Paddling Moraine Lake

Trip Date: June 2016

Christine and I had such an awesome time paddling on Lake Louise we decided to try Moraine Lake next. Again we headed out early on a Saturday morning because the Moraine Lake parking lot is notoriously overcrowded and for good reason; it's one of the most picturesque lakes I've ever seen! With a spectacular backdrop in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake is an extremely popular place; one that we are no strangers to. We've done several hikes in the area (please see my previous posts titled Larch Valley and Eiffel Lake for a couple of examples), but had yet to spend anytime on the lake itself.

Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks

Moraine Lake sits at the end of a 14km access road just outside of Lake Louise in Banff National Park. We managed to find a parking spot, but the lot was filling fast. When we were leaving we noticed that they had to close the access road due to the sheer number of vehicles just trying to get there. Once again we drew some attention to ourselves as we inflated our boards on the busy shoreline, but the cameras didn't come out until we launched the boards with Rome proudly sitting on the front of mine. For some reason she's a bit of a novelty to the out of town guests!

My GoPro paddlecam strikes again!

Rome's point of view!

The lake was like glass and the paddling was easy. The sun was shining as we were prepping our boards, but the clouds came in fast and the rest of the day was overcast with the ever-present threat of rain. Luckily the weather held out long enough for us to complete our paddling adventure but we had a fair bit of rain on the drive back to Canmore, where we spent the night. 

Christine enjoying the morning paddle

Making our way to the end of the lake

We found a quiet spot at the end of the lake to sit, relax, and enjoy the incredible scenery. Christine mentioned that she could have her morning coffee in a place like this everyday! Rome also got an opportunity to do a little exploring along the shoreline. The Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail runs along the western shoreline, making the east side of the lake very quiet and peaceful.

Docked on a rocky beach

Christine enjoying her coffee with Mount Temple in the background

Chris & Rome

Moraine Lake selfie

A couple of the Ten Peaks (Mount Little & Mount Bowlen I believe) as viewed from our small beach

The Fay Glacier perched atop Mount Fay

We didn't want to risk being caught in a rain storm so we launched our boards and paddled back via the western edge of the lake.

Working our way back

Just another awesome day out on the water!

As previously mentioned we didn't head back to Calgary right away. We spent some time in Banff before making our way to Canmore for the night. We took a little scenic drive around the Lake Minnewanka Road and were rewarded with several wildlife encounters.

Near Lake Minnewanka we spotted a group of three Rocky Mountain Sheep rams

It's not uncommon to see sheep along this stretch of road, but it's always nice to see rams, which tend to be a bit more elusive!

A ram's horns can weigh as much as 14kg (30lbs), more than all of the bones in its body combined!

We also encountered several bull Elk further along the road. Elk shed their antlers each year (usually in March) and will start re-growing them sometime in May. The antlers on this guy are still covered in velvet.

Elk are also known as Wapiti, a First Nation word that roughly translates to "light coloured deer".

After we arrived in Canmore Christine took Rome for a run and I drove up the Spray Lakes Road to the Goat Creek Trailhead parking area. Like the Minnewanka Road it's not uncommon to see wildlife in the area and I was hoping to get for a third sighting in one day. I guess my luck hadn't run out because I was pleasantly surprised to find several Rocky Mountain Sheep ewes with their lambs.

One of the lambs posing for my camera

These four lambs were preoccupied with something happening above them. When I looked up I saw another ewe with her lamb high up on the steep cliffs of Ha Ling Peak.

I have no idea how these creatures can move with such ease across this rugged and unforgiving terrain!

Eventually both of them made it to the bottom to rejoin their herd, but they made the whole process look incredibly easy!

As I'm sure you can tell we had another amazing weekend in the mountains. We already have a few more adventures planned and I know there will be a lot more happening spur of the moment. Until next time...

