Plain of Six Glaciers & Lake Agnes

Trip Date: June 2009

Today's adventure was one of Banff National Park's classic hikes; Plain of Six Glaciers with a return trip via Lake Agnes.  Lake Louise is approximately 185km west of Calgary along the Trans-Canada Highway and would be kick-off point for the hike.  The day was a 13.7km round-trip hike with elevation gains of 365m to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House and an additional 385m to the Lake Agnes Tea House.  The trail started at Château Lake Louise right on the lake's shoreline.  It was about 5.3km to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House, then another 4.9km up to the Lake Agnes Tea House, and finally 3.5km back to Château Louise where we started.  We couldn't have gotten better weather for the day's outing.  Another great day to be outside!

Lake Louise, one of the most photographed lakes in the world, is named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848-1939), the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and the wife of the Marquess of Lourne, who was the Governor General of Canada between 1878 and 1883.  The lake's emerald colour comes from rock flour that's carried into the lake by melt-water from the surrounding glaciers overlooking the lake.  

Lake Louise

The Big Beehive as seen from the lake shore

The Lakeshore trail on our way to Plain of Six Glaciers trail

The lake shore is also home to Fairmont's Château Lake Louise, one of Canada's grand railway hotels.  It sits on the eastern shore or the lake and was built at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).  

Château Lake Louise

Mt. Aberdeen and Mt. Lefroy

Christine and I above Lake Louise

Jeff and Sarah

Mt. Lefroy and Mt. Victoria

Pope's Peak

The Plain of Six Glaciers got its name from the hanging glaciers on Mount Aberdeen, Lefroy, Victoria and Pope's Peak, as well as the lower Lefroy and Victoria glaciers.  The tea house that's located at the end of the trail was originally built in 1924 by Swiss guides employed by the CPR.  It was mainly used as a rest stop for mountain climbers on their way to Abbott Pass and the hut that's located there.   

Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House

Columbian Ground Squirrel

Beautiful emerald colour of the lake

Lake Louise as viewed from the trail leading to Lake Agnes

Christine, Jeff, and Sarah

Waterfall just before reaching Lake Agnes

Lake Agnes was still partially frozen, sitting below Mt. Whyte and Mt. Niblock

Chris and I sitting beside Lake Agnes

There was an emergency with another visitor.  He had to be air lifted off the mountain.

The chopper flying past the Big Beehive

We walked past Mirror Lake on our way back to the car

Christine and I with Lake Louise.  We made it back safe and sound.