Lake Louise Camping Hiking Lake O'Hara July 24, 2018

July 24, 2018 has much more meaning than just July 24, 2018.  I was fortunate to get a spot on the bus up to Lake O'Hara for this day.  I had mixed emotions about venturing into here today but wise words from my sister let me know that it was OK to go here today and that I should go ahead with the plan.  It has been reaffirmed that you never know what you will be handed in life so you should make the most of each day as you face it.  I made sure to appreciate every single second I was at Lake O'Hara today. 

My bus was half full, the Warden said the quota for the day had been reached.  I gave up trying to figure out their game plan in how all this works.  I was on the bus and heading up to this precious place and so very thankful for that.  I was off the bus quickly and on my way quickly wanting to capture a first photo.

This was the view as I circumnavigated Lake O'Hara.  

Shortly along the shoreline I came to the sign saying to the left and uphill to get to Wiwaxy Gap.  Once again it was hot.  It was a slow go up.  I find I always hike slower anyway when I am at the Lake O'Hara area.  I don't cover much ground very quicky.  This is the spot everyone goes out onto.  This is as far to the edge as I was comfortable to go.  That's Lake O'Hara for below.

Now that's Lake O'Hara far below!

The alpine route is marked with a blue square and two yellow lines in it.  

It means for experienced hikers and there are some scrambly spots and mild exposure.  

I arrived at Wiwaxy Gap and stayed for a visit.  That is Lake Oesa below me.  I shared the Gap with a  few others, one was a Parks Employee for the summer with hopes after graduation she will get hired on full time.   We dined together and then headed off towards the Huber Ledges at the same time.  As it turned out, all the others came along too.  The route was a bit sketchy in spots so she stayed back to make sure everyone got over those areas OK.

I see 7 lakes!

Do you?

I numbered them here.  There are many more lakes in the area but they are behind the mountains or down in other valleys, or around hidden corners.

Embracing today!

The Huber Ledges were fun to route find and scramble down.  I kept looking back up to where I was and to see the others coming down behind me.  They are on the ledge there but are tiny dots.

That's Lake Oesa peaking out from hehind the boulder and Lefroy at bottom right.

I spent a few minutes at Oesa and then it began to sprinkle.  The sprinkles were off and on for the next couple of hours.  I worked my way off the Huber Ledges, down to Oesa and then off towards the waterfalls and to where I could see Lake O'Hara again.

Look up, way up, that's where I was quite awhile back.

I arrived back down at the shoreline of Lake O'Hara.   

I still had some time to wait for the 4:30 bus.  I had no energy left to carry on hiking so went to the waiting area and plunked myself down.  This was my view as I waited for the yellow school bus.  I was so tired I had a hard time keeping my eyes open.  My sister was on my mind and I just wanted to get to Lake Louise Village to get a connection and update.  Then I just wanted to get back to my campsite and hang out.

When it was near time to get on the bus, I met one of my blog followers.  Sonja or Sonia (not sure of the spelling) it was nice to meet you.  I hope your day here was enjoyable amd memorable.  Thank you coming over to speak to me.  I enjoy meeting people like you that follow my blog, it's my motivation to keep going with it.

Everyone was leaving the parking lot at the same time probably too just wanting to get home.  Wouldn't you know it, a train was poking along the track.  The wait was only about 10 minutes but seemed like eternity.

I got to the village and got an update on my sister then got to my home away from home then ignited a fire.  I bonked by the fire!  Looking at this photo, I think I have my shirt on upside down, not backwards or inside out, but upside down.

This was a big day in many ways.  I am grateful for lots of things in life and paid extra attention to that today.   I was comfy and cozy in my sleeping bag in my tent on the early side this evening and once again, slept through the night.    Time to head back to the city for a few days before I'm....

"....on the road again!  Just can't wait to get on the road again!

Lake Louise Camping Hiking The Iceline Trail July 23, 2018

How fortunate are we to have a place like this just a mere three hour drive from the city.  The word "Yoho" and the word "Iceline" conjure up images that encompass everything glaciers.   The trail head for The Iceline Trail is just a hop skip and a jump from the Lake Louise Campground.  I like it like that!  My intentions were to hike up from the Whiskey Jack Hostel to the Iceline Trail and follow it until I reached the 10 km mark then come back the same way so I have the views the entire day.  That was my plan anyway.

A Warden stopped his vehicle to chat with me as I was heading to the trail head.  He advised me it was going to be sunny and hot all day and to make sure I had sunscreen and lots of water.  He also say don't forget your camera and have a wonderful day.  Then I went on my way.

