening. Our plan was a small loop hike: The Niblet, The Nublet, and the grand finale, Nub Peak.
First things first: breakfast under the shelter. Then, a disappointing reality check — our wet clothes from yesterday were still, well… wet. Luckily, we had our other set of clothes from Day 1 (the ones that somehow stayed dry).
We left the tent pitched to dry out while we hiked — we had to pack it up by noon, so the clock was ticking. We tried to help the drying process by strapping wet gear to our packs like walking laundry lines, but after about an hour of walking through fog and moisture-heavy air, we gave up. Nothing was drying in this humidity. Lu even decided to just wear her wet hiking pants to help them dry faster on her body. Bold move.
Despite the mist, the scenery was stunning. I couldn’t help imagining how magical it would be under a clear blue sky. After about two and a half hours of hiking, we reached the summit.
Nub Peak sits at 2,755 meters, and yup — still plenty of snow up there. Honestly, with the way this year’s weather’s been going, that snow might just stick around till the next winter.
But what a spot. No signal. Barely any people. Just silence and sweeping alpine views. A true hiker’s paradise. It hit me all over again why this place is so special — and why you can only reach it with a multi-day trek (or, you know… a helicopter).
We stood there staring at Mount Assiniboine, the namesake of the park, rising proudly in the distance like a perfectly sculpted spire.
We’d looked into summiting Assiniboine the year before, but that dream was quickly crushed by the reality of technical gear we didn’t have — and guide service prices that made our wallets cry.
Just before noon, we made it back to the campground. The timing couldn’t have been better — the tent had dried just in time to be packed away. We took a lunch break under the shelter and … as soon as we started eating, it began to rain. Great timing, universe. Thanks. We are glad that we have decided to stay for a lunch, so we could wait until the worst will be gone.
From there, we only had to hike to Og Lake campground, our final overnight spot.
On the way, we passed by Assiniboine Lodge, and the plan was to stop for a celebratory drink — Lu wanted a beer, I surprisingly wanted a hot chocolate, what is wrong with me.
Sadly, no luck. The lodge only sells drinks to non-guests between 4–5 PM, and only outside. With the unpredictable weather and no way to check the forecast, we decided not to risk it and just continue on.
There was a weather sheet posted at Magog Lake — our final day was supposed to be rainy, but only light showers. The route would be 27 km… or 22 km if we took the gondola down from Sunshine. We debated whether to push on further and sleep at the next campground, Porcupine, to make the final day shorter.
But the risk? Rain.
We had no third set of clothes left to soak. If we pushed on and it rained while we were walking or setting up the tent, we’d be screwed. So we played it safe: pitch the tent while it’s still dry, and deal with the rain tomorrow.
Camp set — check. Early dinner — check. I went to refill water, and we both crawled into our sleeping bags around 5 PM just to rest. Next thing we knew, we were out.
We woke up again around 8 PM, had a snack, refilled water one more time — and just in time for the rain to start. And guess what? It didn’t stop until the next afternoon.
💡 Fun Fact for Hikers:
The Niblet, Nublet, and Nub Peak aren’t just fun to say — they also offer one of the most iconic views of Mount Assiniboine and the surrounding lakes. On a clear day, it’s postcard perfection. But even in fog and mist, it’s pure mountain magic.
Day 3 – It’s not the sunshine that makes it memorable. (June 27th, 2025)
It stormed and rained all night long, and by early morning, our tent gave up and started letting water in. Even though our sleeping bags got damp, they still managed to keep us surprisingly warm. Our plan was to get up early anyway and hit the trail. So we enjoyed breakfast tucked in our warm sleeping bags and did our best to pack everything while still inside. Packing up a soaked tent, though, was not exactly fun. The only shelter around was the toilet hut, so we ran over there to finish packing the tent and our remaining gear. Not glamorous, but effective.
Shortly after 7 a.m., we were on the move. The forecast had called for light drizzle, but reality served up proper rain. Lu improvised by using the tarp we usually place under the tent as a makeshift rain cover. We initially thought we could both walk under it, but it was so awkward that I bailed pretty quickly. The hike itself wasn’t too bad at first, but once we reached the parts of the trail where the vegetation closed in, brushing against our legs and arms, things escalated. We were soaked from head to toe, our boots were literal puddles, and it felt like we were getting drenched all over again.
There were some nice views along the way, but we weren’t exactly having the time of our lives. There were moments when we seriously questioned our decision to hike out in that weather. The low point came at Citadel Pass, where the wind was so brutal we ended up practically running through just to avoid freezing solid. As someone can say, “It doesn’t matter whether an experience is good or bad, as long as it’s intense.”
As we got closer to Sunshine Village—where we could theoretically take the gondola down—the rain finally started easing up, and the weather began to improve. So much for the forecast: “light drizzle all day” turned out to be “solid rain until about 1 p.m.” If only we’d known that, we might have lingered in our cozy sleeping bags a little longer, haha. At this point, all I could think about was a hot shower and food—specifically, a steak at The Keg once we got back. I also started fantasizing about dessert, maybe the Mount Assiniboine one—because hey, we just hiked through Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, so it would only be fitting.
We tried to see if we could hitch a ride on the gondola (we snowboarded at Sunshine all winter), but our ski passes were only valid during the winter season. Apparently, we could go down—but only if we bought summer tickets, which would cost us over 140 CAD plus tax for both of us. No thanks. So we opted to walk the last few kilometers down and treat ourselves to a proper meal instead. The descent took us about an hour, and since the weather had cleared up, we didn’t regret walking at all. In fact, the timing worked out perfectly—we made it down just in time to catch the shuttle back to Banff.
These days, we were also catsitting Orbit—the cat we looked after over Christmas—so our priorities were crystal clear: hot shower, straight to Orbit, and then steak time.
