WudEyeDoo

My wife and I are mid 50's, in decent shape and our 19 year-old son is very fit. We like to be active but not to over do it. Regarding hiking: We definitely want to do this but I'm a bit concerned about our somewhat creaky knees. Maybe a couple of 3 hour hikes with elevation gain in the 400 meter area and then other shorter hikes.

We only have 7 full days to explore and 2 travel days. We want to do the "must see's" and the "must do's" but not be wiped out at the end of each day. We want to be able to relax enough to enjoy our "home base" in both Jasper and Lake Louise.
With much help from Judy in Calgary and so many other other helpful posters, here is our itinerary:

July 27: Arrive Calgary by plane at 11:00 A.M. Rent car. Stop at a Wal Mart somewhere and get supplies, groceries, etc. We are going to drive straight through to Jasper and will be staying 4 nights at Patricia Lake Bungalows in the Groves section.

July 28: Drive Maligne Lake Road. See Fairmont Lodge. Is this worth going to? Go to Maligne Canyon. Drive to Maligne Lake. Any recommended short hikes in M. Canyon or M. Lake? Should we do the cruise or just hike?

July 29: Take the Jasper Tramway up to Whistlers and do the hike to the top. Drive to Mount Edith Cavell and do the Angel Glacier/Cavell Meadows hike. Will these 2 hikes be too ambitious for us mid 50's folk?

July 30: I'm looking for suggestions here. The Miette Hot Springs sounds OK but not compelling. What do you think? Other ideas?

July 31: We plan to spend the day driving and exploring the Icefield Parkway on our way to Lake Louise. We plan to stop at Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, and see Peyto Lake Lookout. Should we see Mistaya Canyon? Where is it vs. these other stops? How long of a hike is it? At Columbia Icefields we would like to do the snocoach on Athabasca Glacier. Will we have time? Is there usually a long wait to do this? We will be staying at Paradise Lodge Bungalows for 4 nights.

Aug. 1: Drive to Morraine Lake in the morning. Drive to Lake Louise. Check out Fairmont Chateau. Hike to Lake Agnes Teahouse. Will this typically be a full day? If not, other suggestions?

Aug. 2: Yoho. Whitewater rafting on Kicking Horse River with Wild Water Adventures in the morning. Any feedback regarding W.W.A.? Should we have this reserved in advance or could we just walk up? After that, see Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls. Any recommended short hikes? Is this too much for one day?

Aug. 3: See the town of Banff. Go to Johnston Canyon, walk to the lower falls. Other ideas?

Aug. 4: Go home.

I sure would appreciate your feedback and we are so excited about visiting Canada and our friendly neighbors to the North!
Bob

brookwood

Nice plan, but what if it rains? It does and that spoils carefully laid plans, as Robert Burns so aptly put it.

I think you will want to stop a time or two on the way to Jasper. I suggest seeing Peyto Lake going up because it will be late afternoon and hopefully the tour bus brigade will have moved on to other pastures.

The Icefields Center where you take the ice buggy onto the glacier is another possible pit stop. That way you can stop at one of the few decent places after you leave The Crossing, and scout out the area for your return.

I don't know how long you can expect to wait because it has been years since I took the ride.

As for the points you list as prime attractions on the Icefields Parkway, my answer to all is YES.

The boat ride at Maligne Lake is one of my pet aversions. I think the view of the lake is gorgeous; the boat ride is not really worth the cost.

There are some good short hikes along that route, but do the canyon well. It is most unusual.

You can do what you want at the Whistler in terms of length. Because Edith Cavell is so much more of an experience I suggest doing it first. For one thing, the morning sun, if the sun is out, will be on the glacier and you should be able to get photographs that have frontal lighting.

The only thing I see missing from your plans is a visit to Mt. Robson. If the day is clear, I recommend it. You could do that on your Miette Hot Springs day. You could also do Athabasca Falls that day rather than the day you do your return trip along the Icefields Parkway.

I suggest that your fit son do the Beehives at Lake Louise. Good exercise.

He could also do the full Cavell Meadows hike while you content yourselves with a walk up high enough to see the surface of what is left of the Angel Glacier.

