Canada (2019) Part Five -- Lake McArthur

It rained overnight, and during breakfast on Sept. 13th (2019) there was a downpour. Joan and I discussed our options, all depending on the severity of the rain. We finished packing our duffels in time for the 10:00 pickup, and by then the precipitation wasn't bad. We decided to head to Lake McArthur via the Big Larches route.

Early on the walk to Big Larches we were surprised by a pair of spruce grouse.

The second grouse is the blur @ center top

 A closer look; click on the image to enlarge.

We saw a pika along Big Larches but didn't have a chance for a photo. Joan and I decided to head into McArthur on the upper trail and soon met another couple, much more ambitious than we were, who soon left the trail for the "dome" of Mt. Schaeffer and to follow its ridgeline.

The upper trail cut along the flank of the mountain, a path rocky but easily followed as long as we minded our foot placement. There were, however, two spots with a big step that suggested using our hands as well.

It's not as fierce as it looks.

The route then veered left towards the high valley in which McArthur resides. After several switchbacks the landscape opened up into a  wide field of low vegetation and ground squirrel burrows. Various excavations advertised how much the grizzlies love to ask the squirrels to dinner.

Rising steeply on our left was the ridgeline that the couple we had met were traversing.

When we crested the final bump McArthur was displayed before us, mirroring the mountains behind. We drew closer to find a good lunch spot.

Joan and I were not the only ones.

The sun came out for our dining, but then the clouds rolled back in. A chipmunk orbited our sit-spot hoping for a spill or a handout. After lunch the clouds began to sprinkle as Joan and I walked down to the lakeshore, and approached the trail sign that marks the beginning of the other, lower trail from McArthur for our return.

The water level was low, as the stripe of dark rocks, normally underwater, revealed. This was much lower than in 2012 when several inches of lake lapped at the signpost. The rain was such that at times the hoods of our rain jackets were up, but more often down.

The lower trail from McArthur dips further down than the high trail and then rises to meet it again. From there it is a short jaunt into the gap, where decided to peek at the Highline sign-in kiosk. This how the page where we signed in the day before appeared.

Note that compliance was checked!

Heavier rains began, so we shoved off on the meadow trail towards the descent to Lake O'Hara.

At the lodge Joan and I enjoyed tea, juice, and maybe even a cookie 😀 until 4pm and our departure on the bus 11km down to the parking area. The rain diminished as we dropped lower. Once in our rental car we turned left on the Trans-Canada for the sharp fall of Kicking Horse Pass and then pulled into Cathedral Mountain Lodge,

Not my car.

where we checked in and received the keys to our cabin. The first order of business after carrying the duffels in was to light a fire, and afterwards we enjoyed a large dinner at the restaurant.

Tomorrow we would make several investigatory stops on our way to Kananaskis Country.