Mountain Odyssey: One Man's Summer in the Canadian Rockies

Monika Rohlmann is an environmental consultant in Victoria, B.C.

Cancer survivor Brent Lea fulfilled a lifelong dream when he embarked on
an extended hiking trip in the Canadian Rockies. He hiked the
established trails in four national parks: Banff (50 km from the
Sunshine Parking lot to Vermilion Pass near Storm mountain and a 60-km
circuit into Skoki Lodge); Kooteney (55-km roundtrip Rockwall Trail);
Jasper (50-km hike in and out of Tonquin Valley); and Yoho (40 km into
Little Yoho Valley). He also completed two hikes in provincial parks:
Mount Assiniboine (70 km over Citadel, Wonder, and Marvel passes); and
Mount Robson (50-km roundtrip to Berg Lake).

Mountain Odyssey also includes details of hiking daytrips based out of
two wilderness lodges: Mistaya Lodge near Golden, B.C., and Shadow Lake
Lodge near Mount Ball. All hiking trips included in the book are
accompanied by descriptions of trails, backcountry camp areas, early
settlement history, common trees and flowering plants, sparse wildlife
sightings, and amusing observations of other hikers on the trail.

Lea’s account of his Rocky Mountain adventures is full of practical
advice for those planning a hike in the Canadian Rockies. Armchair
travellers will welcome the book’s many insights into the nature of
wildness and the human need for untamed spaces.