Day 2 Molar-Pipestone-Dolomite Circuit – Group Hike 2024 Banff NP Part 1

Flowers and ash.

Anfin, Micah and Jordan among the flowers on the way to North Molar Pass.

Mosquito Creek CG to Fish Lakes CG over North Molar Pass, 10.4 km, 595 m elevation gain, 358 m elevation loss, 4 hrs 40 min.

Our route in from Mosquito Creek Campsite to Fish Lakes Campground.

Elevation profile day 2. It was very pleasant except for a little steep just before the pass.

The orange tent is Micah and Anfin (the tent belongs to Siobhan) the bluey/grey tent belongs to Bent. There is a fire pit at the campground but no wood is provided and you are not suppose to scavenge wood from the forest as it is a national park. So how is a person suppose to have a fire and stay true to the rules?

Breakfast time. We all have bear resistant food containers (bear cans or Ursasks). The last two campgrounds on our itinerary do not have food storage lockers. 7:00 am.

It was a very slow and relaxing start to the day. We had just a little over 10 km to hike and great weather so no one was suggesting we hustle up and hit the trail. I was up a little a before 7 am and happy to get some fun photos of the morning sun through the trees. Micah was up next. We had a pleasant time talking while we drank our coffee and ate our Logan Bread. We drifted away from the eating area close to 8:30 am to pack up our tents and prepare for the day ahead. No one else was up yet. When we woke Jordan and Bent up neither could believe that they had slept for so long.

Little bit of moisture on the floor of the tent. Giving it a few minutest to dry off before jamming the tent into its stuff sack.

Everything all tidied up. Like to check the site to make sure I did not leave anything.

Talking to the old couple while we waited to start the day they had no idea of the closure of Jasper NP. They had to drive home to Edmonton that day knowing that Hwy 93 north would be closed they planned to take the back roads from Rocky Mt House back to home.

The sign for the campground is by the upper entrance. The trail runs through the middle of the campground.

The simple bridge across the creek that signals the start of the day. 9:10 am.

We charged off down the trail. Despite being a short day at just 10 km the pace was pretty stiff. Both Micah and myself have been to Fish Lakes CG, me in 2016 with Laura and Links, but this would be new trail for the other three. I had to walk double time just to keep up while still taking moments to grab some photos. Just as we got going another group came into camp. They would tail close behind us for the first part of the day. At the first junction we would take the left fork to North Molar Pass while they would head right to the less frequented Molar Pass.

It is just a little smokey out. Southern face of Oxo Peak.

Anfin leading Bent over a small crossing. The bridges on this section were simple and effective.

Just a reminder that there are mountains in the area, need to look both up and down. Mt Noseeum.

Juxtaposition of old and new. We are headed to the left to Fish Lakes.

Fish Lakes takes us over North Molar Pass. The sign indicating Molar Pass is much less visited although on this day two young ladies had caught us up at this junction and they headed off to Molar Pass.

The flowers trail side are just a teaser for what is to come.

Following there are lots of photos of flowers. I am not going to apologize as this section of the hike was simply breathtaking.

Breaking out of the forest into the meadow.

So many flowers. The peak on the far right is Molarstone Peak (2880 m) and is adjacent to North Molar Pass.

Looking back. On the left in the distance is Dolomite Peak (2782 m), we will hike alongside Dolomite Peak at the end of the trip, at centre the second peak on the right is Oxo Peak (2946 m) and on the far right in distance is Watermelon Peak (3095 m) which we will see again tomorrow after going over Pipestone Pass.

Apparently Watermelon Peak got its name when a member of the first party to ascend it carried a watermelon to the summit. Unfortunately the Geographical Names Board of Canada does not officially recognize the name.

As we leave the meadow and the flowers the trail flattened out taking us over a small rise before dropping slightly to cross the drainage from a large unnamed lake at the base of the peak that separates North and Molar Pass.

North Molar Pas is the low point just right of centre. We drop down to a little canyon before coming to a large alpine lake, where we will stop for lunch.

Mosquito Creek. Nice little canyon carved by the creek.

As we approached an easy water crossing of Mosquito Creek I noticed Anfin was looking downstream attentively into a small canyon. The object of their attention was a marmot feeding along the bank. I stopped to watch and suddenly the marmot demonstrated an athletic feet we were not not expected for such a lumpy little animal. The marmot sprang upwards soaring over the water to land on a little island. We both gasped in amazement.

