We set out on the Sunday of the Labour Day weekend for the trail hike with Kerry, Lynne, Kaney, Lexi, Nikki and two of their friends for a day's hike at Lake Louise.
The destination was to hike to The Plain Of Six Glaciers Tea House.
The original tea house was built in 1924 by Swiss guides employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was a rest stop for mountain climbers en route to Abbots Pass. The name Plain of Six Glaciers comes from the hanging glaciers of Mount Aberdeen, Lefroy and Victoria, as well as the Lower Victoria and Lefroy glaciers and the hanging glacier on Popes Peak.
The place was packed with thousands of hikers, wandering tourists and dogs. Heading for a very full Lake Louise village public parking. There were along so many vying for a close parking space.
We found a parking spot, a good walk to the trial head in front of the Fairmont Lake Louise Chateau We put on our hiking shoes and gear and set out following the shoreline trail to the back of the lake where it connects up with the Plain Of Six Glaciers Trail.
The whole distance was to the Tea House 5.5km’s one way (3.4 miles); Time: 2 hours one way; Elevation Gain: 370 meters (1215 ft); Maximum Elevation: 2100 meters (6890 ft).
There was a wedding photo shoot taking place in front of the hotel at the waters edge. The bride and groom looked on as the male contingent of their wedding party hiked into the cold waters.
From the valley ridge you can look back at Lake Louise and the Fairmont Chateau.
We started our climb higher and higher towards the tea house meeting people on horse back and many others returning from the top. The people coming downhill tend to forget how much quicker they are covering ground compared to the hikers going uphill. It was a quiet procession of tired-looking walkers, dressed in less than proper gear, and enthusiastic hikers smiling. Some people told us “You’re almost there!”, but we didn't believe them.
The temperature was in the 30ºs and the sky was clears, making for a very hot walk. We had already consumed three bottles of water.
We only walked to the beginning of the switchbacks. From here the trail climbs, we understood , through the forest and up to an alpine grove and finally the tea house.
The others in our hiking party, who we hadn't see in two hours, made it to the tea house. We were told the view is specular and the refreshments are of a high price. Everything is prepared on site and cooked with propane stoves.
At the beginning of the season a helicopter makes a trip in to stock the tea house with supplies such as flour and sugar. Additional goods are brought up by horses or packed in by the employees each week. The staff work five day shifts and hike in on the same trail as the tourists. They sleep in cabins surrounding the tea house.
We stopped to see some experienced mountain climbers and the wild-life.
In the end we walked a 10 km round trip and were pleased that we accomplished that.
So until next time, don't forget to “Discover It and Live It”.
The place was packed with thousands of hikers, wandering tourists and dogs. Heading for a very full Lake Louise village public parking. There were along so many vying for a close parking space.
We found a parking spot, a good walk to the trial head in front of the Fairmont Lake Louise Chateau We put on our hiking shoes and gear and set out following the shoreline trail to the back of the lake where it connects up with the Plain Of Six Glaciers Trail.
The whole distance was to the Tea House 5.5km’s one way (3.4 miles); Time: 2 hours one way; Elevation Gain: 370 meters (1215 ft); Maximum Elevation: 2100 meters (6890 ft).
There was a wedding photo shoot taking place in front of the hotel at the waters edge. The bride and groom looked on as the male contingent of their wedding party hiked into the cold waters.
From the valley ridge you can look back at Lake Louise and the Fairmont Chateau.
We started our climb higher and higher towards the tea house meeting people on horse back and many others returning from the top. The people coming downhill tend to forget how much quicker they are covering ground compared to the hikers going uphill. It was a quiet procession of tired-looking walkers, dressed in less than proper gear, and enthusiastic hikers smiling. Some people told us “You’re almost there!”, but we didn't believe them.
The temperature was in the 30ºs and the sky was clears, making for a very hot walk. We had already consumed three bottles of water.
We only walked to the beginning of the switchbacks. From here the trail climbs, we understood , through the forest and up to an alpine grove and finally the tea house.
The others in our hiking party, who we hadn't see in two hours, made it to the tea house. We were told the view is specular and the refreshments are of a high price. Everything is prepared on site and cooked with propane stoves.
At the beginning of the season a helicopter makes a trip in to stock the tea house with supplies such as flour and sugar. Additional goods are brought up by horses or packed in by the employees each week. The staff work five day shifts and hike in on the same trail as the tourists. They sleep in cabins surrounding the tea house.
We stopped to see some experienced mountain climbers and the wild-life.
In the end we walked a 10 km round trip and were pleased that we accomplished that.
So until next time, don't forget to “Discover It and Live It”.
It truly was a wonderful day even if we did feel the walk afterwards.
ReplyDelete