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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 8:18 PM
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| Yes, I know this should technically be posted under BC, but it seems that most people heading to the Lake O'Hara area are from the Alberta side. I always find that the Parks Canada trails reports are very conservative, so am wondering if anyone's been up in the last week or so and what's actuallty doable. Photos would help. I'm staying one night, so have two days of hiking. Wondering if I might be able to get to Schaeffer without too too much snow. |
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1078 Posts |
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972 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 10:57 PM
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| check acmg.ca under mountain condition reports,they just posted something today with photos |
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 01:38 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by nmcan84
check acmg.ca under mountain condition reports,they just posted something today with photos
Good call. |
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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 6:56 PM
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| Great suggestion to check the ACMG site! I also just found out that a friend of mine was up there this past weekend. They went up to Wiwaxy, Lake Oesa was doable, but still snow along Yukness Ledges. I'll post some photos as well when I'm back in a few days. |
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Calgary, AB
Canada
33 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 3:27 PM
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| I wouldn't be as concerned about snow on the trails as I would be about what's overhead. Still lots of snow up high. The recent MCR report talks about that as well |
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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2012 : 8:33 PM
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Well, I had an amazing weekend up in the Lake O'Hara area. Still lots of snow, but mostly pertaining to the larger objectives. The trail report listed winter conditions/avalanche conern for the trail to McArthur Lake, which I felt was being ultra-conservative once again. Not once did I feel any threat from above on that trail, though I had a little bit of post-holing just before the lake. I'm actually convinced that they put that in the trail reports to keep 'crowds' out until the trail's dried out (to prevent trail braiding).
Everything down by the lodge, Elizabeth Parker, and campground is totally clear of snow. Heading up to Lake Oesa was great too, though did have a few minor snow patches just below the lake there. The route up to Abbot Pass still looks iffy. Lots of debris that has slid down into the lake. Last year I went up in the middle of August and it had just almost cleared of snow. This year seems a couple of weeks behind up there.
And some photos:
Elizabeth Parker Hut
        
Schaeffer Lake to McArthur Lake
   
Lake O'Hara
  
Lake Oesa, falls below the Lake, and Lake Lefroy
      
P.S. - The only downside to this trip was the group of four that brought speakers for their iPods and started blasting music at the hut. They were bored in the evening because there was no place to go (um, a bar perhaps?), so hopefully they'll stay away from these places. I guess that's the downside when a bus takes you to an area like this. |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2012 : 09:34 AM
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| So trail conditions would be okay for Iceline as well? Similar elevations and just down the road. I have two groups booked there in the next couple of weeks. |
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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2012 : 7:42 PM
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| Not sure about Iceline as I really don't find the Parks Canada reports accurate. When are you heading up there? I'm going to Stanley Mitchell Hut on July 20th and do expect it to be perfectly hikeable then. |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2012 : 07:54 AM
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| Thanks, Barbara. I have one group going this weekend, and I'm going on the 20th with a second group. |
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Calgary, AB
52 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2012 : 8:02 PM
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Barbara:
Great pics. I think my Dad and I may have been at the hut the same time as you. Were you the one that recommended the Lake McArthur trail to us for our second day?
If that was you, thanks, we really enjoyed it, and it's nice to bump into a fellow CT'er, even though I didn't know it at the time.
BTW, agreed, the group with the ipod speakers were a bit annoying, especially when they seemed to keep getting louder as more people went to bed, but I've had a lot worse, especially at the Wapta huts.
I've posted a separate TR here:
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=51118 |
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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
13458 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2012 : 8:23 PM
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Glorious photos Barbara. these belon in a trip report just like Sauerboarder did.
K |
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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2012 : 5:57 PM
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Sauerboarder - Yes, looks like we were at the hut the same night. That's actually cool that you posted your photos, because I think it was you that said reflections were great at the pond. By that time I was thinking damn, I hauled my tripod up there, but the sleeping bag was just too comfy at the time :-).
No time for a full trip report as I'm off to Stanley Mitchell in the morning and scrambling to pack for West Coast Trail. |
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Topic |
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Has anyone been up to Lake O'Hara recently?