One short hike you did not mention is the one from the parking lot on Sunwapta Pass to Panther Falls. It is the highest waterfall in Banff, but finding it a little tricky. The trail leaves from the low end of the parking lot and curls down a winding, sometimes steep trail to a viewpoint of the falls.

I suggest full rain gear for that hike. One beautiful sunny day my wife and I went down to see the water. We left the parking lot clad in full rain gear, Goretex jackets with hoods, rain pants, etc. There was some joker seated on the hood of his car observing the world as it went by. When he saw us, we could tell he thought we were a little strange.
About 40 minutes later we came back in a very wet condition. We had gotten as close to the falls as we dared and got the full brunt of the spray from the falls. Water was still dripping from our rain jackets when we returned. The same guy was still sitting on the hood of his car. When he saw us return still dripping he really did do a double take. My helpful wife walked by and said, "We went for a swim."

WudEyeDoo

Brookwood,

Thanks for your suggestions. I like the idea of doing Edith Cavell in the morning and then if we have enough energy left, we could tackle Whistler.

Regarding Mt. Robson, I have not looked into that yet. Is there anything specific you recommend?

Tasha440

We enjoyed Maligne Canyon, and I would recommend a stop there. We started from the parking lot at the 5th bridge and worked our way to the top. I would say it took about an hour to get to the top of the trail from this bridge.

After seeing Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake and Bow Lake, I didn't find Maligne Lake to be that impressive. It was a big lake, but the colors just were not as beautiful as the other lakes we had seen prior. We did not do the boat ride, so I can't comment on that.

We wanted to do the Cavell Meadows hike, however, it was still closed. The ranger I spoke with said there was still over a meter of snow on many parts of the trail. Hopefully, it will be open by the time you get there. We did the Path of the Glacier trail to see the Angel Glacier, which was worth the trip. At the bottom of the trail, you arrive at the lake area with icebergs floating all around. There were also huge icebergs just stacked up all along the rocks near the lake. You get a close up view of Angel Glacier on this trail.

If I remember correctly, Mistaya Canyon is after Peyto Lake if you are headed north. We really like canyons, so we also enjoyed our time here. It was only about a 30-40 minute round trip hike. It is not a huge canyon as compared to Johnston or Maligne, but it was well worth the time.

We chose the Plain of Six Glaciers trail at Lake Louise, which is similar in difficulty to the Lake Agnes hike. It took us about 5 hours (round trip) for this trail. The Lake Agnes trail is 8 km (return), while the Plain of Six Glaciers is 11 km (return). Either of these would make a nice half day hike. I would say that this hike, combined with your other suggestions for the day would be fine. We did too much on the day of our hike, and felt it the next day!

Hope that helps.

WudEyeDoo

Tasha440,

Great info. I wonder if those icebergs will still be there in a couple more weeks. Mistaya sounds like a good detour. Just curious, do you drive right to Peyto Lake or is that a hike also?

bob_brown

Mount Robson is west of Jasper on the main highway. As I recall it is named the Yellowhead Highway, but that needs confirmation. At any rate, it is the only main road west.

There is a parking area and a small visitor center. The trail I walked was the one that went as far as Kinney Lake, where there is a camping area. Berg Lake is the ultimate destination, but it is too far for a day's outing.

From Kinney Lake you have a good view of the summit, which is about 8,000 feet directly overhead. It is quite a view in my opinion. If the day is clear you can get a good look from the area around the visitor center, but to get the full, dramatic impact of the towering monumentality of the summit, I think you need to get a little closer than the parking lot.

However, if the day is not clear, I am not sure if you will derive the full benefit. Usually Mt. Robson has its head stuck in a cloud or two, but if the day is mostly sunny, I think it is worth a drive out there.

If your son is interested, my favorite hike of all in North America is the Whaleback in Yoho. It is long, but the reward is incredible.

From the parking lot area for the Takkakaw Falls camping area walk the trail to Twin Falls, which is about 5 miles. The Falls themselves are worth it.

Then from the north end of the chalet, take the trail that ascends the side of the valley. Ascend to the ledge on the side of the valley and follow the trail over the bridge that spans Twins Falls Creek, switchback through the woods, and emerge on the Whaleback. The way then is open for full panoramic viewing of the whole Yoho Valley.

