Largest Mountain - Smallest Showers
Adventures with Abby
Tuesday July 17, 2024
Mount Robson River Campground
Eastern BC, Canada on the border with Jasper National Park in Alberta
Star Bright
The climate here is decidedly more hot than the beautiful cool weather Abby and I have been enjoying in Glacier Park and Stewart (both in BC, Canada) and in Hyder, Alaska.
I’m already making mental notes to avoid hot places, such as this, however beautiful, in difference to geographical locations more likely to deliver an air of cool pleasantness during the summer months. I don’t mind putting on a fleece or down jacket, as the contrast to the miserable heat and humidity back home brings a content smile to my face every time I add a layer to keep warm.
Where do I go to find such respites? Think elevation. Elevation matters.
If ever I ask if you want to go out and get high with me, it means I want to take you to the mountains. Danielle and I always enjoyed getting high together.
Waking up during the night for what I’ll define as a “Nature call” is part of life. What isn’t normally part of life is looking up at the night sky and thinking somebody plugged in the stars and deliberately turned up the brightness.
Amid the tall trees that surround our campsite is a distinct opening that serves as a portal to the heavens. I stand here amazed, simply gazing upon distant stars. Even back home where I live in the country, there are manmade light sources that partially obscure the night sky, even on a moonless night. By contrast, right now I’m standing in a “Dark Sky Preserve.”
I’ve photographed the night sky before, which takes a bit pf preparation and a clear view. Tonight, or shall I say early this morning, I’m about to crawl back into the camper and go back to sleep. I do so with deep satisfaction that the glories of the firmament are as wondrous as ever!
I don’t think the neighbors at the next campsite through the trees are awake at this hour. They talked themselves to sleep hours ago. They could not possibly have seen me pee against that tree and then proceed to stare upwards. Maybe I should wake them up to show them what they’re missing. Na, they brought their iPads. I’m sure they’re content with lessor things.
Wednesday July 17, 2024
Mount Robson River Campground
Eastern BC, Canada on the border with Jasper National Park in Alberta
Large Mountains, Small Showers
Mount Robson is the tallest peak in the “Oh, so magnificent” Canadian Rockies!
That factoid has nothing whatsoever to do with today’s post.
It seems that to contrast the tallest peak, the purveyors of Mount Robson Provincial Park sat down and concocted a way to save money by designing the smallest showers possible in the campground.
Many campgrounds don’t have showers at all, as the designers are obviously content to have filthy, smelly hikers meandering around the campground for days on end, becoming even more filthy and smelly as their adventures grow ever more strenuous. Besides, they saved a fortune on water lines, a hot water heater, tile and drain.
If you’ve never experienced the stress of trying to take a shower in one that neither the outer changing area nor the water spray room have adequate space to bend over to tend to the important task of disrobing and redressing, nor the ability to direct water flow to all body parts, then be grateful.
The fixed water flow hits the opposing wall rather than the floor. Think about that. It’s possible to insert oneself into the water flow from the head to ones shoulders. Beyond that, I’m not sure what they were thinking. I’m sure someone convinced everyone else who had to sign off on it that this less costly shower house has everything a real one has. See, here on the blueprints, there’s a water spicket, drain and changing “area.” Everything but adequate space. Dear reader, space matters. Perhaps they needed to redirect portions of the budget to the EV charging stations at some of the sites.
Part of my enthusiasm for getting a reservation here was the glee that they have showers!
I technically bought a changing tent with an adjacent shower room, and a solar shower, but have not put them into use yet. I’m resisting, and have driven long distances to find actual showers, even though it often involves plunking down loonies. Actually, I filled the solar shower days ago at Glacier Park to clean Abby’s muddy paws up. There was no sun, so the water never became warm. Gratefully however, Abby’s dirty paws miraculously became clean again, perhaps from walking on the towels I put on the bed for her to make contact with when she first gets into bed. Then I fold the towel on my side over to reveal the clean sheets and comforter.
Speaking of debris on the bed, I secured a battery operated chargeable handheld vacuum before the trip to keep our bedding free of the noticeable chunks of trail a small dog can bring into sleeping quarters without even being aware of it. It works, and I’ve used it a couple times already, when the forest floor artifacts become so annoying I fell I really need to do something.
Yes, I took a shower today at the campground, and will do so again before embarking to my next campground on Icefields parkway. It has running water and a dish washing sink, but no showers. It’s possible I may set up the shower tent. It’s also possible I’ll wait for the next hotel in Montana.
In the mean time, my quick dry towel is quickly drying.
For the record, Abby has has no less than 3 baths so far on this trip. All at motels or the Air B&B in Western New York. She always looks and feels her best after the washing/drying process has been completed.
Wash Room or Pit Toilet?
While meandering around the campground admiring the spacious sites, it’s hard not to notice the sign on the newish pit toilet labeling it a “Wash room.” I was sufficiently intrigued to open the door and see what makes this pit toilet more than a hole in the ground with a seat over it. Turns out nothing distinguishes it. There are no washing facilities in there whatsoever, not even a hand sanitizer dispenser.
The artwork on the sign is notable however, for the iconic wheelchair bound citizen frantically looking for a “Wash room.” Note the implied speed and urgency with which the person is frantically searching for a place large enough to accommodate the wheel chair. Clearly the other more primitive “Pit toilets” (we know this because they are accurately labeled as such) do not accommodate such things. I can only imagine the intense feelings of pressured “I need it now, the urge is overwhelming” one must feel to devote every last drop of energy to frantically wheeling through the campground in search of suitable accommodations, as pictured via the graphic image.
Our next post will be from the oh so peaceful Waterfowl Lakes Campground on Icefields Parkway in Alberta, Canada!
Thank you for reading.
I somehow am late in reading this entry, but it’s one of my favorites! The picture of the mountains and the flowers is exquisite!