The hike went up, then up, more up, up some more, then up again and up and up and up.  It was hot already just like the warden said it was going to be.  I could see down to where I parked my car on the side of the road and I could also see straight across to Takakkaw Falls.

The views behind me were glorious and I kept stopping and looking back.  

Loads of work went into creating this trail.  Here you can see the large stepping stones creating what seemed like a stairway to heaven.   If I was not already high enough, I got even higher.  

Now I was looking down at Takakkaw Falls.  What is interesting is that many years ago I was over on the other side there at Daly Glacier Overlook and I could see down to a little lake that was formed from the melting glacier and that lake is where Takakkaw Falls come from.  You cannot see it here though.  It put all things here into perspective for me.

along the trail where it is wide open and blistering hot just like the warden said it would be

a lovely little glacier fed lake

It was time to sit down and take a load off and load up on fuel.  It felt cooler down by the lake.  There were a few other hikes in the vicinity, two separate couples and a trio. We were all spread far enough apart that we could each own these special places along the route for some time.

I made it up to the high point along the Iceline.  

I took my share of ownership time up on this little spot.  

This is the view from up on the pointy high point.  That's the little lake I was just at and you can see three people on the trail coming towards it.  They are tiny dots but they are there.

The glaciers are receding.  I was last here a few years ago and the glaciers seem smaller already than what I remember.  Not sure what they will look like in another few years so I am glad to be able to be here today to witness them.

So just like that the blue sky turned black. The sky opened and it poured.  I wanted off the Iceline.  By this time I arrived at the intersection so instead of sticking with my plan to return the way I came, I hiked down towards Celeste Lake and to  create a loop instead of an out and back.  It poured continuously and I was soaked.  Deja vu!  I had a job to get done now, so just put my head down and carried on.  Finally I reached the next intersection and the rain stopped and the sky turned blue again. Yeah right warden, it's going to be hot and sunny all day!  Even I know better than that when you are in the mountains.  

18.5 Kms later I arrived back at my car down by the road to the Whiskey Jack.  It poured again for the last 20 minutes of my hike.  But, I was done and it was time to drive back to my home away from home.  The first thing I did was get into dry clothes, hang up my wet ones on my clothes line and then get that fire roaring.  

I enjoyed it for about a half hour and then the sky began to get black again.  I quickly put my home made mac & cheese into my Trangia and devoured it when it was hot enough.  I no sooner finished eating and threw everything into the car then the rain poured down.

Into the tent I go, get on my new gift (home made socks) and wait out the rain and thunder and lightening.  I had no tarp over my tent this time but do know for sure my tent is fine with all the rain.

The hood came alive again once the storm passed.  I got another smokey at first fire going and then savoured the warmth and crackles.  I had a hard time keeping my eyes open, so when the fire finished I fell into my tent and once again slept through the night.  I think now also, not only are the mountains my happy place but snug in my tent makes me happy too!

Lake Louise Camping Hiking Saddle Mountain July 22, 2018

On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again!

After arriving home from my Elbow Lake backpack trip, I had two and a half days to unpack, do laundry, grocery shop, cook, pack up and get on the road again.  This time around I headed to Lake Louise to camp for three nights and accomplish three hikes.  The only time I have ever spent any time at the Campground was to X-C Ski throughout it in the winter.  Now I get to see what the soft-sided part of the campground looks like in summer.  It was comforting to know that an electrified fence surrounds it as a mom grizzly and her cubs were hanging out across the bridge in the hard-sided part. 

First things first though, I planned to get high!  I have been up to Fairview Mountain numerous times from Saddleback Pass but never up Saddle Mountain.  Every time I was in that area I would think some day I will head up there.  Today was the day!  

My stars aligned for hiking & camping today!

I arrived at the Lake Louise parking lot at 7:45 and was given the finger to head up to the upper lot and it was already half full.  I got my spot, tied up my boots, then delayered before even strapping my pack on.  It was warm, it was beautiful and I was in my happy place.

arriving at Saddleback Pass

I chatted with some people at The Pass, answering their queries about Fairview Mountain.  They headed that way and I took the trail in the opposite direction.  It was a fun little climb to Saddle's summit.  The views were outstanding.  I captured one of many summit shots with this one being in front of Temple.

looking across to the summit of Fairview

looking down to Saddleback Pass (that little brown spot in the middle)

I was all over the top of Saddle Mountain. 

On this end you can see down to The Chateau.

See colorful Temple Lake?

I think it's called that!

I invested a significant amount of time on the top then worked my way through the boulders back to The Pass.  That's Saddle Mountain.  Yes, and that is a bear warning sign on the right.  It recommends you be in a group of four people to carry on down that way to Paradise Valley.

