Page 32 - Army Mountaineer Winter 2022

MISCARTICLE
ESSENTIAL ITEMS
National Park permits:
• Pay as you Go, daily or weekly • Annual pass for all parks in
Canada (approx. CA$120)
Bear spray (in case you encounter bears) approx. CA$50
Bear bells
Spare food and drink (preferably high in energy)
Sun cream
skyline is dominated by Mt Victoria and Mt Lefroy. The lake’s beauty itself cannot be accurately described in words. Only pictures can do it justice and even then, it cannot be matched without physically being there. At 1600m above sea level, Lake Louise is a beautiful turquoise colour due to the rock silt picked up by melting glaciers from surrounding peaks. Depending on the time of year and weather conditions, the lake’s colour can vary from emerald green to bright turquoise. There are many trails around Lake Louise including a 14km trek to another famous lake called Moraine Lake. Other, much shorter and less time constrained trails are Fairmont Viewpoint, Big Beehive, Little Beehive and the Plain of 6 Glaciers. On these trails you will find Lake Agnes and tea house, Mirror Lake and Victoria Glacier.
MORAINE LAKE
Out of the whole 2 weeks I spent in Canada, this lake was the hardest to get to logistically. I got up at 3am twice to attempt to get there for sunrise, but in the end had to bite my tongue and take the shuttle bus from Lake Louise at around 11am. Amid the frustration, I can safely say that this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake, also with a distinct turquoise colour, surrounded by the Valley of the Ten Peaks. It is approximately 1884m above sea level, sitting on the border between Alberta and British Columbia. The ten peaks surrounding the area are Mt Babel, Mt Fay, Tonsa Peak, Deltaform Mountain, Neptuak Mountain, Wenkchemma Peak, Hungabee Mountain, Wastach Mountain,
Eiffel Peak and Mt Temple.
PEYTO LAKE / BOW LAKE
Peyto Lake is another glacially fed lake to be found in Banff National Park, just near the border of Jasper National Park and the Icefield Parkway – which is one of the most scenic drives in the world. This lake is famous for its brilliant aqua colour which is created from the meltwater and rock silt from the Wapta Glacier. Peyto viewpoint is an easy 10-minute walk from the car park but for a less crowded view, you can take the Bow Summit trail where you can view Bow Lake and the Crow Foot Glacier
on either end of Mt Jimmy Simpson, with additional great views over to the Icefield Parkway. This is a great place to stop, have a brew and reminisce about life. The Bow Summit trail was my favourite trek of the whole trip. The views at the top were immense and my personal sense of exploration was amazing. I will certainly return to venture further into this area, hopefully in the not-too-distant future.
In part 2, Lee continues his account of Canadian opportunities through the lakes and mountains of Jasper National Park
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT...
Radium Hot Springs
is a small, close knit mountain village in British Colombia, conveniently located between the majestic Kootenay National Park and Columbia River Wetlands. It is home to the Radium Hot Springs Centre and world class restaurants, as well as a broad array of accommodation. It also provides outdoor gear retail and rentals,andeasyaccesstomanyparks
and trails (www.radiumhotsprings.ca).
Visiting Banff Upper Hot Springs is one of the National Park’s greatest traditions. Relaxing in the hot, min- eral-rich waters of the outdoor pool among the peaks of Rundle and Cascade Mountains is a magical experience that has drawn visitors
to Banff since 1886 (Parks Canada, www.pc.gc.ca).
Carved steeply into the limestone bedrock by thousands of years of water erosion, the dramatic Johnston Canyon is a breath-taking natural attraction in Banff National Park. The overhanging canyon walls, waterfalls, lush forest and deep pools are guaranteed to leave a memorable impression (www.banfflakelouise.com).
For over a century, people have camped and hunted along the shores of Lake Minnewanka. a large glacial lake close to Banff. At 21km long and 142m deep, the lake is a beautiful spot for mountain biking, hiking, canoeing and diving (www.banfflakelouise.com).
32 / ARMY MOUNTAINEER