We then watched for the next few minutes as the marmot explored and nibbled on the little island hoping to see repeat of the previous performance. Alas the marmot appeared to have used it up daily allotment of athleticism and just scuttled around the the little island nibbling on the grass. Pleased with what we had seen we moved on to keep up with the group who had decided to set up camp beside the small alpine lake for lunch.

Easy crossing of Mosquito Creek. The lake that feeds the creek is just over the rise to the right.

Not a lot of shade but a lovely spot for lunch. The unnamed lake is the headwaters of Mosquito Creek. For some reason I enjoy visiting where creeks and rivers begin. The largest of rivers can have the humblest of beginnings.

Bent’s lunch. Still has an apple with him. Pretty deluxe for a backpacking trip.

It was just after 10:50 am when we stopped for lunch/snack. It was not really a full lunch break. We had only been hiking a little over 2 1/2 hrs but the lake provided a beautiful backdrop. The spirits of the group was high with quite a bit of chatter during lunch. The weather was perfect for hiking but there just a hint of haze in the air reminding us of what was going on outside our happy little bubble.

Back on trail and heading up the last push to the summit. Slightly hazy out.

Once back on the trail we had to hike 2 km and gain a little under 300 m of elevation to reach North Molar Pass.

Looking back at our little lake wonderfully ringed by flowers with Noseeum Mt (3002 m) in the background.

A favourite photo of Bent doing some classic Rockies alpine hiking.

The two dots on the trail were a couple of hikers who passed by us heading back to the trailhead from an evening at Fish Lakes CG.

Shortly after we got back on the trail after lunch we were soon passed by two groups of hikers heading back to the trailhead after spending the night at Fish Lakes CG. They seemed to be a very good mood but said that they were suppose to spend a couple of days at the campground but the bugs were too ferocious. Not exactly what we wanted to hear but not totally unexpected. Micah and I had both been to Fish Lakes CG before and the bugs are legendary. But the lake is very open so if there is any wind it will help keep the bugs at bay plus we were only staying one night.

Vegetation disappearing air will get a little thinner.

At a height of 2586 m North Molar Pass will be our high point for the trip.

Looking back we have now left the lake far behind. Can see the trail sporadically on the right side of the photo.

I love hiking over this pass. There is obviously a lot of geology going on with two distinct rock types on either side of the drainage.

We all got a little spread out over the trail and any conversation evaporated. It was a bit of a hot slog to the pass.

There is a little bit of snow at the pass but the trail stays a little high going over the pass and avoids the snow packed into the bottom.

Looking north back to where we have come from.

Looking south over the pass to where we will be going. The hazy peak in the distance is Molar Mt (3022 m)

Something of interest has caught Micah’s attention.

The intrepid team joyous in their success in arriving at North Molar Pass.

It had taken just a little over an hour to make our way to the pass after leaving our lunch lake. No one was in much of a rush to continue but happy to take in the views. I took the opportunity to tend to a hot spot on my foot. Early intervention is always the key but when hiking in a group it can be tough to ask people to stop.

Heading down the other side, 12:20 pm. Poles are very helpful on the descent.

The downside of the pass was a lower quality trail than the upside. Lots of little steep sections on loose rocks. It was thought a quick decent to the meadow.

The smile says it all. Bent has his camera out to capture the view.

Why we hike. Alpine cruising at its finest.

As we made our way to Fish Lakes both Micah and I were surprised how long the hike was. We were quite sure that Fish Lakes was only a short hike after pass. Our memories were wrong.

Small waterfall on the unnamed creek draining the pass. Is interesting the creek passes close by to Fish Lakes but does not drain into the lake.

Hippies on a Stick (Western Anemone, Pulsatilla occidentalis)

Looking west across the valley to an impressive wall of limestone.

“The hills are alive with the sound of music”….ok, they are flowers but it reminded me of the Sound of Music.

Upon closer inspection our trail does not continue across the creek but veers left and crosses a bridge close to tree line a spectacular spot where the creek starts to plunge over a waterfall into a canyon.

