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Day 4 Sawback Banff NP

Good morning from Baker Lake.

Day 4 Baker Lake Campground to Fish Creek Parking Lot (Lake Louise), 14.7 km, 201 m Elevation Gain, 750 m Elevation Loss, 4 hrs 32 min.

Slept well, except when the porcupine was screeching like a banshee at midnight. In my sleepy stupor, I leaned out of the tent and yelled at it, not sure that was a great idea, but the porcupine went away. We had an easy day ahead of us, but I knew if I wanted reflections off the lake I would have to get up early. I was out of the tent and down at the lake by 6:25 am. The lake did not disappoint me.

Sun touching the peak of Brachiopod Mt.
The moon high above Brachiopod Mt.
Panorama of Baker Lake.
Ken getting some photos.
A final view of Baker Lake.

We headed back to the tent at 6:35 am, had breakfast and packed up. We were ready to go just after 8:00 am. I hustled back down to the lake to get some more photos now that the sun was high in the sky.

Frosty guarding the tent.
People enjoying breakfast and drying their tent under the gaze of Brachiopod Mt. There is no rocks in front of the people, that is a reflection.
All tidied up.
Brachiopod Mt in the morning sun.
Baker Lake and my shadow.
Brachiopod Mt, Heather Ridge and in the distance Redoubt Mt.

We were on the trail by 8:10 am. There was not a breadth of wind, keeping the lake mirror smooth as we walked along its length.

Looking back to the east to the Sawback Range.
It was a glorious morning.
Reflections.
Heather Ridge on the left, and Packers Peak on the right, Ken getting his own photo.
Brachiopod and Heather Ridge, a perfect morning on the trail.

It took 1.5 km of walking to get to the end of Baker Lake. The trail then rose 100 m over the next 0.9 km. There was a little water flowing down the middle of the trail. Looking back we could get a view of Baker Lake from a different perspective.

Baker Lake viewing east.
Ken heading up through the trees
Hiking under the impressive Packer’s Peak.

The trail climbed gradually, but steadily up, opening up views of the high alpine. We could actually see all the way to Mt Victoria at the back of Lake Louise. After 2.4 km of hiking, the trail leveled out. The trail would follow the same contour all the way to the west end of Ptarmingan Lake, about 2.8 km, before starting the descent to Fish Creek Parking Lot. But we had other plans.

Ptarmigan Lake, Lake Louise Ski Hill and Mt Victoria in the distance. Love a telephoto lens, the ski hill is about 5 km away, and Mt Victoria is 20 km, just does not look that far.
The alpine landscape, with Heather Ridge in the centre and Redoubt Mt in the background.

We came to the junction with Deception Pass, and decided we could do with a bit more elevation, so we headed up to Deception Pass. We went up 93 m over the next 450 m of distance, conversation became minimized.

A pretty old sign at the junction for Deception Pass.
On the way up to Deception Pass.
Another feisty little fellow.

We arrived at Deception Pass (also known as Packers Pass on some maps) in about 12 minutes. The view over the other side was amazing, but we were not able to see into the valley. There was a large rolling meadow below us.

Looking over Deception Pass to where Skoki must be.
Looking back to Redoubt Mt and the Mountains of Lake Louise, from right to left, Mt Victoria, Mt Lefroy and Hungabee Mt.
Ptarmigan Lake, Lake Louise Ski Hill and Mt Lefroy and Hungabee Mt in the distance.

We were actually on the west flank of Fossil Mt. There is a very vague route to the top. The guide we met yesterday at Baker Lake had scrambled up to the top the day before, said it was a fun route. There is a barren pole at the top of Deception Pass, that indicates the turnoff for the scrambling route to Fossil Mt.

Pole marking beginning of scramble up Fossil Mt, our trail in the distance heading towards the west end of Ptarmigan Lake.

We wandered around on the ridge for a bit. Taking in the view from up high. This would be the last time we got the views of where we had been. As soon as we get to the end of Ptarmigan Lake, we descend down into the forest.

A big view, from left to right, Brachipod Mt, Heather Ridge and Redoubt Mt.
Ken taking in one last look.

It was 9:35 am, time to continue our hike to the car. We arrived back at the junction at 9:50 am, we had just over 10 km to walk to the car. The trail was fairly level, and was good and wide from the frequent hikers heading into the Baker Lake or Skoki areas. As we came up to a stand of trees, we were accosted by yet another marmot defending its territory.

Heading up to a stand of trees.
Had a big attitude.

The trail descended slightly on our approach to Ptarmigan Lake. In places some of the trail was under water, causing us to do some rock hopping. It was 10 am and the wind had still not come, rendering the lake mirror smooth. I just had to stop for some more photos.

