Plain of Six Glaciers

From Plain of the Six Glaciers

On the way up to Jasper I did an awesome hike called Plain of Six Glaciers. As you would have guessed you see six glaciers. I didn't count them but there were many. I linked this hike with a hike to Lake Agnes. There were two tea houses on the way but they were so busy that I didn't get anything at them but they looked fun.

It was a long drive to Jasper - not in distance but in time. However, the glacier views along the way were awesome. I can't wait to check some of that out on my way back. I did see mountain goats on the way to Jasper as well. In Jasper I saw an elk right by my hostel.

Hikes from Castle Mt in Banff Canada

I have to start this blog day out with a rant. I know that Johnston Canyon is a busy place and lots of people are enjoying hiking in the area. However, a few things really spoil it for the rest of us

1- Hiking while listening to music with your friends is not fun for the rest of us trying to hear the wildlife.

2- Puffing on a cigarette while walking on the trail is unpleasant for those of us wishing to enjoy the forest smells.

3- Acting as if the trail is there for you and you alone is inconsiderate.

Now about day 1 hiking in the Castle Mountain region --

I met up with Bev and Steve in their hotel yesterday. They enjoyed greyhounds on their balcony and then we went out for a nice meal. We arranged to meet at my hostel in the AM to hike. We went up to Stanley Glacier and hike it. It is 8.4 km roundtrip with an elevation gain of 395m. It was pretty with snow covered mountains around us.

From Hikes from Castle Mt

We saw a marmot on the way which was nice. I took a tumble off the trail and have a big bruise to prove it. All and all it was very nice. Afterwards we went to Johnstone Canyon where we viewed the Upper and Lower Falls. Bev and Steve headed back to their Banff Lodge and I went up to the Ink Pots. They were nice and I talked to a few Canadian teachers up there.

Heading back to the hostel I saw two black bear cubs on the side of the road. I was in my car and they were pretty close. Woo Hoo is all I can say

Many Glacier Hikes

Iceberg Lake

From Many Glacier Hikes

I gave a girl named Kerrianne a ride to Many Glacier. She decided to hike Iceberg Lake in the Ranger Led hike. I wasn't ready as I was fussing around with my blisters. However, I caught up to the group and passed it on the way up. It was a stunning hike with lots of mountains and wildflowers.

From Many Glacier Hikes

From Many Glacier Hikes

We caught a glimpse of a bear on the way out but he was soon hidden by trees and out of view. Iceberg lake was really pretty. There were a herd of goats on the mountainside by the lake. I used my scope to check them out. A couple of crazy people decided to go for a swim. You would hear them scream as they hit the water. Yes there were icebergs floating in the water.

From Many Glacier Hikes

From here Kerrianne, myself and another girl named Kate decided to hike up to Ptarmigan Lake. On the way we saw a dog like figure in the snow up the mountainside. It was a coyote or wolf. I couldn't get my scope out quickly enough to check it out. It was a steep uphill climb. The people in front of us and behind us saw a moose but it seemed to hide from us.

Not to say that I am a scammer but I got tired of paying $20 to camp so I put all my gear in my backpack and hiked into the campground. Hikers w/o cars pay only $5. It turns out that other hikers have been driving in and dropping off their stuff so I was almost legit.

Grinnell Glacier
Although I had thought to go up the Swiftcurrent Pass it was cloudy in the morning and I was worried that I would have poor views. After speaking to the ranger I decided to hike to Grinnell Lake, Hidden Falls, Grinnell Glacier (as far as the trail was open) and if I have more energy go to Redrock Falls.

It as a pretty, pretty hike but I feel like I say that everytime. I walked along Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lakes. Right as I started hiking along Josephine Lake I came across a moose and her calf right on the trail. Worried that I would be charged I bushwacked as far as i could through the dense woods. This seemed to work as the moose kept eating and didn't charge me. Grinnell Lake at ground level was pretty but as I ascended on the Grinnell Glacier trail the brilliant color of the lake became apparent. It was so blue.

From Many Glacier Hikes

Unfortunately, the Grinnell Glacier trail stopped short of the Grinnell Glacier but where it stopped afforded a view of the Salmon Glacier. I sat on a nice rock up there. I took off my shoes and inspected my blisters. Just then the word went out that there was a family of bears on the hillside. Sure enough a mother grizzly and her two cubs were digging in a glacier lily patch. They then proceeded to frolic across the hillside and slide down a snow bank. You could see them with your naked eye but it was better with the scope. It was a great lunch show. Later I headed down the trail. After a break I headed out to Redrock Falls. It was pretty but not as impressive as the other falls that I have seen.

Pitamaken Pass

From Pitamakan Pass

Amy was leading a hike to Oldman lake and I decided to go up again and see what changed in a week. Funnily enough although Steve wasn't there this week, another Steve showed up to hike. We went at a stiff pace but another hiker named Cyrus caught up with us. Luckily he did because I had dropped my bear spray and he found it and returned it to me. Since bear spray cost $44 I was very happy about that.

After we hiked up to Oldman lake in record time we decided to attempt Pitamakan Pass and maybe do the Pitamakan/ Dawson Loop. There was still alot of snow on the trail in certain places and I took a slide down one place. The view from the top was awesome. We could see lots of gorgeous lakes.

