Tag: Banff National Park

Bow Lake & the Trail to Bow Glacier Falls, Banff National Park, Canada (7-25-13)

Bow Lake is located on the W side of the spectacular Icefields Parkway Hwy No. 93 in Banff National Park roughly 22 miles N of the junction with Trans-Canada Hwy No. 1.  Bow Lake is clearly visible from the Icefields Parkway which goes right past the E shore.  The trail to Bow Glacier Falls starts at the red-roofed Num-Ti-Jah lodge on the N shore of the lake.  There is parking, but no sign or official trailhead that Lupe and SPHP have noticed.  Just look for the trail heading W along the N shore.  It’s easy to find.

Lupe visited Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park on the morning of July 25, 2013, the 16th Day of her 2013 Dingo Vacation to the Beartooths & Canadian Rockies.  After seeing the falls, Lupe and SPHP returned to Banff National Park and headed N on the Icefields Parkway, Hwy 93.  There was still time for an afternoon trek.  On this hot summer day, SPHP had a good one in mind that doesn’t involve too much elevation gain – the trail from Bow Lake to Bow Glacier Falls.

Looking SE across Bow Lake. The Crowfoot Glacier is visible just right of center.
Looking SE across Bow Lake. The Crowfoot Glacier is visible just right of center.

SPHP parked the G6 near Num-Ti-Jah lodge located near the N shore of Bow Lake.  The lodge is within sight of Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.  It’s red roof is easy to spot coming up the Icefields Parkway from the S.  The first thing Lupe did was trot on down to the lake to check out the small beach near the lodge.

The Nim-Ti-Jah lodge located near the N shore of Bow Lake. The trail to Bow Glacier Falls starts from the lodge.
The Num-Ti-Jah lodge located near the N shore of Bow Lake. The trail to Bow Glacier Falls starts from the lodge.
Lupe on the beach at Bow Lake near the Nim-Ti-Jah lodge. There were actually quite a few people around at the beach on this hot summer day. SPHP suspects it is best to be part Canadian if you want to go in the water. The water comes from that glacier in the distance!
Lupe on the pebbly beach at Bow Lake near the Nim-Ti-Jah lodge. There were actually quite a few people around at the beach on this hot summer day. SPHP suspects it is best to be part Canadian if you want to go in the water. The water comes right from that glacier in the distance!  Bow Glacier Falls, where Lupe was headed, is seen just below the left side of the glacier.

Lupe cooled off a bit wading around in the cold water.  She had a big drink out of Bow Lake.  There were more people than SPHP expected to see at the beach, but it wasn’t a big crowd.  A few hardy souls were even in the water, mostly children who tend not to notice hypothermia much.  Lupe and SPHP set off on the trail to Bow Glacier Falls sometime between 2:00 and 3:00 PM.  The trail starts off heading W along the N shore of Bow Lake.

Looking S across Bow Lake at Crowfoot Mountain from the Bow Glacier Falls trail.
Looking S across Bow Lake at Crowfoot Mountain (10,023 ft.) from the Bow Glacier Falls trail.
Looking back to the E along Bow Glacier Falls trail along the N shore of Bow Lake.
Looking back to the E along Bow Glacier Falls trail on the N shore of Bow Lake.
Bow Lake in Banff National Park. Bow Glacier Falls is visible below the Bow Glacier, which is part of the Wapta Icefield.
Bow Lake in Banff National Park. Bow Glacier Falls is visible below the Bow Glacier, which is part of the Wapta Icefield.

There were quite a few people on the trail to the falls.  There were a couple of big scary dogs, too.  Lupe got by them when the big dogs decided to go for a swim in the lake.  The trail gradually curves toward the S as it proceeds along Bow Lake.  By the time it leaves the lake behind, the trail is heading SW.  There the trail enters a still nearly level area of gravel deposited by the Bow River.  The trail heads for a narrow gap at the S end of a small ridge ahead.  A steep set of stairs climbs up the small ridge on the N side of the gap.

Beyond the lake now, Bow Glacier Falls trail heads for the gap at the S end of the small ridge ahead. Bow Glacier Falls is visible above the small ridge.
Beyond the lake now, Bow Glacier Falls trail heads for the gap at the S end of the small ridge ahead. Bow Glacier Falls is visible above the small ridge.
Looking NE back at the stream from Bow Glacier Falls on its way to Bow Lake. A small section of Bow Lake is visible through the trees. The bottom of the stairs leading up the small ridge is in the foreground.
Looking NE back at the stream from Bow Glacier Falls on its way to Bow Lake. A small section of Bow Lake is visible through the trees. The bottom of the stairs leading up the small ridge is in the foreground.

