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Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
253 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 1:19 PM
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I know this report is a bit tardy, but I figure better late than never!
Itching to get out and hike after a long snowy winter, we did an early season backpack to Glacier Lake in Banff National Park over the Victoria Day Weekend. Actually, the winter wasn't over yet, and had we decided differently, we could have skied Sunshine Village that weekend, as all the lifts were still open after a record-snowfall year.
Being at a fairly low elevation and east of the divide, Glacier Lake and the area around the Saskatchewan Crossing typically dries out sooner than anything else along the main ranges. We had previously backpacked to Glacier Lake two or three years prior over the Victoria Day weekend. We wanted to get out to stretch our legs, and to see if we remembered how to set up the tent and cook food over the stove.
The trailhead for Glacier Lake is located on Highway 93, the Icefields Parkway, about 1 kilometre north of the Highway 11 Junction. From Edmonton, its about a 4 hour 400km drive.
The hike in is about 9km with an elevation gain and loss of about 250m. Even with the drive in from Edmonton and about three hours hiking, we had set up our tent by mid-afternoon. The trailhead is at about 1450m elevation, and the trail was bone-dry up to about 1550m. However, around 1600m and above, there was still significant snow on the trail. Due to the heavy snowfall last winter, that’s not surprising. However, the previous time we did this trail (on the same weekend in May), there wasn’t even a small patch of snow on the trail. Even more interesting, though, was that there was still ice on Glacier Lake!
There is a campfire ring provided, but no firewood. I think it’s been like this for a long time, as there is very little deadfall nearby that you could use for fuel. It wasn’t a big deal for us, as we rarely make fires (it just takes too much time), but there was a group of newbie backpackers who relied on the campfire to cook. It would be nice if the National Park would fly in a load of firewood once in a while like Kananaskis does, but it seems like Glacier Lake is sort of the forgotten area of Banff – too far away from all the tourism dollars.
On Sunday, we set out to hike around the lake and along the Glacier River. Glacier Lake is about 4.5km long (east to west) and the trail follows along the north shore. It must have been an interesting winter, as there were a few places where avalanches had recently moved vast amounts of vegetation. In a couple places, we abandoned the trail and walked along the lakeshore, as it was not practical to scramble over all the deadfall. The trail continues west past the lake for about another kilometre. After that, sporadic flagging put the trail onto a flooded river flat/swamp. We tried to follow some semblance of trail for another 500m, but only ended up at multiple braided creek crossings. We wanted to reach the end of the valley to see the Southeast Lyell Glacier up close, but it wasn't going to happen that day. We sat down to have some lunch and enjoy being in the mountains in May. We turned around and made our way back to the Glacier Lake Campground.
Monday, our final day, we packed up and made our way out to the trailhead.
Weather over the weekend was partly sunny, with temperatures ranging from just above freezing overnight to daytime highs of 10-15 degrees. It only rained briefly one evening – a good start to the season!
The Glacier Lake trail isn’t the most scenic, and I wouldn’t do a dayhike just to the lake because most of the trail is in the trees. However, the lakeshore trail and beyond provides ample opportunity to gaze upon several 3000m+ mountains. We probably wouldn’t go here mid-summer, as there are many other more scenic places. However, it is a great place to visit in the spring when you need to get out and take in the pristine mountain air.
www.shawnbenbow.ca/glacierlake/
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Campbell River, BC
Canada
761 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 3:12 PM
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| Nice report. The photos looks more like it's taken during summer than in May. I hiked part of the trail several years ago but never made it there. |
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ABBOTSFORD, BC
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 3:17 PM
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Great pictures Shawn.It seems you are experienced in the Banff area. You mention it wouldn't be your preferred hike just to the lake.I gotta tell you your pictures could fool me. My question is I'm traveling through Banff at the end of the month and on my return I'm interested in getting in a hike with my family. We are all hikers and my youngest is 6. I'd be interested in your opinion in my best choose for say 4 hrs or under. Thanks for your insight and time.
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Armstrong, B.C.
128 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2012 : 06:06 AM
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| Thanks for the report. It looks like a beautiful early season hike, something we are always searching for when spring arrives! |
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 Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13453 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2012 : 06:56 AM
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Stunning beautiful photos, great shots of the lake.
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2012 : 4:28 PM
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Looks pretty damn sweet for May. Wish I was there right now!
Great pictures. The color really came out well in them. |
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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3505 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2012 : 4:39 PM
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| I haven't been there for a few years, but last time I was I was disappointed in Banff's upkeep of the camping area. The outhouses were in sad shape, indeed. |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 2:01 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by johngenx
I haven't been there for a few years, but last time I was I was disappointed in Banff's upkeep of the camping area. The outhouses were in sad shape, indeed.
Glacier Lake is booked through the Lake Louise office, but they have other priorities, obviously. At least the bear poles are in good shape!
I've done Glacier Lake in summer a couple of times, as both a dayhike and an easy overnight backpack, but it's at its best as a shoulder season trip. Have to watch for those frigid breezes coming down off the glacier, though. |
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Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
253 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2012 : 3:41 PM
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Thanks for the comments everyone!
I agree with johngenx and peter1955 that the upkeep leaves something to be desired. The outhouses are usable and didn't smell too bad (though much was probably still frozen in May), and I recall now that the seat wasn't attached to the bench. There's a picnic table that's falling apart, which I notified the park about, and there's a complete lack of firewood.
If Banff is going to allow fires at Glacier Lake, they should fly in a load of wood once in a while, like Kananaskis does for its campgrounds that have fire pits.
I think the biggest thing about Glacier Lake is that it doesn't cater to the masses. Its too far away from the revenue-generating Banff and Lake Louise townsites, so it doesn't get the same attention as other places get.
That being said, it's a great place to go in May when there's snow everywhere else! |
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Glacier Lake May 2012