The hike from the pass to the campground covered about 3 km on well defined trail. The trails become quite deep and braided as we descended through the meadow but the hiking was always very easy. The clouds were staying away and there was only a little haze in the air making for a very pleasant hike to finish off the day.

Photo taken from the bridge. Looking over into the Pipestone Valley.

I hiked the last segment from the bridge to the campground with Anfin. We ambled along enjoying the walk. It was still early afternoon and there was no reason to rush to camp. We rolled into camp at 1:50 pm with what we hoped was a long relaxing afternoon ahead of us.

We actually want Pipestone Pass and not the river. Checked out the trails after arriving to recon where we go tomorrow.

I dumped my pack with everyone then immediately left to scout where we had to go tomorrow. I found the trail leaving the campground that soon arrived at a junction for either the Pipestone River or Pass. Back at camp Anfin and I looked at the map on my phone and we decided we wanted Pipestone Pass. Micah also chimed confirming that JJ in the video went over Pipestone Pass. Later we got confirmation from a guy that had just arrived in camp that we wanted to head for Pipestone Pass.

Frosty on guard. Micah attempting to ward off the mosquitos by wearing their rain jacket under a cloudless sky.

There are no tent pads at Fish Lakes so you are left to wander around and try and find a relatively flat patch of ground to pitch your tent on. I ended setting up much closer to Micah and Anfin than you would usually plan for but that was where the ground was flat or mostly flat. There is only suppose to be 5 sites at the campground but there ended up being 7 or 8 tents set up by the time we went to bed.

My Zpacks Duplex with the self standing pole kit. While it adds a tiny bit of weight I love the self standing option especially when solo. It means I do not have to bring any poles but I do usually hike with one pole.

With the tents set up before 4 pm we headed down to the lake to relax in the sunshine and enjoy the views. Among the many converstations we had I remember chatty with Bent about two of my favourite hiking books, “High Rockies Summer” by Chris Townsned, about his journey on an infant Great Divide Trail and “No Picnic on Mt Kenya” by Felice Benuzzi, a recounting of how three escaped POW’s attempted to summit Mt Kenya during World War II.

Did I ever say I brought my chair. Micah, Jordan and Bent relaxing lake side.

If it is gonna be beer, it better be strong. Rye Milk Stout, great way to relax at camp.

A bit before 6 pm we headed to the eating area to make dinner. Hanging out by the lake was great with the wind keeping the mosquitos away. The eating area is nicely sheltered from the elements allowing the mosquitos to seek their revenge. Remember the two guys we passed who had bailed on a second night at camp because of the mosquitos well they had a point. Bent was very stylish and smug as they only person with a bug net to protect his head. Coming in at just a few grams in weight I think it should will be a new addition to my packing list.

Bent the Bug Net Man. Micah and Jordan in the distance.

Photo just a short walk away from the eating area. The smoke has arrived.

The lid of bear can. The white flecks are ash!

Even with the smokey skies and ash falling we went back to the lake after dinner.

The mood got a little gloomy after dinner with the smoke rolling in. The weather forecast for tomorrow was 30% chance of rain which could help keep the smoke to a minimum.

Smokey skies. There were a few other groups in camp all wearing rain gear to keep the mosquitos at bay.

There were a few groups that arrived during the night. Given that one group left early there was way too many people in camp. Luckily for the late comers with the lack of tent pads it was just find a flattish spot and throw down your tent.

There was a bit of blue skies peaking through the smoke.

If this was a scene from a movie I would be thinking that the sky is foreshadowing a coming doom on the characters.

We had a longer day coming up at around 21 km so we headed to bed and agreed to get up early and meet before breakfast at and talk about our options given the smoke and possible rain. Jordan suggested just getting out of camp and finding a spot down the trail to have breakfast and coffee to escape the bugs. The bugs were very bad but I had very few bites for which I was quite thankful for. There ended up being at least 10 tents set up in a camp with only 5 designated tent sites. I wonder what a Warden would have done had they stumbled into camp.

As I lay in bed I kept asking myself why I had no:

map
guidebook
photos of a route description
and had not downloaded JJ’s video onto my phone

I was feeling woefully unprepared. The rest of the trip was all new trail and I was the only one with any info on my phone.

Good night from the mosquitos at Fish Lakes Campground.

Day 3 Molar-Pipestone-Dolomite Circuit 2024

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