Moraine Lake

Sat 3rd Sept. We left our parking spot by the train station in Lake Louise village at 2300 to drive up to Moraine Lake, it was already about half full when we got there. You are not meant to sleep in your vehicle up there, so some people were sitting outside in camp chairs etc, we however went straight to bed for a restless sleep. I got up at about 6.45, to go down to the lake for sunrise. It was very quite compared to sunrise at Lake Louise which was nice. Doug also eventually pulled himself out of bed to get down there. After breakfast we then set of for a hike. We weren't sure which one. There was two we were keen on, Sentinel Pass (5.8 km one way, elevation gain 725 m) and Wenkchemna Pass (9.7km one way, elevation gain 720 m). Both started on the same trail then at 2.4 km and nearly 300 m elevation gain they branch off to go down different valleys. We chose Wenkchemna Pass, after the junction it was fairly flat walking as it took you high along the side of the valley to panoramic views overlooking Eiffel Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks, however it was such a hazy day, so the mountain peaks got a bit lost. The highlight along this trail was the hoary marmots we saw. Firstly a great big one, and then just a little bit on three of them sitting together - perhaps daddy, mummy and baby. So they got a lot of camera time. In the last km or so the elevation started climbing again to reach the top of the Pass at 2611 m. Again the hazeness really took away from the view, but it is always special to get to the top. On the way back down we came across a new bird - Ptarmigan, there were four of them - always exciting seeing new animals, and they certainly camouflage well against the rocks. Once we got back to the junction, we were still feeling okay and it was early enough so we decided to give Sentinel Pass a go. This was a steady climb up for a few kms then you pass Minnestimma Lakes, and look up at the steep switchbacks leading up to the Pass - yip "oh shit" may have passed my lips. But as we learnt when climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, poley, poley or in English slowly slowly and up you go. The view from this Pass looking down into Paradise Valley, and up to Mt Temple (which is a popular scramble to the top, however requires helmets because of the risk of rock fall) was much more spectacular, so we were pleased we did both. On the way back down the switchbacks we saw our first mountain goat (we think rather than a mountain sheep). We were please to get down and back to Moraine Lake front, after a very long day. Hike stats: 25 km, active time 6 hr 10, elevation gain 1169 m. After dinner and viewing of photos - the most we have taken in one day, it's going to be hard to narrow down 20 for this post, we made it even harder by going back down to the lake for sunset and more photos (299 in total). We then headed back down the road for about 10 kms, stopping at the parking area for the Paradise trails to stay the night. Steps: D 41290 / V 44550.Lue lisää