It was a short drive to the Lake Louise Campground, check in was quick and I found my site.  I could not have been more pleased with the location, the size and the layout.  I set up my home away from home then a stroll around the hood was in order, as was collecting fire wood upon my return.

My new hammock is a keeper.  

It swayed me to sleep.  

After my nap, after dinner time, after fire time, I packed it in, in the daylight.  I had low expectations for a good night sleep from what I had been told about the train noise. Whether the trains did not run, or because I was further back in the campground, or my ear plugs worked,  I slept through the night.  Then again, remembering back, I seemed to have my best nights of sleep when I am out in the woods sleeping in my tent.  

Tomorrow is another day, that's all I can say.  I have been having issues with which day of the week it actually is.  I only know that tomorrow is day two of my camping trip.  What else matters anyway!  

Elbow Lake Backpack July 17-19 2018

I have been to Elbow Lake so many times on the way to and from places like Piper Pass, Rae Glacier,  Tombstone Lakes, Rae Lake, Tombstone Pass.   On the way back from these hikes when we arrived back at Elbow Lake late in the afternoon or very early evening, I tried to prolong leaving because I liked it here so much.   I always wondered what it would look like here at sunset and sunrise.  I have all the time in the world now so I put a plan in place to witness these occurrences.  

Accomplishing this would mean a short solo backpack trip for two nights.  From the Parking Lot to the Elbow Lake Backcountry Campground is only about 1.4 kms with around 150 meters of cumulative elevation gain.  The hike up almost feels like the angle of a slash  / .  I was a bit apprehensive carrying everything on my back by myself.  I got my pack on my back, I wobbled a bit, got my balance, put my head down, did not stop, did not look up until I got to the Lake.  

I wanted to do this so I could have time to do just this!

I picked a campsite and set up my home away from home for two nights.  I got the tent up and as I began to set up the guide above it, three teenage boys from the next campsite scurried over.  They had a little time to pass before vacating their site so took over getting the guide up.  They were from France, Mexico and Germany and were on a guided camping trip heading next to the Icefield Parkway.

It was early afternoon and very hot.  I sauntered around Elbow Lake and then sat by it for quite some time watching two guys fishing and paddle boarding.  Afterwards I joined them as they made a fire and cooked their meal before leaving for the day.  They were fortunate to have the day off work so made the best of it.

same spot but now into the later evening

I strolled around waiting for sunset but was not successful in witnessing that.  My eye lids got heavy and I needed to get into my home away from home for the night.  It was a hot evening so I left both outside doors open to let air pass through.

I was successful in seeing the sunrise the next morning.

After enjoying the sunrise, my coffee and then breakfast, I changed my attire and went for a stroll.  

I walked around the Elbow Lake shoreline....

....then followed the Big Elbow Trail towards Tombstone area.  I ventured off trail here and there, up onto rolling hills and into wide open meadows.  It was early and the light was beautiful.  I made loads of noise to let anything or anyone know I was in the area.

I went as far as the Tombstone Overlook and could see down towards the Tombstone Campground and yes it is closed and under construction.  On the way back I went into see the Edworthy Falls.  I knew they were there but when hiking out this way, we just passed on by.  

This was the first view of Edworthy Falls.

 I worked my way down to the bottom...

...then invested a little time here.

As I arrived back to my home away from home, I could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.  

Full darker clouds were developing and the wind picked up.  

I changed into warmer wear and kept my rain pants & jacket close by.  

It was time to get a fire going and just hang out.  Some neighbours joined in.

As dinner time approached it began to rain so I headed off to the cooking/dining area where there is loads of shelter.  I joined a son/father/grandfather trio for dinner and enjoyed their fire.  Others joined in and we had quite a gang, with great conversation. The rain stopped and the sky cleared but it remained cool.

After dinner then after fire time, my eye lids got heavy and I needed to get into my home away from home for the night.  It was a cool night so I made sure both outside doors were closed up.  Once again, I missed the sunset but I caught the sunrise the next morning.

some sights from the 3 days

After admiring the sunrise, then enjoying my coffee by the Lake, and savouring breakfast, I dismantled my home away from home.  I took time to make sure I got everything neatly and properly packed back into my pack.  I got my pack on my back, I wobbled a bit, got my balance then headed on down to the parking lot.  I made it!

This was a learning and growing experience for me.  I carried more weight than was necessary but still managed fine.  But, it was a short easy trip.  Rain or shine, with the right gear I could be comfortable at all times.  The backpacking people are very friendly and inclusive.  Recognizing that I was solo, they were so willing to lend a hand and extend invitations.   I will admit, I feel somewhat proud that I went through with this and came out the other end having pushed my comfort zone a little further out.  That's what I call success!