Random Animal Pictures #76

Just when you thought I would go a day without posting some Golden Mantle Squirrel pictures. These guys were all over the top of Sentinel Pass as there were quite a few people having lunch there. These cheeky guys have the art of begging down to T

Sentinal Pass

The switchback up to Sentinal Pass isn't too taxing thankfully, I have left the others behind as no Grizzlies will be up here so I can leave the sound of Enya behind and go at my own pace. The view from the top is pretty sweet - The sun comes out and lights up the valley below on both sides and the rocky outcrops are cool as well. It is lunchtime so an army of Golden Mantle Squirrels turn up to accompany all the hikers that have their lunch here. Some of them are pretty bold and one even clawed at my camera when I tried to take an extreme close up. Any bags left unattended would be looked at for possible snacks. A comedy moment ensued when a couple of the GMS's had a bit of a slanging match (or squeek off) deciding who had the rights to beg to which hiker. The journey down is with a different crowd (and they go faster) and these people on the way up saw a Lynx which is extremely rare during the day.
Pictures (Left) - View into Paradise Valley from the pass, (Right) - View of Larch Valley where we came from, (Bottom) - Pic of me expertly taken by myself!

Random Animal Pictures #75

Marmot with a view. The little furry rodent dude was sat on a rock having a bit of a scratch and thinking about what he was going to do today.

Random Animal Pictures #74

Couple of Columbian Ground squirrels on the log. There Mum was keeping watch while the little ones had a forage and started squeeking quite loudly for some reason.

Hike to Larch Valley

After finding some people to hike with, we set up the switchback route heading towards the Larch Valley, this is the first stage on the hike as our final destination is Sentinel Pass. The group I have tagged along with are some oldish germans who unfortunately for me are going very slowly. At times it was like hiking with someone playing Enya constantly in your ears but I just have to grin and bear it as there is a mum Grizzly with cubs living in this area so that is why you have to be in groups. Anyway, the views are great, We get some decent looks at the lake below us and then when we reach the valley itself, the trees thin out leaving an alpine meadow. There are quite a few rodents to enjoy as well.
Pictures (Left) - Larch Valley, (Right) - Top of Larch Valley with Sentinel Pass in the background

Moraine Lake

Aug 27th. The weather initially looks pretty bad but there is a hint of blue sky so I drive the 14km from Lake Louise Village to Moraine Lake. The sun decides to come out which is always good and the sight of this lake surrounded by huge mountains is breathtaking. It is even more spectacular than Lake Louise is. The hike today will be a brief 11km one but with a decent elevation gain. The only pain is that there is a restricted use on the trail so you have to hike in groups of 4 or more. So I have to hang around by the trailheads and wait for some people to join me. This doesn't take too long though and off we go.
Pictures - (Left) - Moraine Lake taken before hiking - the morning fog is still present, (Right) - Taken after returning with the lake bathed in sunshine.

Sunday is a day of Rest

Aug 26th. Today the weather is foul and my legs need a break otherwise they may drop off so I am doing absolutely nothing today apart from a bit of internet stuff and general lounging around. What better way to spend an afternoon by having a nap and catching up on some Z's. This travelling malarky does wear you down.

The Plain of Six Glaciers

After hiking down from the Big Beehive on the Highline trail, I connect up with the Plain of 6 glaciers trail and the first thing I notice is the amount of Horsesh!t which means I have to be even more careful with where I put my feet. The trail winds its way into the valley and the description is pretty accurate - there are 6 glaciers visible when you do a 360 degree twirl at the end of the trail. I don't bother getting anything from the tea shop there but enjoy my Granola Trail mix bar instead. I have covered about 10km so far, there is the small matter of the last 5km back to Chateau Lake louise where all this started. You can see from the picture of Lake Louise how far I am away from it but it has been a fantastic hike and I can highly recommend this one (Just don't tread into the poo). The total distance covered was over 15km. After this, I return to the hostel and enjoy a Bison burger from the in hostel cafe. Yum.
Pictures (Left) - One of the glaciers sits on a peak, (Right) - View of Lake Louise from trails end, (Bottom) - Another glacier from the trails end

