Marble Canyon is a cool spot along Highway 93 between Banff and Radium Hot Springs. Our plan for the day was to rappel into the canyon and do some ice climbing, and then check out a small cave just downstream of where we were climbing called Tokum cave.

Everything went well and we all did some climbing and were able to find and explore the cave. We had all worn wet suits as the cave is semi-submerged. When we emerged from the cave, we decided to swim downstream through the canyon, rather than have to ascend up the ropes.

I’ll save you all of the details, except to say that it was by far the coldest that I’ve ever been and we all immediately regretted the decision shortly after heading downstream. Moral of the story: Don’t swim in freezing cold river water in the middle of March, even if it seems like a great idea.