CR2014: Lake McArthur and Marmot Madness

July 27th was the final day of this year's visit to Lake O'Hara. We were determined to extract the most out of it, and opted for the late afternoon bus down to the parking area.

The sun had not yet reached the lake when we walked to breakfast.

It took a few extra minutes to zip up our luggage, and then we set out for today's destination, Lake McArthur. Immediately after starting, Joan and I spotted these resting mergansers just offshore in the northern lobe of Lake O'Hara.

For variety's sake we didn't take the Big Larches route again, but passed through the Alpine Meadow and up the McArthur Pass trail.

At the pass we could see across to the Odaray Highline trail, which we'd taken four days before. There were hikers at the spot where the Highline ends and the much steeper Grandview trail heads up.

There is both an upper and a lower trail to Lake McArthur; we tackled the upper.

Which includes a big step.

After reaching the top of the climb (this photo looks back),

we reached a cairn.

The trail splits into several braids as you approach the lake.

The view from the lakeshore demands a panoramic photo.

Joan and I climbed back to one of the rocky promontories for lunch.

It was a warm and scenic place to stretch the legs.

Then we realized we weren't alone. A hoary marmot was lunching in the foliage just to our left.

Joan and I waited patiently. The marmot decided to cross to the right side of the rocky area, and I snapped a closeup.

Then one of us moved just enough to spook him, and the marmot dashed to cover on the left (click on the image to enlarge).

After lunch we began our return by repeating the upper trail, and struck the wildlife jackpot. A weasel dashed across the trail with a pika clenched in its jaws, doubtless taking lunch to babies hidden in the rocks. (Even weasel babies must eat.) This was the first weasel we'd seen! Not long after, a marmot shambled up and down across the rocks with a mouthful of greenery.

We reached Lake O'Hara in good time, and stopped at a bench to drink in the view. There was a lot to see, including a kayaker.

Across the lake rock climbers were practicing (click to enlarge).

A spot Joan and I have dubbed "lunch rock" caps the face the climbers were tackling.

Alison and Bruce, the lodge managers, came by and we chatted about weasels and the voluntary Odaray Grandview sign-in procedures. Tea-time at the lodge arrived; Joan and I stopped there for drinks and snacks, then reluctantly boarded the departing bus.

We moved our stuff into a cabin at Cathedral Mountain Lodge, and preemptively asked for help in unscrewing the autonomous porch light that otherwise shines all night, unhindered, through the clerestory windows of the cabin.

Tomorrow the next leg of this Canadian Rockies saga would begin.