Redoubt Mt reflection in Ptarmigan Lake.
Looking east down Ptarmigan Lake. The two peaks on the right are Heather Ridge and Brachiopod Mt, the tall mountain at the end of the lake is Mt St McBride (3315 m), the tallest mountain in the Sawback Range.

It was time to start our descent down to car, we had to say goodbye to the mountain lakes and alpine landscape that had been with us the past two days.

Heather Ridge and Brachiopod Mt reflecting in Ptarmigan Lake
One last look at the lake. Still some snow in the shadow of Redoubt Mt. In the distance Mt St. McBride on the left has been joined by Douglas Mt.
Heading over a small hill at the end of the lake, then starting the descent to the car.

The trail heads over a small pass created by the meeting of Redoubt Mt and Ptarmigan Peak. There is a lot of rockfall in the area from the two mountains, and the trail weaves in and out among the rocks. It was hard to find, but the pass has a name, Boulder Pass. As we went around the end of Redoubt Mt, Mt Temple came majestically into view.

A small figure passes through the boulder field at Boulder Pass.
Mt Temple.
Ptarmigan Mt.

We descended through some long switchbacks, as the landscape transitioned from alpine to forest. Once in the forest, views were limited, but the trail was wide and smooth, and the trees kept the heat off, which was rapidly rising as we descended.

Heading into the trees, nice trail.
One of the last alpine views, Mt Temple dominates.

After 30 minutes of hiking, we come to a bridge over a small creek. The creek is draining Hidden Lake. Aptly named, Hidden Lake is a tarn, a lake that forms in cirque. There is a short hike from the main trail up to Hidden Lake, but that will have to wait for another day. We had been going 2 hrs 50 min, and covered about half the distance. Something was telling me we would cover the next 7 km quicker.

Bridge over the unnamed creek draining Hidden Lake, seems a little excessive.
The creek raining Hidden Lake leading up to Mt Richardson.

Passed a snack shack called Halfway Hut. Can get food and beverages there. It is not obvious where the name comes from, as it does not appear to halfway to anywhere. Back in the day when they used to have to use horses to pack food to Skoki Lodge, the hut was rest location and placed halfway from the Lake Louise Train Station and Skoki Lodge. We had numerous stream crossings, all had bridges of varying quality. Had to wait while an older couple heading to Skoki Lodge took pictures at a bridge. Easy to pick the backpackers from the people heading Skoki Lodge, just had to look at the size of the backpacks. I visited Skoki in the winter of 1992, it is a wonderful place, and it is high time for another visit. A group of runners, coming from Skoki passed by us, I recognized some of the people from around town in Canmore. After a half hour, we stopped for a few minutes while I took pictures of flowers dotting a hillside.

We met up with the guide we met yesterday at the campsite. Together we made excellent time back to the car. The trail was wide, smooth and downhill. It crossed my mind that this would be a tough grind to hike up on a hot day with a full pack.

This sign is sooo wrong. It is only 3.8 km from the parking lot at Fish Creek. that would make Baker Lake Campground 11.1 km from the trailhead, when in fact it is 13.3 km.

We came to the gravel service road used by the ski hill, and rocked our way back to the car at Fish Creek Parking Lot. We covered the last 4.6 km in 50 minutes, dropping 370 m in elevation. We said goodbye to the guide and headed back to the car. We had traveled 56.4 km through the heart of Banff NP, endured the rain, and was rewarded by sunshine.

Final part of the trail, start the service road at the small building.
A gravel road to finish an epic hike.

The stories do not end at the end of the trail. While loading the car, we chatted with some young people from the American North-West. They had been staying at Red Deer Lakes Campsite, and during the night had an encounter with pesky bear. So they sprayed it with their Bear Spray from a window in the tent! In the morning they were chatting with a fellow camper, who had been sleeping right beside them, and he had heard nothing of their encounter. It was their first backcountry trip, quite a story.

As I took my shoes off and put my sandals on for the drive home, I realized that my feet and shoes were dry, bet Ken’s boots did not dry out for a few days 🙂

Sawback Home

bootwreckers

Instagram post 2188130011654162000_3141216150 Deep inside the Grand Canyon.

Walking along the Colorado River takes a big commitment, have to descend at least 1500m to access the water over sometimes challenging terrain.

Walking along the Beamer Trail, Eastern Grand Canyon.

#nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks
Instagram post 2184308311351191195_3141216150 Spent an amazing evening with several students at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory in Calgary.

Was a little cloudy, but they broke long enough to get a shot of building housing the Baker-Nunn telescope, you can make out Orion's Belt just above the building and the Pleiades Star Cluster high in the sky.