Eiffel Lake

Trip Date: September 2014

"If you don't like the weather in Alberta, wait ten minutes!"  I was introduced to that expression shortly after moving here from Saskatchewan.  At first I thought people were being a bit over dramatic, but the longer I live here the more realistic that statement becomes.  That espression really hit home when Christine, Sarah, Jeff, and I hiked to Eiffel Lake in early September.  We experienced all four seasons over the span of a few hours.  Sunshine, rain, wind, snow, and drastic temperature changes were all prevalent throughout the day.

Eiffel Lake is located in the Moraine Lake area of Banff National Park.  The trailhead is the same for the hike to Larch Valley. If you'd like more information about Larch Valley please read my previous posts here and here or the most recent story I did for Calgary is Awesome.  Parks Canada rates the hike as 'moderate'.  It's 5.6km one-way with an elevation gain  of 370m.  The trail splits off the Larch Valley trail after switchback section.  You're rewarded with amazing panoramic views of the Valley of the Ten Peaks and a picturesque alpine lake.

The turquoise waters of Moraine Lake.  Is there a better starting spot for a hike?

The trail quickly gains elevation through a series of switchbacks.  As you continue to climb views of Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks begin to emerge. 

Mt. Fay and the Fay Glacier above Moraine Lake

I'd been to Larch Valley on a couple of different occasions, but this was the first time I had been to Eiffel Lake.  After the trail branched away from Larch Valley we were in uncharted territory.  From this junction the trail levels out considerably and the remaining distance to Eiffel Lake is relatively flat.  Parks Canada requires any hikers in the Moraine Lake area to be in groups of four or more due to the high concentration of bears in the area.  Luckily we didn't see any of the resident bruins, but we did see a lot of their scat along the trail.

You can see the snow squall moving in from the right.  Our view of the Valley of the Ten Peaks was obstructed by the snow for a brief time.

The snow disappeared as fast as it arrived and we were rewarded with some spectacular views of the Valley of the Ten Peaks

Our first view of Eiffel Lake

Christine and Sarah thoroughly enjoying the view

Jeff is dwarfed by the surrounding peaks

Eiffel Lake with Wenkchemna Pass in the background

Rain and cooler temperatures forced us to turn around after a quick lunch break

Rome, Sarah, Jeff, and Christine hiking back to the parking lot

I spotted this Pika playing in the Rockpile near Moraine Lake

It felt great to get back into the mountains after being away for most of the summer.  I hope there's a few more opportunities for hiking this fall before the snow decides to start sticking around.  I'm not ready for winter just yet!

Return to Larch Valley

Trip Date: October 2013

It had been three years to the month since the last time we were in Larch Valley.  For a recap of our first adventure please see my Moraine Lake & Larch Valley post.  Friends of ours from Regina were in town for the weekend and wanted to head to the mountains for a day-hike.  At this time of year the choice is easy as Larch Valley is the place to be!  Even though it's always crowded, if you've never been, the mountain scenery and the golden Larch Trees are worth the trip, at least once!  

The hike itself is about 8.5km round trip with 535m gained in elevation.  The trail starts at the Moraine Lake parking area, which is approximately 11km from Lake Louise and about 200km west of Calgary along the Trans Canada Highway in Banff National Park.

Also of note is the annual trail restriction that starts in mid-July for the Moraine Lake area.  Hiking parties must be in tight groups of four or more to reduce the risk of unwanted wildlife encounters.  There were exactly four of us, and one dog, on the day's outing so we wouldn't have any issues with Parks Canada employees and hopefully wouldn't run into any bears!  

Moraine Lake sitting in the Valley of the Ten Peaks

The beautiful turquoise water of Moraine Lake as viewed from the trail

The golden Larch Trees in Larch Valley

Tower of Babel as viewed from above Larch Valley

The first Minestimma Lake (foreground) and the Fay Glacier between the Peaks of Mt. Babel and Mt. Bowlen

Eiffel Peak

Pinnacle Mountain

The second Minestimma Lake sits at the base of Sentinel Pass.  If you look closely you can see the snow-covered trail that winds up to the summit of Sentinel Pass.  Sentinel Pass sits between Pinnacle Mountain and Mt. Temple (right).

