Venturing into the wilderness can often be a journey which is embarked on alone, to find solitude amongst the mountain peaks, but that isn’t always the case. At the end of July, a group of fourteen of us photographers and adventurers hopped into a heli and flew deep into the backcountry, to a spot bordering on Banff National Park.

Our destination? Shale Pass. As our heli flew past numerous mountain peaks, over treetops and rushing creeks, we arrived at our grassy mountain destination. Our base camp sat just outside the park boundary, with the immediate area devoid of trees but covered in grass and wildflowers. The greenery in particular I’m more accustomed to seeing back home in the Kootenay Region rather than the Rockies. On these grass covered slopes it was just our group, the big horned sheep, marmots and pikas that call these mountains home.

A bighorn sheep at Shale Pass, near Banff National Park — *One of the local bighorn sheep checking out our camp. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

A bit about our group, and what led us to this spot. It’s a yearly backcountry photography trip organised by friends and fellow photographers, and for 2025 I was determined to finally make it out to one, with my partner Kole in tow. I’ve been invited in the past, but my summer photo work often keeps me committed to staying local to the Kootenay Region. Each summer a different destination in the Canadian Rockies is selected, and it’s a time to explore and visit with everyone.

A group of hikers at the Divide Creek Warden Cabin, Banff National Park — *A small portion of our group during our ladies hike day (+ Kole!) From Left to Right: Kole Harle, Myself, Stasia Schmidt, Pam Jenks, Laura Colpitts, Amy Liu, Joanne Liu, Trixie Pacis.*

Over the next four days we explored the mountains and valleys near the pass. On day hikes we counted how many types of wildflowers we could find, with the final number ending up somewhere near 24. We awoke to snow laden tents, low temperatures, and constantly changing weather. Down time was spent playing vigorous games of alpine frisbee and baseball (a tripod makes a surprisingly great bat!) and enjoying a good dinner in the communal cooking tent. Of course my camera was with me for most of the time, and I took full advantage of the chance to photograph such a seldom visited area.

That being said, a lot of the magic for me was reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and being surrounded by a large group of creatives. It’s not often that I get out in nature with other photographers, and it was really special to make those connections, surrounded by the remote beauty of the Canadian Rockies.

A hiker ascending a grassy slope near Shale Pass, near Banff National Park — *Kole Harle hiking above Shale Pass. Clover Peak can be seen in the centre of the image, with Chirp off to the Right.*

Two hikers ascending a wildflower covered slope near Shale Pass, near Banff National Park — *Photographers Stasia Schmidt and Lee Nordbye hiking the wildflower covered ridge. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

The above images were captured on the very first day at Shale Pass. It was overcast with a hint of wildfire smoke in the air, which made for some very atmospheric conditions. By that evening, rain was falling steadily, before turning to snow on the early morning of day two.

*Awakening to snowfall on day two at Shale Pass. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Big horned sheep in the mist. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Descending down from Shale Pass, towards Divide Pass. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

Despite the rain and snow, our group was determined to explore around the area. Everyone split off into smaller groups, each with a different objective in mind. A large group of us ladies + Kole decided to hike out to the warden cabin, and drop down into the valley of Divide Pass.

*An old burn, Divide Pass. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

Always drawn to post-burn landscapes, I enjoyed exploring this burnt forest on our way toward the Divide Warden Cabin. The greenery was striking against the old weathered burnt trees. It wasn’t yet blooming during our trip, but the fireweed in this location looked to be bountiful.

*Forest details, near the Divide Warden Cabin. Banff National Park. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Through the burn. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Trixie Pacis, Kole Harle, and Stasia Schmidt. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Kole Harle and Trixie Pacis hiking along Divide Pass. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*My adventure partner and model, Kole Harle. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Trixie Pacis and Stasia Schmidt hiking back towards Shale Pass. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

Rain fell steady all throughout day two, during our hike out to the Divide Warden Cabin. Things changed by that evening once the rain clouds passed us by, and the mountains surrounding Shale Pass were cloaked in swirling clouds and light.

*Lee Nordbye at Shale Pass. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Sunrise at camp on day three. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

Our third day at Shale Pass was relatively chill for myself. The beauty of having a large group is that everyone can split off to partake in the level of adventure that they’re looking for each day. The morning started with a quick jaunt up to the ridge overlooking camp, followed by a slow morning enjoying the sunshine, and warmth, that was lacking on the first two days at camp.

I spent the earliest hours of morning watching a large group of big horned sheep graze on the surrounding slopes. I counted around fourteen of them!

*The view down the valley. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Kole Harle, and the striking colours of Chirp Peak. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Banff National Park Boundary Sign. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Base camp at Shale Pass. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

After breakfast we descended into the valley to the East of Shale Pass, along the waters of Forbidden Creek. Here we found waterfalls, wildflowers, and some enjoyable hiking for the later half of the day.

*Waterfall and wildflowers, Forbidden Creek. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Kole perched above Forbidden Creek. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Waterfall, Forbidden Creek. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Joanne Liu at camp. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Dramatic light and texture. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*A colourful morning in the Rockies. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

On day four- our final sunrise at camp, I poked my head outside our tent and noticed that the clouds were a stunningly vibrant shade of pink. We quickly geared up and I grabbed my camera to capture the colours and morning light on the surrounding mountains. Before I knew it, Kole was already sprinting up to this rocky outcrop framed by the peaks beyond.

After the initial burst of colour, we made our way to the opposite end of camp, down the trail, and looking into the valley beyond.

*Our basecamp at sunrise. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Searching for the sun. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Looking towards Forbidden Creek and the lush green valley. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Wildflowers illuminated in the sunrise light. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Joanne Liu ascending the slopes of Clover. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*A trio of bighorn sheep on the ridge. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

Following a nice breakfast and coffee, we were planning to ascend Clover Peak, nearby to camp. A few of the group decided on this adventure for the day, so we all gathered up at the top for photos. Later that day our heli pickup would be arriving, to whisk us back to civilisation.

*Looking down to Divide Pass, where we trekked on day two. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Kole Harle looking down towards Chirp Peak. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*(left to right) Paul Zizka, Stasia Schmidt, John Bennet, and Will Nicholls ascending Clover Peak. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Paul Zizka and John Bennet silhouetted. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

*Trip organiser extraordinaire, Lee Nordbye. Photo: Ashley Voykin*

After our adventure up on Clover, we made our way back down to camp. With gear packed and the helicopter on its way, we passed the time with a game of alpine baseball, a perfect way to close out the trip before heading home.

Shale Pass

Flying High over the Kootenays: Second Edition