LM9 Aylmer Canyon Campground March 30, 2019

The forecast is for March to go out like a lamb and that means to me to just get out there and go. So off we went, to Lake Minniwanka with intentions to aim for LM8 Aylmer Pass Junction Campground where we could lounge around on the beach basking in the sunshine.   We made it to LM8 and then we made it to LM9 and then we made it half a click beyond LM9.  It looked inviting and tempting to carry on even further but we played it smart and did not give in to the temptation.   Everything about today was easily lovable!   

This was a very very quiet place this morning with only three other vehicles in the parking lot when we arrived shortly before 9:30am.  Right from the start the views were exactly as I like them.  Minniwanka Lake was still snow covered yet as can be expected in this area at this time of year, that's about the only place where there was snow.  

Once up and out of Stewart Canyon the trail was snow free & ice free & dry.  

The sun blazes down on this open slope.

We arrived at the Aylmer Pass Junction and eyed Aylmer Lookout.   

I wondered would people be heading up there today.

 We followed the snow free trail through the LM8 Aylmer Pass Junction Campground.

 ready for back country campers

We went straight down to the beach and made this our lunch destination.  It was so peaceful here and such a delight to sit quietly feeling the warmth of the sun soothe our souls and lift our spirits.  That's what a beautiful spring day does!

 play time

We had a great view up to Aylmer Lookout and it sure looked to be doable.  From experience we know there would be sections of snow early on the way up there but if that's all there was it would be a great day for others to be up there.

After lunch and with time on our side along with everything else on our side, we packed up and followed the shore a kilometer from LM8 to LM9 Aylmer Canyon Campground.  We hiked on the hard packed snow which made for quick and easy travel.

 This is it, LM9.

We went up to the campground and walked around checking out the set-up. 

It appeared campers had been here recently.

In addition to a play time photo I also grabbed a destination shot. This is it, all this, it's all ours today. It was actually hot, shortly here after we went down to our base shirts.  I took my gaiters off, rolled up my pants and pushed down my socks.

There was so much to enjoy about today that we prolonged the return a little longer and carried on along the shore a half kilometer beyond LM9.  We embraced this whole stretch and savoured every second.  

 We had a wide open vista behind us up towards Aylmer Lookout and into the Pass.

When we reached our "we have gone far enough" point, we then retraced our steps back to LM8.  We snacked up and then continued on with our return trek.  It felt like summer but with springy/wintry like views.    

 view from the bridge over Stewart Canyon

We arrived back to civilization.  It was still not busy at all here.  It was early evening now so we decided to get back to the car instead of stopping to hang out a while.  This area will soon be hopping with many kinds of visitors, from hikers to bikers, backpackers to picnickers.  It was a treat to be here on a day like this when we pretty much had outright ownership.

 This was our track for today.  We covered 21.1 kms with 418 meters of cumulative gain.