Round-Trip Distance: 21.6 km for the complete Iceline loop (13.5 miles)
Time Needed: Iceline: 7 - 8 hours
Elevation Gain: 750 m (2500 feet)
Level: Strenuous
"The Iceline is Yoho's most popular longer day hike. This hike has wonderful scenery in a landscape covered by glaciers as recently as 100 years ago. It is a must for every fit hiker visiting Yoho. The Iceline is a magnificent hike, but also long and quite arduous with a total distance of 21 km and 700 meters of elevation gain to the summit. From the summit you will experience some beautiful views of a major part of the amazing Yoho Valley including Emerald Glacier."
And, Graeme Pole (author of, Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies, another favorite of ours) describes Iceline-
"Constructed in 1987, the Iceline quickly became perhaps the premier day-hike in the Rockies. Scratched from glacial rubble, the trail follows a sensational line, contouring the edge of Emerald Glacier for 5 km. Spectacular, close-up views of glaciers, and panoramic vistas of the Yoho Valley are your rewards for venturing into this harsh domain. Snow often clogs the trail until early July."
Those are the words of the described Iceline Trail, today we had the experience. We got a very early start, for us, and started the Fitbit GPS at 9:30 am. The trailhead was at Takakkaw Falls.
There is no parking at the trailhead, which is at the Whiskey Jack hostel, so you park at the Takakkaw Falls parking lot and walk 0.6 km to the trailhead. Along the way, on the path to the falls, we found the two red chairs Parks Canada had placed for contemplation. Once again Frederick posed, momentarily, in one of the chairs that was wet with morning dew.
The first part of the trial ascended through an old-growth forest that provided...
fine look-back views of Takakkaw Falls.
Just out of the forest, the trail ascended a rock staircase and we were overtaken by this family from San Diego. The two daughters (Mom was a little ways ahead and didn't want to give up any elevation gain by coming back for a picture) are swimmers. The one on the left likes the breaststroke and the daughter in green is a backstroker.
The father said that we were "inspirational" (not the first time we have heard that) and wanted his picture taken with us. Then he wanted us to have a picture with them. Throughout the rest of the day we took turns passing each other. We would often pass them going up-hill, they would pass us going down. It was nice to have that connection.
Another look-back picture of Takakkaw Falls and you can see the waterfall's source in Daly Glacier. Takakkaw is Cree for "It is magnificent!"
We have now arrived at the recently constructed (1987) Iceline Trail. Glacial moraines with rubble, boulders and rock slabs. Much of this area was covered by glaciers as little as 100-years-ago.
Iceline travels along the base of Emerald Glacier which consists of several cirque glaciers tucked under the east bank of the Vice President Mountain peak.
One of the cirque glaciers that make up Emerald Gracier.
Frederick studying the map at the top of the world.
Look carefully and you can see that the trail passes through a section where hundreds of artful cairns have been erected.
Glacier with run-off.
Up until this point the sun had been shining and the sky was clear. Then, almost out of nowhere, it began to rain and we had to stop to put on rain gear. It only lasted for about 15 minutes, while we ate a snack, and then moved on. However, there is little shelter from poor weather up on the Iceline.
This beautiful little tarn is call "Lake in the Sky" and...
there were many people enjoying it. This was not a trail for solitude, there were lots groups, couples and solo hikers testing their mettle on the trail.
The trail climbs and descends a series of lateral moraines and some have forested meadows at their base.
Between the moraines we crossed areas of recently exposed bedrock, bisected by melt-water streams requiring rock-hopping.
More little lakes created by run-off.
The apex of the trail on the crest of a moraine. We climbed to the top (elevation level of 2215 meters - 7,309.5 feet) for panoramic views.
The trail continues past more lobes of Emerald Glacier and...
more run-off creating...
more lakes.
Isolated Peak on the right.
Meadows
Tarn
Interesting peak "folded" until it looks like a Parker House roll.
At the end of 5 km we began to descend through a meadow and subalpine forest.
Isolated Peak on the right with Glacier Des Poilus between it and Mount McArthur, on the left.
Mount McArthur with Glaier Des Poilus formed into its side.
Close-up of Isolated Peak with glacial run-off from Glacier Des Poilus.
Descending through the forest we reached the Little Yoho River, crossed the bridge, and...
passed by the Stanley Mitchell Hut - where we stopped to eat our lunch. Just as we were finishing and packing up to continue, we were about half way along the trail going downhill, the San Diego family arrived. We said good-bye and that was the last we saw of them.
About 1 km along the trail from the hut I took this picture of another lobe of Emerald Glacier nestled on the north flank of the Vice President Peak.
About 3.5 miles from the end of the trail we arrived at a junction at Laughing Falls. At this point, Iceline Trail becomes the Yoho Valley Trail that we travelled on the day before yesterday.
A mile before the parking lot at Takakkaw Falls we took this picture of the Emerald Glacier and the Iceline Trail at its base - a long way up!
Approaching Takakkaw Falls from the north. Contrast this picture with the first one above which shows the falls from the south.
We were on the trail 7 1/2 hours (including lunch and pictures) and travelled 13.8 miles. We survived!
That's an impressive hike...again.
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