On the 14th Day of Hiking (Upper Kananaskis Lake)

From Mt. Engadine Lodge Joan and I drove towards Upper Kananaskis Lake, to fill in the gaps in our hiking around the lake. As we progressed the day looked better and better. We arrived at the Day Use Area at 11:00. This was a late start, but then it was a transition (moving from one accommodation to another) day.

In this map the purple and red paths are our two 2017 hikes. The yellow path marks this day's hike, which began too late to link up with the red dots. That far edge makes a long hike ... 16.2 km or 10.1 miles to circumnavigate the lake. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

It was a pleasant day with luscious scenery.

This area had suffered heavily in the 2013 floods.

A new bridge crossed the outflow of Sarrail Creek.

Another view of the waterfall.

Shortly afterwards the trail to Rawson Lake split off.

Joan and I visited Rawson Lake many years ago, and this would be worth doing again, but not today.

We heard the call of a loon or two, and watched a fleet of ducks cross the lake. It's always good to bring your binoculars along.

Joan paused to admire how the roots of this brave tree flowed over the rocks.

There has to be sustenance in there somewhere.

In spots the debris left by the floods was still visible.

Vegetation is just starting to return.

A gorgeous view from near the far end of the lake.

We weren't entirely alone. One young couple toting backpacks passed us, stopped and entered into discussion, shuffling a map, and then returned the way they had come.

Joan and I began a climb that marked about 2½ km left to close our gap with last year's hikes. Realizing we didn't have enough time to cover all the untrodden trail and return to the car, we continued only as far as to find a lunch spot.

As we finished lunch a lady from Saskatchewan, now living in Alberta for a year and a half, came by. She was taking a counter-clockwise loop around the lake for training purposes, but not in a hurry, and we had a good chat. Then two women came by the other way -- this trail was getting busy!

We started back. With the altered perspective, Joan pointed out where the trail to Hidden Lake departed. Tromp, tromp, tromp we went on. We noticed a chipmunk harvesting cones in the treetops.

 Two young women told us of a "prairie chicken" they had passed on the trail, and a while later, we encountered the female spruce grouse they had seen. It was skittish but I still got a decent photo.

Who are you?

We passed a group of older hikers who came down from Rawson Lake just as we reached that junction. Then, to the car, and on our drive out of Kananaskis Lakes we saw a young moose in a mud wallow near the road, so we were not mooseless in 2018.

There was new pavement on Highway 40 as we drove north to Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, and a 14 km construction zone with off-and-on one-way traffic. Joan and I still arrived in good time to check in.

Tomorrow's goal: Galatea Lake.