Plain of Six Glaciers Hike - 28Jun2014

Plain of Six Glaciers is a moderate hike from Lake Louise to the glaciers that are the origins of the Bow River. The hike itself can be contemplated to consist of three legs:

a. Walk around the periphery of Lake Louise to the far end ~ 2KM. This is relatively flat

b. Trail to the Swiss Built Tea House ~3.6 KM - uphill

c. Trail to the Plain of Six Glaciers Lookout ~ 1.6 KM - uphill

There is an elevation gain of 365 metres from the surface of Lake Louise all the way to the lookout. 

Directions: Drive 185 KM West of Calgary on Trans-Canada HWY#1 to the Hamlet of Lake Louise. From the public parkade head towards the Chateau Lake Louise. Trail markers will appear on the way. Do not head up the Lake Agnes Trail, stick to the trail around the periphery of Lake Louise. Even though you can go to the Plain through Lake Agnes, it will be a much longer hike.

Precautions:

a. Bear Country - stick to the trail and travel in groups. Obey all Parks Canada's regulations and recommendations

b. Glacier Zone - stick to the trail. There is lot of ice and snow on the way up even during summers

c. Narrow trail with considerable elevation.

Nordic Centre

Turquoise Environs of Lake Louise

Far End of The Lake - Beginning of The Trail

Landslide Zone

Glacial Silt On The Right Imparts Blue Colour To The Water

Uphill Trail Commences

Still A Long Way to The Top

Flat Zone to The Rescue

Glacial Water - Origin of Bow River

Those Glaciers Gonna Disappear One Day

Bow River In The Making

Dry Land Churning Out a River

Candid Blue Skies

The Chateau Far Away

That's a few stories of Glacial Ice

Tiring yet Fruitful

Weather becomes colderas you head up

Glacier

One of the many glaciers

From another angle

Various Glaciers

Misty Mountain Top

Near the Swiss Tea House

The Tea House

The Tea House

Glacier

Caught this on the way

One More Rainbow

The Glacier 7 km at the far end

Hike to The Elbow Lake - 21Jun2014

Elbow Lake is a glacier fed lake in Elbow Pass, Kananaskis Country, about 135 KM West of the city of Calgary. It is the head source of The Elbow River, which is a source of fresh drinking water for the city of Calgary. The city gets its water supply from the Elbow River's catchment area formed by the Glenmore Reservoir. 

Elbow Lake from the trail

I stumbled upon this lake inspired by my curiosity to find the source of the Elbow River. There is another attraction formed on the course of this river, which is the Elbow Falls, but that is on a different route than the one that provides access to the Elbow Lake.

Access to the Lake:

You have to hike a trial of 1.3 KM to get to the Lake from the Parking Lot.

a. Drive by road on HWY 1 - take exit 118 to Kananaskis Country and drive approx 70 KM South on HWY 40

Statistics:

a. Elevation 2120 metres (~ 7000 feet)

b. Trek/Hike length to the lake ~ 1.3 KM. There are further trails ahead as well.

c. Location: Elbow Pass, Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada

Facilities:

a. Back country camping - needs permit

b. Hiking/Trekking

c. Skiing at nearby Stoney Nakoda Resort
d. RV Parks nearby
e. Numerous campground facilities in the vicinity

Caution:

a. This is bear country and due caution should be exercised

b. The hike is steep at places

c. Lake water is glacial and is super cold even in summers

Snaps:

The trail to the lake

One of the glaciers that feeds water to the lake

Conifers on the way up

First view of the lake

 

Around the trail #1

Around the trail #2

Around the trail #3

Around the trail #4

Around the trail #5

The Elbow River - so small when it starts

Around the trail #6

White spruce cones

Back country

Another side of the lake

To The Abode Of Ghosts - Ghost Lake

Ghost Lake is a man made glacier fed lake near the town of Cochrane in Alberta. It is about 60 kilometers from Downtown Calgary. It does not have visitor facilities in the form of hotels, motels or inns as of May 2014, but who knows in future, it may. There is a small settlement of a few personally owned cottages on the Northern shore of the lake. 

The lake is located in a pristine environment in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Cycling to Ghost Lake may be an endeavour which some may consider. But you would need to be a regular long distance biker for that.

Activities of interest:
a. Cycling
b. Boating
c. Speed Boating
d. RV / Camping in the whereabouts
e. Photography

There are ramps available if you would want to tow your boat to this place.

The Canadian Rockies

The glaciers that feed the lake

A Sail Boat - Towards The Southern Shore

The Northern Shore of The Lake

Driftwood in Copious Amount

Foothills of the Rockies

Private Gravel Road

How to get there:

a. From Calgary and from Southern/Eastern regions: Take the Crowchild Trail North and keep on it till it becomes HWY 1A. There are a lot of splendidly beautiful sights on the way

b. From Northern areas: Take 1A after reaching Cochrane

c. From Western Areas: Take the exit to 1A from Trans Canada Highway #1 from Canmore.