After Lake Louise things just got even better. The following morning, after stocking up on bear spray, we headed about 35km up the ice fields parkway (I.e. The greatest road in the world!) to the bow lake. Bigger, and arguably better than that which we just saw. From here we were to hike for the day up the the bow hut which sits at the base of the Wapta ice field. Sounds heavenly!
First impressions of the lake didn't disappoint!
Now this time around, the photos are in perfect chronology (they're usually close, but not perfect), so I want you to imagine undertaking the hike with us! Starting with a semi circumnavigation of the lake above, we then walked over river stones, trailing the river which feeds the lake from west.
After a while on this terrain, we came upon a gorge, which we eventually discovered (after much confusion) that we had to traverse in order to continue the hike on the otherside! (On the way back you'll see how we crossed the gorge...)
Looking back from the gorge to the lake where we started
After the gorge we hiked on the edge of forest and then along the narrowing riverbed. Note the waterfalls up to the right. There was also a short tourist walk to see them. We of course, took the adventurous route.
And then the next hour or two consisted of walking through gorgeous forest, stepping constantly on/over pine roots and needles, and then through random boulder fields, from no doubt thousands of years of rock fall from the surrounding mountains. Really interesting hiking in forest, then boulder field, then riverbed, and over again!
With the glacier in sight! But still no idea of how far to, or where our destination was yet! Who said you need a map.....
After a steep scramble up hill, we see this in front (below) and presume, according the handwritten directions I have, that our hut is somewhere on the 'hill' up to the left. But how to get up there?.... It was all just really loose rock.
After making our way down through the rubble, Nicole shouts at me to look right (see bellows view). I say yay waterfall, not over enthused. Then she says look again! Can you see it, it's our hut sitting on top of the OPPOSITE cliff than the one we were headed for. Huzzah! Home base is in sight. But how to get there is still a bit evasive. Let's get closer for further inspection (ie that rubble path or the other one, or follow the stream).(we actually hiked up on the very very left side of this picture, not straight up!)
Many river crossings later (and my very wet feet).
We arrive at our hut. Check the damn view from the damn bed. Now do you understand when I said in a previous post about how the ACC huts seriously kick ass!!! A glacier to look at while sleeping. Life is awesome sometimes. The hut was similar to the previous one, stocked with 20 or so amazing beds, fully stocked kitchen, great views and fireplaces. There was even an attached toilet (not for the faint nosed) and a huge pile of wood, which they chopper in! 25/night for a helicopter supplied hut! Don't mind if I do.
Staying with us there was one other couple, early 50s but looked way younger, who were super lovely and we chatted with all night. And the other resident visiting for the night was the huts custodian! She hiked up just behind us and was there to do cleaning, which fortunately there wasn't too much of, for the guests had kept it in pretty good shape. Still, very impressive to have a job like that! She was full of great information.
After settling in, despite some sore feet, we headed out for another couple of hours to explore the area around us. And see the glacier of course! Unfortunately it had clearly melted ALOT in the last few weeks, and we had no ice gear, so it was far to dangerous to hike on. But scooting around close was fun :)
Looking down at the hut
Friends are handy for perspective!
I found an angle where you could see our whole path. Doesn't look too far here, but amazing to see effectively the trail we've traversed to get here. Starting from that little red roofed house in the corner of the lake.
There she is again!
The kitchen. Stocked with the funniest guest book I've ever read, and some great climbing magazines!
Sunrise!
Intrepid much?
Farewell bow hut!
Back to where boulders meet forest!
And we thought we heard a bear..... But it was just two squirrels chasing each other around a tree trunk!!
This is how we crossed the gorge! Over a giant boulder. What was truly impressive is when we were about to cross it on the way to the hut, there were three women coming down off it, returning from the hut. The youngest would've been 60! They were so impressive. I can't believe what some people can achieve. Not only the tricky boulder (or me in my element for the only 5 mins of the hike!) but the rest of the hike was hard work! Lots of scrambling and steep rocky crops and water!
Back to the riverbed
Looking back to where we've come from, now with knowledge of where!
And that picture perfect lake inspired some camera play time....