Up the Big Beehive

After saying 'Au revoir' to my old and new friends at the Tea House, there is the small matter of me hiking another 12km. The first of this is hiking to the top of the Big Beehive which is situated on the shore of Lake Agnes, just 150metres above it. After slogging my way to the top, The rewards are well worth it - The views of both Lake Louise and Lake Agnes are fantastic. Also I get a good glimpse of where I am heading, The Plain of Six Glaciers. The colour of Lake Louise's water is surreal in the sunshine - it just seems wrong to be that colour.
Pictures (Left) - View looking down at Lake Agnes, (Right) - Lake Louise with the Chateau, (Bottom) - The glaciers I am heading to

A Random Encounter on the trail

As I was hiking up to Lake Agnes, suddenly someone said my name which is kind of unexpected seeing as I am quite a long way from home. After looking around then I saw a Uni friend who I hadn't seen for probably 10 years who now lives in Montreal and was spending some time at Lake Louise with his wife Kim and friends Tavis + Cassandra. It really is a small world and nice to chat along the way up to the Tea House with the guys and catch up. I am filled in with some useful local knowledge about some of the places I am heading including some gems from Kim the best being 'French Canadian girls are easy'. Any French Canadian Girls want to comment?
Picture - Simon and I with Lake Louise in the background.

Hiking to Lake Agnes

The first part of my Combo Trail is a 3km stretch up to the Lake Agnes Tea House. I pass Mirror Lake along the way which doesn't live up to its name as I couldn't see any sort of reflection. The trail gets quite steep in places but once you reach Lake Agnes it is worth it as the view is spectacular. I stop for a cookie and then continue my way along the trail. I did have a random encounter along the way though . . .
Pictures (Left) - View from the Tea House of Lake Agnes, (Right) - Me at Mirror Lake looking quite tall, (Bottom) - View at the other end of Lake Agnes looking back at the Tea House

Lake Louise

Aug 25. The weather is pretty bad in Jasper when I get up but I make tracks back down the Icefield Parkway and arrive at Lake Louise at about lunchtime. The weather has thankfully cleared up a bit which dashed my plans to do no hiking today but the weather forecast is bad for the next day so I decide to do a small stroll of 15km!. The parking lot by Lake Louise is a bit of a fiasco and takes ages to find a space but when I get there and catch my first glimpse of the lake it is pretty sweet. The lake is a turquoise colour and you can see a huge glacier off into the distance. Chateau Lake Louise dominates one end of the Lake as well - A pretty expensive place to stay but apparently does a pretty mean 5 course fondue!
Pictures (Left) - View from the top of the lake, (Right) - View looking back at Chateau Lake Louise

Whistlers Mountain (In Jasper)

For the final item on a busy day, I take the Gondola up Whistlers mountain (not to be confused with Whistler in BC). This offers fantastic views of the valley and the Jasper Village itself and even though I wasn't going to do any more hiking, I do the extra 200 metres to get to the summit itself. From here I can see the Cavell Mountain where I was the previous day and great panoramic views all around. The air is noticeably thinner up here at 2600metres high and a bit chilly too.
Pictures (Left) - Jasper Village and area, (Right) - Just when you thought I wouldn't put a picture of a golden mantle squirrel!, (Bottom) - The Cavell Mountains with snow capped peaks.

Maligne Canyon

After lunch I head to the Maligne Canyon - A narrow gorge with leads down to Medicine and Maligne Lakes. The walk is only a few km long and offers some cool views along the way - there are some sink holes and areas where water is appearing randomly into the river. This is all part of the underground drainage system around here.

Ranger's Unofficial Advice on Bear Spray

Had a quick chat with a Ranger about Bear spray - his comments were along these lines. "I don't think that the Bear spray will do too much if you have a 700 pound p!ssed off animal charging at you and you have to wait till it gets 8 feet away before spraying it. You might as well spray yourself in the eyes so you don't have to see what the bear is going to do to you". Quality stuff.