As the trail climbs the stairway, it can be seen that the stream from Bow Glacier Falls is passing in a torrent through a very narrow, but deep gorge just to the S of the trail.  The gorge is so narrow that near the top there is a huge boulder wedged high up between the edges of the gorge.  The boulder spans the gorge creating a natural bridge.  People cross this boulder to a side trail that heads S into a gorgeous valley leading to St. Nicholas Peak, Mount Olive and part of the Wapta Icefield.

(Note:  Later in the day, on the way back from Bow Glacier Falls, SPHP really wanted to go explore this wonderful valley to the S, but crossing the boulder looked just too scary.  Although the boulder was very large, it was rounded, not flat.  It really wasn’t all that tricky, but the roaring water gushing through the narrow chasm below gave SPHP visions of Lupe’s claws being unable to hang onto the solid rock of the boulder, and Lupe falling into the raging torrent to be lost forever.  No valley, no matter how wonderful, was worth a chance of losing the sweet dingo.  If SPHP had thought of exploring this valley earlier, it would have been easy to just cross the stream below Bow Glacier Falls and head for this valley.)

The wonderful valley to the S that SPHP was too chicken to let Lupe explore.
The wonderful valley to the S that SPHP was too chicken to let Lupe explore.

Once on top of the small ridge, Bow Glacier Falls is in clear view ahead.  The trail drops partway back down the other side of the ridge and then steadily climbs through a mostly barren rocky area.  This area is roughly the same size as the area between Bow Lake and the small ridge.  The climb steepens as the trail nears the falls, but it’s pretty easy.  It never gets all that steep.  The trail ultimately disappears among the rocks near the base of the falls.

Lupe reaches Bow Glacier Falls.
Lupe reaches Bow Glacier Falls.

Lupe at Bow Glacier Falls, Banff NP 7-25-13Lupe and SPHP climbed up very close to the falls, had a snack and photo session, and then climbed even higher until almost in the falls itself.  Lupe and SPHP lingered there for a while enjoying the sound of the water and the amazing world on display.

SPHP took this photo looking NE from Bow Glacier Falls. It wasn't until writing this post on 8-2-15, that SPHP realized this is a photo of Cirque Mountain, which Lupe climbed on 7-27-14 during her 2014 Dingo Vacation.
SPHP took this photo on 7-25-13 looking NE from Bow Glacier Falls. It wasn’t until writing this post on 8-2-15, that SPHP realized this is a photo of Cirque Peak (9,820 ft.) which Lupe climbed on 7-27-14 during her 2014 Dingo Vacation.  (She went up the long slope at the right.)  Click this red link to view the post on Lupe’s ascent of Cirque Peak which includes a view of Bow Lake, Bow Glacier Falls and the huge Wapta Icefield from the summit!

There was almost no one left on the trail by the time Lupe made her return trip to Bow Lake and Num-Ti-Jah lodge.  Lupe and SPHP drove a short distance to the SE along the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 to a picnic ground located on the E side of Bow Lake.  Here Lupe and SPHP spent the rest of the evening having a very pleasant time looking at the mountains and watching the sun sparkle on Bow Lake as it slowly sank behind the glorious Canadian Rockies.

Early evening at Bow Lake from the Bow Glacier Trail.
Early evening at Bow Lake from the Bow Glacier Trail.  The picnic ground is located among the trees across the lake along the shore seen on the left side of this photo.  Photo looks SE.
Crowfoot Glacier above Bow Lake.
Crowfoot Glacier above Bow Lake.

Bow Lake, Banff NP 7-25-13Links:

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Moraine Lake & Consolation Lakes, Banff National Park, Canada (7-23-13)

“No scene has ever given me an equal impression of inspiring solitude and rugged grandeur.  I stood on a great stone of the moraine where, from a slight elevation, a magnificent view of the lake lay before me, and while studying the details of this unknown and unvisited spot, spent the happiest half-hour of my life.”  – Walter Wilcox, 1905, six years after “discovering” Moraine Lake with Ross Peacock.

The morning of July 23, 2013 was totally overcast, almost foggy at Lake Louise Village.  SPHP had decided to return for more exploration of the Moraine Lake area with Lupe, but the day didn’t look very promising.  Moraine Lake was only 14 km away from the turn off the road to Lake Louise.  Half-way there, Lupe and SPHP drove out of the gloom and into brilliant sunshine.

The inspiring solitude Walter Wilcox experienced at Moraine Lake in 1905 is long gone.  Now crowds swarm over the rock pile at the E end of Moraine Lake just across the outlet stream.  On summer days the large parking lot fills quickly with cars, and they then line the road for long distances.  Buses bring more people.  It was still early when Lupe and SPHP arrived.  Early enough so there were still plenty of places to park in the parking lot, although they were going fast.