From Pitamakan Pass

From Pitamakan Pass

We could also see the trail going on and it had alot of snow on it. If you slipped up there, you would go a long way down the steep scree slope. It didn't look too good to me and we decided to head back the way we came. Steve took a bit of a slide on the way down but generally it was okay.

I got a blister and it popped on the way back providing a painful last mile or so. It was a long day 17 miles or so. The whole loop Pitamakan and Dawson would only have been a mile or so more. I can't wait to try it after the snow finally melts

A Very Friendly Moose

I have been hiking everyday and loving it.  However, the best hike I have done so far has to be Cracker Lake in the Many Glacier region of Glacier National Park.  Just to be fair I will mention the other hikes I have done - Cobalt Lake (Two Medicine area), Swiftcurrent Nature Hike (Many Glacier area) and Virginia/Mary/ Baring Falls in the Mary Lake area.  They all had highlights and were all pretty.

Cracker Lake starts out a bit poorly as it is on a horse trail and you are walking on a churned up trail with horse manure.  However, after 1.7 miles there are no more horses.  It climbs steadily and then turns a bit roly/ poly with up and down bits.  You see some pretty waterfalls and lots of wildflowers but the jewel is Cracker Lake itself which is a brilliant turquoise color.  As I approached the end of the trail I saw several fluffy marmots.  I was busy chasing them to get there photo when I noticed a moose down by the lake.  

From Cracker Lake

I watched it as it got ever closer to me.  Then it kind of trotted in my direction in what I would describe as a curious manner.  However, after going to a number of ranger talks it has been drilled into my head that moose are dangerous and can charge you and harm you which their hooves so I looked for a bit of cover.  There was  not much - a tangle of small trees and some rocks.  I jumped into the trees.  After awhile I came out and as soon as the moose saw me it headed my way again.  This time I hid behind a rock.  The moose kind of moved into the trees and looked around.  I watched the marmots on the rocks and the goat on the hillside.  After awhile I came out and didn't see the moose anywhere.  I took some pictures of the lake and the area around it and then went over to the big rocks to look down on the trail that I walked in on.  I saw the moose swimming across the lake.  Figuring I was safe I headed down the trail.  Interestingly the moose headed down on the other side of the creek flowing from the river.  I watched it for a long time.  After I finished walking down the trail, I went to the ranger office and explained what happened.  The ranger said that the moose likely was attracted to either the salt on my skin or maybe my sunscreen.  He also said that you know when a moose is charging you as it acts very aggressive.  Anyway it was a very interesting encounter.   Just after that I had lunch with a deer that wasn't at all scared by me.  

Cracker Lake Photos

Cobalt Lake and Lake Mary Area Photos

Scenic Point and Upper Medicine Lake Hikes

Scenic Point
6.2 miles - 2350 ft elevation gain

This was a steady uphill hike on the way out.  It went by a small waterfall and wound through the trees for a short time.  However, most of the hike was exposed and I hoped I would see bears, goats or sheep on the hillside.  Unfortunately I did not but it was a beautiful hike with incredible views of Lower Medicine Lake.  As I neared the top the wind increased and it was "blowing a gale".  I was nearly knocked over in certain spots along the ridge.  I had to walk over an area of snow that dropped steeply off to the left.  I hugged the rock wall and hoped for the best.  Scenic Point itself had views to the east and the plains.  The wind was so strong that I couldn't quite make it up to the ridge facing west.

Photos here or slide show below.

Upper Medicine Lake

11.5 miles -- 400 ft elevation gain

I set out to walk around the lake and meet the ranger led walk on the other side.  I figure that walking with a group is safer in terms of the bears.  I beat them to the boat landing and enjoyed listening to the ranger speak about her experiences as a bear control ranger.  However, there were around 20 people in the group and I soon broke off and walked on my own.  I saw a huge bear print (shown below) and walked very carefully calling out often.

From Upper Medicine Lake

The views from the lake were impressive and the wildflowers along the way were incredible.  I also visited the Twin Falls which were quite nice little waterfalls.  On the way back I lost my bear bell as I climbed over an avalanche that covered a section of trail.

Full size photos here or slide show below.

Old Man Lake Hike

From Old Man Lake HIke

Today I hiked with Ranger Amy again up to Old Man Lake. There were only three of us in the group. It was a beautiful hike with lots of wildflowers. Today there wasn't fresh bear scat on the trail but we were vigilant anyway. However, the only wildlife we saw were hares, birds, squirrels and chipmunks. I saw a brilliantly colored (orange under the wings) bird that I later learned was called a flicker. We also saw nests or colonies of small caterpillar. They were pretty interesting. We crossed numerous streams - some with bridges and others without. There were a number of waterfalls along the way. The last mile or so was in the snow which was not easy walking. There was some post holing (when your foot sinks deeply into the snow) and slipping and sliding. I wore my YakTrax but they weren't much help in the deeper snow. On a side note I loaned them to a guy yesterday. He broke them. That is a bummer. I think they will still kind of work but they are definitely damaged. Since they were worn only two times I am thinking of returning them to REI. The lake was still partially frozen and the area was very beautiful so I didn't dwell much on my broken YakTrax.

See the full size photos here or view the slide show below