#outside, #hiking, #scrambler, #scrambling, #camping, #backpacking,
#adventure, #adventureoutside, #nature, #landscapephotography, #nobaddays, #adventureholiday, #hikingadventures, #astrophotography,  #ucalgary #rao #nightsky #nightskyphotography #rothneyastrophysicalobservatory #raoastronomy
Instagram post 2181442664552380788_3141216150 Reflections. On the way back from Mt Assiniboine caught the mountains reflecting in a small pond just before Baker Creek Campground.

Amazing trip, while very popular, camping at Allenby Junction Campground gave us lots of solitude.

Read about this trip and others on my website https://www.bootwreckers.com/mt-assiniboine-loop-banff-np/, or follow the link in my bio.

Banff NP
 #assiniboine #banff, #banffnationalpark, #banffcanada, #mybanff #hiking, #hikingadventures, #adventure, #adventureoutside, #adventureholiday, #nature, #reflectionphotography, #lake, #outside, #explore, #explorepage #reflections #nature #alberta #wilderness #wildernessculture #naturephotography #parkscanada  #alpine #alpinelakeswilderness
Instagram post 2174327611017531216_3141216150 One of my favourite places, the Grand Canyon. It is dominated by the Reds and browns, much the !any cactus plants when blooming can add a contrasting splash of colour.

Looking over the inner gorge from the Hermit Trail.

#nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation
Instagram post 2167283413521064942_3141216150 Winter is coming, thoughts turn back to summer hikes.

Hikers enjoying the peaceful scene, as the Spray River flows past Cone Mt, Banff National Park.

Daughter Emily holding onto Volcano of the @senioradventurepups, while Volcano enjoys a cool drink on a warm day hiking home from Mt Assiniboine. Follow the link to my website in my bio for a story of our hike

#nationalparks, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #parkscanada #parks #naturephotography #photography #amazingearth #backpacking #campingwithdogs #hikingwithdogs
Instagram post 2154797122321815791_3141216150 Went for a walk down by the river with the puppies (@senioradventurepups ) and snapped this photo of the Three Sisters Mountain.

Sometimes it is easy to forget what an amazing place it is I get to call home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Canmore, Alberta

#alberta, #albertaparks, #canmore,#canmorealberta #hikingwithdogs, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #hikes, #outside, #outsidethebox, #naturelovers, #wilderness, #snow, #trails, #campingwithdogs, #Alberta, #outsidethebox, #naturelovers, #wildplaces #threesisters
Instagram post 2150623889020313247_3141216150 Pulsatilla Pass, Banff National Park.

Looking north from Pulsatilla Pass, its namesake Lake in the foreground, leading into Wildflower Valley and Fossil Mountain in the distance.

#banff, #banffnationalpark, #banffcanada, #mybanff #hiking, #hikingadventures, #adventure, #adventureoutside, #adventureholiday, #nature, #reflectionphotography, #lake, #outside, #explore, #explorepage #reflections #nature #alberta #wilderness #wildernessculture #naturephotography #parkscanada  #alpine #alpinelakeswilderness
Instagram post 2145921943004894384_3141216150 I entered this photo in a recent photo contest for hiking the GR20 on @gr20.corse . The category was Red and White, because the blazes that mark the route are red and white.

Photo was taken on the first night on the trail, at Refuge d’Orto di u Piobbu. The Milky Way was prominent in the sky, and I got the red colour by shining the red lamp on my headlamp briefly on the tent.

I did not win, but got an honourable mention, I am pretty happy with that.

#gr20, #gr20corsica🏞️, #corsica,  #outside, #hiking, #scrambler, #scrambling, #camping, #backpacking,
#adventure, #adventureoutside, #nature, #landscapephotography, #nobaddays, #adventureholiday, #hikingadventures, #zpacks, #zpacksduplex, #milkyway  #teamzpacks #northernlights #auroraborealis
Instagram post 2137364245841908432_3141216150 I had an Aurora alert a couple days before our trip to Floe Lake, so after taking pictures of the Milky Way over the Rockwall to the south, I looked north and saw the Aurora Borealis and the Milky Way🤩

Floe Lake, Kootenay NP

#outside, #hiking, #scrambler, #scrambling, #camping, #backpacking,
#adventure, #adventureoutside, #nature, #landscapephotography, #nobaddays, #adventureholiday, #hikingadventures, #astrophotography, #milkyway #kootenaylife #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark #nationalparks
#parkscanada #northernlights #aurora #auroras
Instagram post 2134666322507061101_3141216150 Sunrise on the Rockwall, Floe Lake, Kootenay NP

#parkscanada #camping #reflection #reflections #sunrise 
#outside #kootenaynationalpark #columbiavalley #travelphotography #travelcolumbiavalley #nature #naturephotography #bowvalleynetwork #nationalparks #parks #earth #morningmotivation #backpacking #camping⛺ #morningsun
Instagram post 2127829021411816473_3141216150 Sunrise reflections at Floe Lake, Kootenay NP.

