ISRAELSENS

Living in the Midwest we don't get to do a lot of hiking. So when we go to Canada we always go to Waterton lakes National Park. Waterton borders Glacier National Park in Montana. I grew up working in this National Park and absolutely loved it. There is this hike in the park that everyone usually does. It's called Bears hump.

Just a little info on Bears hump.

At only 1.5 km (0.9 miles), The Bears Hump is a short, strenuous but rewarding climb that begins at the Waterton Visitor Resource Centre. Once known as Bear Mountain by the Piikani (Blackfoot) tribe for its hump like appearance, this rocky trail becomes a veritable staircase by the half way mark yet ends on the flat dome of the "Hump". It is the most popular short hike in probably all of the mountain parks. It's also the steepest, climbing 240m in just over 1km.

Bears hump usually takes about 25min to climb up and about 20 to go down. It's rated a difficult hike. If any of you follow hiking guidelines you know what this means... It sucks!!

Anyways we always convince the kids to climb it because "it gets easier every year" and you can get ice cream at the bottom if you make it. This usually works so off we went as a family. My sis and her girls came with us.

Here are a few tips you might want to consider,

if you are ever in the area and want to attempt this:

*Lose the 50+ pounds you put on during your pregnancy.

*If you haven't (like me) maybe have someone else carry the baby up.

(okay it was either Russ or the big camera case)

I chose Russ. He weighs 14 pounds and the camera case weighs 15.

*Don't do the elliptical for an hour the morning you decide that you are going to climb it.

*eat something other than 2 chocolate chip cookies for breakfast and lunch.

If you follow this advise you will have no problem.

If you don't you will still make it, but it will just suck and you will promise that you will not lie to your kids that it gets easier every year, because it doesn't.

But it's all worth it especially when the view and the pictures are amazing.

We had been up at the top for 15min and my face was still red.

Half way up...

(I love Braden's face)

half way down...

We all made it and i'll tell you the ice cream at the end was worth it.