Lupe and SPHP took the very short Rock Loop trail leading up to the top of the “rock pile” from which Walter Wilcox had viewed the lake.  Hordes of tourists were already there.  Although the inspiring solitude is history, the rugged grandeur remains.  The striking colorful beauty of the waters of Moraine Lake beyond which lay towering peaks of the Valley of Ten Peaks didn’t even look real.  The whole scene looked like a fake impossibly beautiful postcard – but it was all real.

Lupe at Moraine Lake, Banff National Park 7-23-15
Lupe at Moraine Lake, Banff National Park 7-23-15
Moraine Lake from the E end of the Valley of Ten Peaks
Moraine Lake in the Valley of Ten Peaks from the Rock Pile
From L to R: Mt. Little, Mt. Tonsa, Mt. Perren, Mt. Allen, Mt. Tuzo, Deltaform Mountain.
From L to R: Mt. Little (10,302 ft.), Mt. Tonsa (10,020 ft.), Mt. Perren (10,010 ft.),  Mt. Allen (10,860 ft.), Mt. Tuzo (10,646 ft.), and Deltaform Mountain (11,240 ft.).

After visiting the Rock Pile, Lupe and SPHP took the 1.1 km Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail.  The Lakeshore Trail goes along the forested shore on the right side of the photos above to the far end of the lake.

Mt. Fay and the Fay glacier from the Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail.
Mt. Fay (10,610 ft.) and the Fay glacier from the Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail.
Mt. Fay (L) and Mt. Little (R) from the Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail.
Mt. Fay (L) and Mt. Little (R) from the Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail.

On the previous day, Lupe and SPHP had gone up to see Eiffel Lake and the upper end of the Valley of Ten Peaks.  However, Lupe and SPHP had not yet been on the 3 km long Consolation Lakes trail which starts just below the Rock Pile at Moraine Lake.

Due to recent grizzly bear activity in the area there was a requirement that people hiking all these trails stay in groups of at least 4 or face a $5,000 fine.  Lupe and SPHP waited at the start of the Consolation Lakes trail for a likely group to join.  Although far fewer people were interested in seeing Consolation Lakes than Moraine Lake, it didn’t take long before SPHP and Lupe were on the way as part of a large group of kids led by a couple of adults.

The trek to Consolation Lakes was through a forest virtually all the way, so there weren’t really any big views.  The trail was broad and easy to follow.  It gained elevation at a slow to moderate pace.  Approaching Lower Consolation Lake, the forest gave way to a broad flat valley of meadows through which a stream flowed.  The meadows ended at a large boulder field which had to be traversed to get to the shore of the lake. Lupe and SPHP went boulder-hopping and wound up sitting on a boulder at the water’s edge relaxing.

Lower Consolation Lake. Beyond the lake, the double peak near the center is Bident Mountain. It is separated by a large snowfield or hanging glacier from Quadra Mountain to its right. The green slope at the right side of the photo is part of Mt. Babel.
Lower Consolation Lake. Beyond the lake, the double peak near the center of the photo is Bident Mountain. It is separated by a large snowfield or hanging glacier from Quadra Mountain to its right.  It’s easy to see the 4 peaks or platforms of Quadra Mountain. The green slope at the right side of the photo is part of Mt. Babel (10,180 ft.).

Lupe and SPHP stayed there at the edge of Lower Consolation Lake for quite a long while.  There were plenty of people around, but not nearly so many as back at Moraine Lake.  Upper Consolation Lake, which is slightly smaller, was just out of sight beyond Lower Consolation Lake.  Every 15 or 20 minutes or so the rumbling roar of a large snowfall could be heard from a valley to the right beyond Lower Consolation Lake.  That valley was also out of sight, but seemed to be in front of and to the W (right) of Bident and Quadra Mountains.

Unfortunately, the trail did not extend past the boulder field at the N end of Lower Consolation Lake.  SPHP thought it would be great fun for Lupe to explore over to Upper Consolation Lake, from which the source of the rumblings could probably be seen.  (According to maps, likely snow falling off glaciers on Mt. Fay.)  No one else seemed to be interested in heading over there, however.  With the minimum 4  in a group rule in effect due to grizzly bears, Lupe and SPHP could not go over there alone.

The return to Moraine Lake was uneventful.  After eating dinner at a picnic ground along the Bow Parkway and spending a little time at Lake Louise Village, Lupe and SPHP went to Lake Louise.  SPHP sat on a bench with Lupe and wrote postcards.  A low-flying helicopter flew directly overhead and got Lupe all excited.  The helicopter hovered for a little while over the far end of the lake.

As the sun disappeared over the mountains and light was beginning to fade, Lupe and SPHP took the Lakeshore Trail to the far end of Lake Louise.  The helicopter was long gone.  No one was around.  Lupe sniffed the air and trotted happily along the trail like she always does.  The lake was smooth as glass in the stillness of the evening.  By the time Lupe returned, Chateau Lake Louise was all lit up.Moraine Lake, Banff NP, 7-23-13

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