The calm before the storm, on our hike out we had two thunderstorms.

Was a beautiful morning with the orange glow off the mountains and the smooth water.

#parkscanada #camping #reflection #reflections #sunrise 
#outside #kootenaynationalpark #columbiavalley #travelphotography #travelcolumbiavalley #nature #naturephotography #bowvalleynetwork #nationalparks #parks
Instagram post 2124465532857295717_3141216150 Milky Way over the Rockwall at Floe Lake, Kootenay NP

#reflections, #reflectionphotography, #outside, #hiking, #scrambler, #scrambling, #camping, #backpacking,
#adventure, #adventureoutside, #nature, #landscapephotography, #nobaddays, #adventureholiday, #hikingadventures, #astrophotography, #milkyway #kootenaylife #kootenaynationalpark #nationalpark #nationalparks
#parkscanada
Instagram post 2116967594832910271_3141216150 The Sphinx reflecting in Egypt Lake, Banff NP.

Was a great three trip with my dog Volcano (@senioradventurepups), weather was spectacular and met many nice people along the way.

#outside #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, 
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunrise #alpine #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography #alpinelake #amazingearth #morningmotivation #travelcanada #explorerockies
#travelcanada #mountainstories #explorecanada #theearthoutdoors #paradisecanada #banff
Instagram post 2104150584365238508_3141216150 Marvel Lake Banff NP

Woke up at Marvel Campground and hiked th 1.2km to the lake and had breakfast.

The reflection was amazing early in th morning. But glad we hustled, as th wind picked up after about 15 minutes and took away the mirror finish.

#outside #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, 
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunrise #alpine #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography #alpinelake #amazingearth #morningmotivation #travelcanada #explorerockies
#travelcanada #mountainstories #explorecanada #theearthoutdoors #paradisecanada
Instagram post 2099172299986257416_3141216150 Baker Lake, Banff NP

Amazing morning at Baker Lake, mirror smooth finish on the lake. Was a great start to our last day on the trail.

Sawback trail, Moose Meadows to Fish Creek Parking lot.

With @kbsymington 
#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunstar #sun #lake #sunrise #alpin #scenery #reflectionphotography #reflections #sceneryphotography
Instagram post 2096821076746485953_3141216150 Double Sun Star.

Baker Lake, Banff NP.

Brilliant morning at Baker Lake to finish off a 4 day trip from Moose Meadows to Lake Louise.

Rained to start the trip, but the lakes and alpine vistas made all the mud and slop a distant memory.

Amazing trip with @kbsymington 
#outside, #outsidethebox, #liveoutdoors, #liveoutsidethebox #naturephotography, #naturelovers,  #retiredhusky, #rescuer
#parkscanada #banffnationalpark #banffalberta #banffcanada
#sunstar #sun #lake #sunrise #alpin #scenery #sceneryphotography
Instagram post 2090964095779346995_3141216150 It been the wettest spring/summer that I can remember. Never seen the land so green, or the flowers so vibrant.

Indian Paintbrush on the trail to Mystic Lake, Banff NP.

#banff, #banffnationalpark, #banffcanada, #mybanff #hiking, #hikingadventures, #adventure, #adventureoutside, #adventureholiday, #nature, #reflectionphotography, #lake, #outside, #explore, #explorepage #reflections #nature #alberta #wilderness #wildernessculture #naturephotography #parkscanada #flowers #flowerphotography #naturephoto
Instagram post 2088980100522898335_3141216150 Mystic Lake, Banff NP.

An amazing alpine lake, nestled in a small valley, roughly 18km hike.

Early morning, no wind, mirror smooth lake, amazing reflection .

#banff, #banffnationalpark, #banffcanada, #mybanff #hiking, #hikingadventures, #adventure, #adventureoutside, #adventureholiday, #nature, #reflectionphotography, #lake, #outside, #explore, #explorepage #reflections #nature #alberta #wilderness #wildernessculture #naturephotography #parkscanada
Instagram post 2076482315647135138_3141216150 A quick climb from Spanish Bottom on the Colorado River leads you to the Doll House (apparently named by cowboys travelling through the area long ago)

It is a visual feast with a variety of shapes and different shades of red, orange, browns and tans.

Need to work in more time to explore on my next trip.

#nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #canyonlands #canyonlandsnationalpark #nationalparksweek #rightnow
Instagram post 2071609897371725510_3141216150 The patterns in embedded in the sand looks like waves frozen in time.

Mesmerising place, we spent several hours exploring, would like to go back and revisit and find some new places.

Coyote Butte South.

Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona

#nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #familytime #coyotebuttes #vermillioncliffs #blm
#utah #hikeutah #sandstone #exploreeverything #nature #earthexperience #earthfocus #public #arizona #hikearizona
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