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Peace River, AB
Canada
146 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 5:42 PM
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This past long weekend saw me on my way to Fortress Lake for the first backpacking trip of the summer. I biked the first 15km to the suspension bridge to make the trip a little more interesting and faster. As it was my first trip biking with an overnight pack it took some getting used to the weight - but was much more enjoyable to hiking that distance. I was on my way at 8:30am Saturday morning and stashed my bike at 11:00am, making it the last 9km to the lake by 1:30pm.
The trail does spend a lot of time in the forest, but there are ample views along the way and some big majestic peaks in this valley. Big Bend was beautiful in the morning:
   
Here are some shots from along the Athabasca and the small lake at Athabasca Crossing campground:
     
The ford across the Chaba was a little over my knees during both crossings, but the nights preceding my trip had seen pretty cold temperatures. On Saturday afternoon I was surprised to find the water a reasonable temperature, but on Sunday morning I couldn't run across fast enough!
There are yellow markers where the trail leaves the river flats on both sides - they are diagonally across and several hundred metres along the river from each other. Here are some photos from the Chaba valley at the crossing:
    
The trail is easy to follow past the Chaba this time of year, but could be under some water during a wetter season. Before arriving at Fortress Lake, the trail crosses into British Columbia as marked by a national parks sign and a cutline along the boundary. A short distance North of the trail is a concrete survey monument placed to mark the boundary.
  
The East End campsite is a nice spot with 5 new tent pads, a large table, firepit with half-grate, outhouse and bear pole. It was a little windy Saturday afternoon and the site is somewhat exposed to winds from the West.
      
On Sunday morning I decided to pack up and return as I had started to develop some sinus problems. My original plan was to explore up Fortress Creek to see about scrambling the peak, which will have to wait for another trip. The return took 4.5 hours with fewer photo stops and a quick crossing of the Chaba. The trail gains 100m elevation in the last 6km from Big Bend to Sunwapta Falls - biking this last section definitely felt like the hardest part of the trip! |
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Not too far from Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
224 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 5:46 PM
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Wow - gorgeous pictures!! Thank you for sharing  |
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 5:48 PM
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so jealous.
i've been meaning to do this one for a couple of years now, but each time i visit the rockies i end up doing a different one.
i think hearing about the Chaba River ford always puts me off. how was it? |
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Penhold, Alberta
Canada
2009 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 5:49 PM
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| Thanks for posting Ian. This trip is on the list for next summer for me as well. |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1029 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 7:16 PM
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| Beautiful pictures Ian. Fortress Lake is such a beautiful spot. I'm glad that you had great weather |
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Peace River, AB
Canada
146 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 9:02 PM
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Thanks for the comments. The weather certainly made it a great trip.
terria - The Chaba ford was no problem at all, but I think that completely depends on the time of year and conditions. I used hiking poles and the current never felt like it would put me off balance with my heavy pack. The few nights before I went were sub-zero so the Chaba icefield would not have been melting as rapidly. In these past few days I suspect the water would have risen slightly with warmer temperatures but would still not be an issue to make the ford. The water and current would be highest after heavy rain or during the main snow-melt in June/July and I suspect that the ford would be more demanding. However, the owner of the fishing lodge down the lake stopped there Saturday afternoon and said there were close to 30 people camped at the lake during the July long weekend.
I was surprised to be the only person camped at the lake this weekend, besides a few people picked up by boat going to the fishing lodge and a group camped at Athabasca crossing day-hiking towards the lake. |
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Calgary, AB
Canada
101 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 9:16 PM
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| Re the fishing lodge, do clients fly in to that? If so, from where? |
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46 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 9:38 PM
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I have never been to Fortress Lake, but newly inspired by your pictures, I think I should
go.
I spent an overnighter at Big Bend a couple of weeks ago to introduce a friend to backpacking. We had wonderful weather and we were the only people there that night as well.
This is such an easy hike and a beautiful Campground.           
We had a moose swim across the river while we had our morning coffee and the sky the night before was amazing. I told my friend that she was my good luck hiking charm and she'd have to do more trips with me.
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
606 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 9:54 PM
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| Moose photos are outstanding |
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 11:31 PM
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cool, that's interesting to hear.
i'd always thought it was one that absolutely had to be saved until mid/late August, September. i'll probably still do that when i do get up there, anyway. better chances of an easy ford means better chances of spending a night at Fortress Lake. gotta make it count, Jasper isn't just a short drive away for me, anymore. |
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Peace River, AB
Canada
146 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2011 : 06:00 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by VicB
Re the fishing lodge, do clients fly in to that? If so, from where?
Yes, it is a fly-in lodge, planes land further down the West end of Fortress Lake. The website says flights are from Hinton. Hiking or biking from Sunwapta Falls to the East End is another option, with the owner coming by motor boat to pick them up at a pre-arranged time. |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
838 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2011 : 08:59 AM
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| It's a beautiful area. Thanks for the TR. It's on my wish list. I was only discouraged by reports that most of the trip is a viewless plod through the forest. I guess cycling solves this problem. |
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877 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2011 : 10:12 AM
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Nice pictures, I'd like to do this one next spring. Was the campground quiet?
We hiked out of the Tonquin with a nice couple from Peace River last weekend. Seems like Jasper was the destination of choice on a sunny long weekend... |
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Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
13 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2011 : 01:07 AM
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| You know once I wrote to Parks Canada asking if they would ever build a bridge over the Chaba River so people wouldn't have to ford it. Of course I knew that I couldn't make a difference, but, never the less, I wanted to see what they would say. They said that because the Chaba river flows in many different places throughout the year that they would have to build a ver VERY long bridge! The guy wrote to me and said that it would cost over a million dollars. This fortress lake is in a small bc provincial park right across the bc/alberta border right? I told him that this was the only way people could see it, by taking this trail...........oh well. Maybe it's best that a bridge was never built. I just wanted to see what he would say. |
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Peace River, AB
Canada
146 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2011 : 11:27 AM
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The campground was very quiet as I was the only occupant. There is only one table and firepit with 5 nearby tent pads, so if there were multiple parties at the site it would be close quarters. The other problem is that this is in Hamber with no registration or permits required, making it difficult to get an idea of numbers going in.
As for a bridge, that would for sure need to be long and sturdy to survive the peak water levels seen during the year. The crossing is on gravel flats several hundred metres across. The ford makes the trip more memorable and probably keeps numbers down at the lake. |
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Salmon Arm, BC
Canada
894 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2011 : 10:19 AM
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| Wow, some really awesome pics, Ian, and very good TR. Thanks for posting! |
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Fortress Lake - Sept. 3/4, 2011