Random Animal Pictures #73

Bighorn Sheep looking a little lost on the highway - maybe he was using GPS (Goat Positioning Service) which doesn't work for sheep. I didn't offer him a lift anywhere either.

Maligne Lake - Bald Hills Hike

This mornings hike will be to climb one of the Bald hills by Maligne Lake. It is about 10km with an elevation gain of 500 metres. The hike itself isn't too interesting as it follows an old fire road. A highlight though is a field where there is a white tailed deer which for some reason gets spooked by me even though I was 30m away from it. I then get treated to the sight of it running and jumping away into the forest. It had nothing to worry about though as it was well out of bear spray range. The final summit section is quite steep but worth the effort as the view is pretty spectacular. The lake glistens in the sunlight and the surrounding peaks are lit up as well. The usual suspects are on the mountain - everyones favourite rodent the marmot and also the golden mantle squirrel.
Pictures (Left) - View from the summit, (Right) - View of the Lake

Random Animal Pictures #72

The Elk family who hang around the highway at Jasper. Dad is the one with the coatrack on his head and enjoying a snooze while the kids and mum munch away at some tasty grass

Medicine Lake

Aug 24th. Another early start as I head to another part of Jasper national park - I am doing a hike at Maligne Lake but pass by Medicine Lake beforehand. This is quite a strange lake as it fills up during the spring summer and then drains off during the autumn. Jasper NP is full of underground tunnels so it is one of the biggest drainage ditches around (and one of the most beautiful).
Pictures (Left) - Taken first thing in the morning, (Right) - Taken at lunch time after my hike

Random Animal Pictures #71

2 for the price of one - (Left) another Golden Mantle squirrel looking for a free hand out. (Right) - Hoary Marmot scratching his armpits!

Random Animal Pictures #70

2 for the price of one. (Left) - A Pica (member of the rabbit family) and (Right) - A bee enjoying the alpine flowers. All taken on the Cavell Meadows hike

Cavell Meadows Hike

Not content with doing 10km in the morning, I drive to the Mount Cavell area of Jasper to do a hike which should be pretty good as it gets quite close to a couple of glaciers - The Angel Glacier and Edith Cavell glacier. The hike takes me through alpine meadows above the treeline and various viewpoints along the way of the glacier. The weather doesn't know what it is doing - it is sunny one moment and then spots with rain. There are quite a few animals around as well - Hoary Marmots, Pica, white tailed Ptarmiggan and the obligatory Golden Mantle squirrels. There are a couple of waterfalls falling from the glacier and avalanches are common in summer - still some stupid people wander right underneath it to check things out.
Pictures (Left) - View of Angel Glacier (hanging off the mountain), Cavell glacier (by the green lake). (Right) - The sun breaks out on the glacier, (Bottom) - View looking down the valley towards Jasper

Random Animal Pictures #69

Bighorn Sheep not looking too comfortable on the slope. Took her quite a while to get down from here.

Yellowhead Highway

The Road that I traveled between Jasper and the hot springs is quite special as well - it bypasses lakes with various mountain peaks on either side. Also a good place to spot animals (usually you do this from the parked cars along the highway). No sign of the elusive wild Grizzly bear though.

Random Animal Pictures #67

Precariously balanced Mountain Goats on the side of a mountain by the Yellowhead Highway.

Jasper NP - Sulphur Skyline Trail

Aug 23rd. I get up early and head to the Miette Hot springs area of Jasper National Park to do a hike up a mountain which should offer great views of the surrounding area. The hike is 10km long (round trip) and gains about 900 metres elevation but isn't too tricky. I am tooting my whistle regularly as there is noone around and I don't want to run into Mr Grizzlie at any point. The bear spray is at the ready though. The hike is advertised as 4-6 hours but took only 1 hour 50 minutes, leaving me with plenty of time to do more hiking.
Pictures - All taken from the summit of the mountain

Random Animal Pictures #66

First Elk of the tour - She didn't display the best road sense and was setting a bad example to her little one.