CR2013: Wiwaxy Gap, Huber Ledges, Lake Oesa

For the next day, September 3rd, Joan and I decided to hike up to Wiwaxy Gap. It's not a long climb, but a notoriously steep one, gaining about 500 meters (1600 feet) on the way up to 8300 feet. The trail to Wiwaxy splits off from the Lake O'Hara circuit trail early, before the Lake Oesa trail, when heading clockwise from the cabins. (I also covered this hike, with different photos and level of detail, here last year.)

After leaving the initial switchbacking up the sides of an erosion gully, you soon come to a pair of noble trees. It's a hard life up there, but they've held on. They've seen a lot.

We pay our respects each time we pass by.

Shortly thereafter you reach a ledge that has inspired a million photographs. I'm far from an ideal model, burdened with daypack, binoculars, and bear spray, but I took Joan's photo here last year, so now it's my turn to pose. Darn it.

Wiwaxy Gap is often windblown. Here, behind a windbreak of sorts, Joan is surveying the view, in the away-from-O'Hara direction.

Glacier-draped mountains rise on the far side of the Trans-Canada highway. Through binoculars we can just make out the Paget Lookout.

At 2530 meters (8300 feet) we are high enough, when looking towards All Souls' Prospect, to see the tips of mountain ranges beyond.

We continue by the Huber Ledges alpine route, which gradually descends to Lake Oesa. Shortly after starting out I took this picture looking back to Wiwaxy Gap.

This alpine route has generally good footing. It crosses several diminutive streams flowing down from the heights, complete with small waterfalls. Occasionally you step down from one ledge to the next, which requires attention to your footing. The geology has produced several tumbled rock outflows populated from various, differently colored higher strata.

Lake Oesa and its downstream offspring are clearly visible along much of the ledge. Note the small pond at the back of Lake Oesa, near the top of the image.

There are a few places along the ledges where you can find a good spot for lunching, and Joan and I took advantage of one. Afterwards we drew closer to Lake Oesa and it grew larger.

Here's a closeup of the pond in back. It's been shrinking during the summer, and vegetation is sprouting on the right.

We decided to walk back to that pond, following the right-hand side of Lake Oesa. At first there is an intermittent trail, but then it's just rock-hopping. This picture looks back across Lake Oesa when we're partway towards the pond. The prominent shape of Wiwaxy Peak dominates the skyline.

One attraction of trekking to the back of Lake Oesa is that you can look up towards Abbot Pass and Abbot Hut -- binoculars highly recommended. Somebody's up there, at 2922 meters (about 9,600 feet). Joan and I don't anticipate ever attempting that climb.

Beyond Abbot Pass is the Death Trap, Lower Victoria Glacier, and eventually Lake Louise.

We returned to Lake O'Hara by the Lake Oesa trail. Our first pause was to admire Lake Victoria.

On the initial segment of the return there's an abundant accompaniment of rushing waters.

These cones have been oozing sap that has coagulated and now masquerades as ice.

On our way back to our cabin I (finally!) took these photos of the lodge sign,

and the front of the lodge.

The next day Joan and I will tackle the hike to Last Larch Prospect, with lots of rock-hopping. Our feet will hurt by the end of it.