We had planned for a long, strenuous day of hiking because - 1) the forecast was for a sunny day with temperatures in the low 70's; 2) we are moving on to Radium Hot Springs on Friday and there will be laundry to do on Thursday; and, 3) we will soon be heading for Coeur d'Alene to fly to Cincinnati for nephew Michael's wedding on the 29th and we plan to visit with family and won't be doing much hiking. Plus, we're not too sure what the hikes in Cincinnati are like.
We got up before 6 am in hopes of driving to Lake Louise (~40 miles) and being on the trail by 9:30 am. However, we got held up at the campground, changing sites, and it was closer to 11:30 am before we were walking around Lake Louise toward our first stop at the Plain of six Glaciers Overlook. We got back to the car at 7 pm after hiking 13+ miles and climbing 315 floors, according to Fitbit.
We took this picture of the map at Mirror Lake because we travelled most of the hiking trails pictured here - the dot-dash lines. The trail along the right side of Lake Louise took us up to the Plain of Six Glaciers Viewpoint; coming back down we took the Highline Trail at the junction in the upper left corner, the 0.9, 0.7, 1.3 and finally the 0.3 to the viewpoint (viewpoint on Big Beehive in shown as a half circle with spokes). Then it was down the zig-zag trail, around the end of Lake Agnes and down the right side of Lake Agnes, down the survey lines to Mirror Lake (and the red "You are Here" notation) and back down to the Lake Louise parking lot. (Actually we had to park on the street because both parking lots were jammed full.)
Trail up to the Plain of Six Glaciers Viewpoint
View of Victoria Glacier from the end of Lake Louise.
View across the end of Lake Louise to the Big Beehive, the rounded bump just about in the center of the picture.
View of The Mitre (named for its resemblance to a bishop's hat) at the north end of LL, just before we headed into the valley.
The Mitre, Mount Victoria and Victoria Glacier from the trail.
Lake Louise from the Victoria Glacier Overlook. (zoom lens)
The Death Trap Glacier with run-off waterfalls on the right.
The Death Trap Glacier and Victoria Glacier to the upper right.
Fairview Mountain
Avalanche slopes and glacial moraines from the Viewpoint.
Lunch on a lateral moraine across from The Death Trap and Victoria Glaciers. Climbing on a lateral, where there is no trail, is a little like walking up-hill on ball-bearings. Coming down is even more fun.
Right behind us at lunch, and marking the end of our climb up the moraine, a waterfall coming off Collier Peak.
On the way down, Frederick stopped on the crest of the moraine that took us to the ball-bearing hill and the waterfall. That's Lake Louise and the Chateau in the background.
Trail back to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse
There's the Teahouse, nestled in the trees at center left. Lake Louise with ski runs in the background.
When we were about a mile from our lunch spot, we hear a boom and turned back to see the results of ice calving off Victoria Glacier. Then within five minutes there was another boom and another calving.
With the telephoto lens I was able to get a picture of where the ice came off Victoria Glacier. In the lunch picture above, this spot is just above Frederick's head.
Victoria Glacier from the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse.
Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse - the ultimate destination for many hikers.
Highline Trail to Big Beehive
Although it was not an easy hike, up switchbacks to an elevation of 7,448 feet, once we arrived at the shelter atop Big Beehive, we had stunning views of Lake Louise, Mirror Lake and Lake Agnes, as well as the surrounding peaks.
Mirror Lake, on the trail from Lake Louise up to the Teahouse at Lake Agnes. Peter & Vian and Kathryn & Jacob climbed this trail and stopped at this lake along the way.
Mirror Lake from Big Beehive, taken with the telephoto lens. Jacob may remember that this is where his knee got scraped.
Little Beehive, the only objective that we had to abandon because it was getting late. We will save it for another hike. In the distance you can see the beginning of the peaks of the Columbia Icefield.
Lake Louise from Big Beehive.
Lake Louise and Mirror Lake
Lake Agnes and Mount Niblock (right) and Mount Whyte (left).
The Mitre, Mount Victoria and Victoria Glacier from Big Beehive.
Trail from Big Beehive to Lake Agnes and Lake Louise
Beautiful Lake Agnes from the trail off Big Beehive.
Looking northeast down Lake Agnes from the west end of the lake.
As we approached the Lake Agnes Teahouse on the northeast end of the lake we could see, and hear, a lot of excitement from a group of people standing very close to the spot where we ate our lunch with Kathryn and Jacob. Yes! it was another wedding!!
The bride and groom in an unforgettable spot.
Lake Agnes Teahouse. It was almost 6 o'clock, but folks were still enjoying tea and views of the wedding - and of Lake Agnes.
Waterfall at the out-flow of Lake Agnes. Every other time we have been here there have been hordes of people. It was nice to have a quiet moment to ourselves.
The Mitre, on the right, from the trail from Lake Agnes.
Big Beehive from Mirror Lake.
Little guy enjoying his dinner with a view of Mirror Lake.
The far end of Lake Louise from the turn on the last switch-back of
the Lake Agnes Trail.
Beautiful Lake Louise. Now there only remains the walk down the Lake to our parking spot.
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