Wow, was I not in the mood to go hiking, yesterday.  All set for a day of gloom, I was holed up in my room, temporarily perched in front of my computer and eyeing the book I was given to read about 1970s India (with an Oprah's bookclub designation).  What happened then?  My roommate swooped in and announced we should hike Cory Pass.  I blew over the hike description in her guide, thinking a quick hike might do wonders to improve my mood-- my brain registered the words "steep", "very steep" and "partial scramble" but it didn't bother to think about what they might mean...  

2 hours later I was tired, hungry and [truly] grumpy (due in large part to the former)-- not to mention still 30min from the Pass.  If the entire sky hadn't been so overcast, I'm certain you would have been able to spot one little grey cloud hovering over my head.  

My sour mood produced several trains of thought during the hike.. let me share with you, some of them.. 

What is up with trail running?  Ok, I get it.. running trails like Fenland and even Tunnel Mountain.. ones not significantly difficult, fit for a running shoe and with fairly consistent weather .. that I get.  But running Cory Pass?  Are you kidding me?  There are places where the trail is less than half a meter wide!  It is rocky and unstable.. and STEEP!  How is it 'good for you' to run down (or up) a mountain?  My knees were killing me and I was walking!  What do they do to alleviate pressure on their knees?  They run carrying ski poles!  Ok, they're for the steepness I mentioned.. but if the trail is so steep you need poles, why are you running?  Also, what is up with the 'costumes' trail runners wear?  The fabric leaves nothing to the imagination-- and while there's nothing truly wrong with that, I have to wonder what kind of protection space-age spandex onesies can provide from the hail and howling winds we experienced at the top of the pass..

Which brings me to the next little rant.  Alberta weather, I would like to offer you a wake up call.  It's July.  Hail, snow, temperatures less than 10 degrees?  Unacceptable.  I travelled several thousand kilometers to spend my summer here and frankly, the weather of late has been rather inhospitable.  Take a note from Ontario and consider throwing some 30 degree days into the mix.  Please. 

That was probably only about a 10min taste of what was going on in my mind, yesterday.  And remember, the hike was about 5 hours...

My ranting aside, I've got to admit that nothing cures the blues (or the mean reds) like reaching a summit and turning around to survey the landscape.  AMAZING--I became almost giddy!  Cory Pass was the coolest hike I've done so far, and comes highly recommended.  Honestly, if it hadn't been for several extenuating circumstances, I know I would have enjoyed all 5 hours.  As it is, I know I have to hike Cory Pass again-- for one, I have to readjust my memory of it for the better, and two?  I HAVE to take more pictures.  The opportunities were innumerable and I took advantage of only a few.