At the high point of the trail there is a monument to a person named Jean Sharp. From there the hiker can get a wonderful view of the President Range to the southwest, the mountains around Lake Louise due south, Mount de Poilus, with its field of snow and ice, rises behind and across the valley there are marvellous views of the peaks and valleys of the eastern side.

From the high point you descend rapidly to the Little Yoho creek and follow it down stream to Laughing Falls where it rejoins the main valley trail back to the parking lot.

One has to be in good condition and walk fairly fast to do that one, but I have seen youngsters one third my age knock it off at a prodigious pace.

I also think a very nice walk is from Moraine Lake to Consolation Lake. Not a blockbuster, but pleasant.

Tasha440

To reach the viewing platforms at Peyto Lake, you have an uphill "walk" on a paved trail that will take about 10 minutes. It's not difficult, but you may want to stop and pretend you are reading the signs about the birds to catch your breath if you need to...

WudEyeDoo

Thanks Bob and Tasha. This forum has been so helpful and informative.

fae

To Tasha440:

Question concerning Cavell Meadows hike and the Path of the Glacier trail - I know you had to do the latter because the first was not open -but since we will be there in August when both should be open - is there a recommendation on which to do? Do you see what you saw on Path of the Glacier form the Cavell Meadows hike also? Thanks for clarifying.

Also, would you recommend Plain of Sic Glaciers hike or Lake Agnes Trail at LL?

To WudEyeDoo:

Reviewing your post as we have very similar destination and time frame. We will drive in Calgary airport and stay in Canmore the first night as we have an afternoon arrival at the airport from DFW. Next three nights at Patricia Lake and then next two at Paradise and then next two at Johnston Canyon although we don't plan to get over to Johnston Canyon until after dinner on our first night there. We be there Aug. 6 -14.

WudEyeDoo

Hello Fae,

That is a surprising coincidence, staying at the exact same 2 places. I have noted one of your threads...the one about places to eat and made a copy to take along.

I hope your family has a great trip.

Tasha440

fae,
If you have the time, I would probably do both hikes, as the Path of the Glacier is short. The two trails appear to be very different, and from what I could tell on our trail map, you would only see Angel Glacier at a distance if on the Cavell Meadows trail. However, I am not sure of that as I was unable to hike the trail. If I recall correctly, they both start at the same point, so you could decide when you get there what you think you'd like to do.

I have never been on the Lake Agnes trail at Lake Louise, so I can't compare the two trails. However, I can certainly recommend the Plain of Six Glaciers, especially because of the variety of sights we saw and the very different terrain. People seem to enjoy both of these hikes. I am sure you would likely enjoy either trail.

bob_brown

You don't have to do the full Cavell Meadows trail to get most of the benefit. Just get up high enough to see the surface of the glacier.

In August, if all the snow is not gone, you may be able to catch a few ice showers. You will hear a loud crack and, if close enough,the sound of falling ice.

Water finally melts through an ice dam on the side of the mountain and the whole accumulation lets go with a crack and then a roar.

If the fall is large enough, you may see the plume. By the time the sound reaches you, the ice may be well down the mountain. But here is hoping you will get lucky and see one high on the side of the mountain and be able to trace the fall all the way to the bottom.

I know in the Alps, I have seen huge cascades that were a slurry of ice, water, rock and mud racing down the mountain side and surging out onto the flat in a runout zone.

By the way, don't worry too much about splitting hairs over where you go. Just pick a destination because you are in the treasure vault. Nothing you grab will be a poor choice!!

Just go and have fun and enjoy.
Yes, Peyto Lake is a tour bus magnet. People go there by the hundreds.

As you view the lake, a trail extends to your left. Walk up it and get away from the mobs. Above the lake at Peyto Meadows there is a marvellous view spot where you can look both north and south for a good long distance. Fun visit.
Hope you have time to do it.

One thing about the energy expended in hiking. When I was employed full time I would go to Canada to get away from the stress of my job. I would arrive feeling tired. One good hike and I was energized. I would feel physically tired, but the mental aspects of my being were soaring.

Go ahead and get a little trail tired. I bet you will find that you are shedding tension and gloomy feelings every inch of the way. There is a big difference between tension induced fatigue,that feeling of burnout, and the feeling of being physically tired because you expended a little more energy than usual to see something grand and glorious.

And grand and glorious is the specialty of the Canadian Rockies.