Christine and Sharon beside the second Minestimma Lake.  This was where we stopped for lunch and was also our turn-around point for the afternoon.

Sharon and Janson with the Valley of the Ten Peaks in the background

Christine, Rome, Janson, and Sharon hiking back down the trail

Sharon sitting in an oddly-shaped tree

I wrote a brief story for the Calgary Guardian called Those Golden Larches that was featured on their website in October 2014.

Moraine Lake & Larch Valley

Trip Date: October 2010

It was such a beautiful fall we decided to take advantage and hike into Larch Valley to see the golden Larch Trees.  I couldn't believe the weather we were getting.  I went on this hike only wearing shorts and a T-shirt and this was in October, in the mountains!  We couldn't have asked for anything better.  Moraine Lake is located 14km outside the village of Lake Louise along the Moraine Lake Road in Banff National Park.  The trailhead for Larch Valley is just beyond the Moraine Lake Lodge.  The hike up to Larch Valley is about 8.5km round-trip with an elevation gain of 535m.

Like Spruce, Pine, or Fir trees, Larch are also conifers, but unlike most conifers, Larch Trees will lose their needles in the fall, but not until after they've turned a beautiful golden colour.  This is why we, and what felt like half of Calgary, were out on the trail today.  

Mt. Temple as viewed from the Moraine Lake Road

Tower of Babel as seen from the Moraine Lake Road

Like it's neighbour Lake Louise, Moraine Lake is also very beautiful and extremely photogenic.  It also gets its bright blue colouring from the refraction of light off the rock flour that is constantly being deposited into the lake.  Moraine Lake sits at the bottom of the Valley of the Ten Peaks.  Like the name indicates, the valley is crowned by ten notable peaks standing high above the lake.  The peaks were originally named by Samuel Allen, an early explorer in the area, who named them simply by using the numerals one to ten in the Stoney First Nations language.  Over time all but three of the mountains were renamed in honour of notable individuals, including Allen himself.  You may, or may not, remember that Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks was also featured on the Canadian twenty dollar bill between 1969 and 1979.

Canadian twenty dollar bill featuring Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks

Moraine Lake sitting at the bottom of the Valley of the Ten Peaks

Mt. Fay with the Fay Glacier as seen from the trail

Larch Trees

Mt. Temple standing above Larch Valley

The golden Larch Trees of Larch Valley

Sarah and Rome on the trail

Looking out of Larch Valley

Sarah, Rome, and I in Larch Valley

Mt. Deltaform and Neptuak Mountain above the valley

Kola scratching her back

Eiffel Peak, Pinnacle Mountain, and Mt. Temple

Larch Valley

The perfect spot to stop and have lunch

Chris, Rome, and I

Mt. Fay and the Fay Glacier behind some golden Larches

The Valley of the Ten Peaks include Mt. Fay, Mt. Little, Mt. Bowlen, Mt. Tonsa, Mt. Perren, Mt. Allen, Mt. Tuzo, Deltaform Mountain, Neptuak Mountain, and Wenkchemna Peak.  You can see nine of the ten peaks in the photo below.  The only one not visible is Wenkchemna Peak.  Now I know what you're thinking, "there's ten mountains in that photo" and you'd be correct, except that the mountain at the far left is Mt. Babel, which is not considered part of ten peaks

Panoramic view of the Valley of the Ten Peaks

Tower of Babel over Moraine Lake on the hike out

Christine, Rome, and I with Moraine Lake

I wrote a brief story for the Calgary Guardian called Those Golden Larches that was featured on their blog in October 2014.  We returned to Larch Valley with some out of town visitors a couple of years later, which you can read about right here.