Back to Canada: Paradise Valley, Lake Annette, and Beyond

On the morning of July 27th, Joan and I drove down the access road from Moraine Lake to the Paradise Valley trailhead.

We aimed to see how far we could go up the valley, to and beyond Lake Annette, which we reached in 2018 ... in the snow. This was the valley's appearance then.

Several destinations can be reached from the trailhead.

After a few twists and turns, some split off.

Mount Temple was lord of the valley's western slopes.

At our feet, elephants-head flowers caught our eye. They're named for the "trunk" that emerges from the bloom -- click on the image to enlarge.

To the east, another striking mountain, likely Haddo Peak.

We crossed the stream several times.

This was the view looking up the valley.

Inspecting the ground as we walked, Joan and I met a butterfly atop a flower.

A critter or multiple critters had scoured this tree.

Then we reached the trail split,

crossed the stream yet again,

and after a series of ascending switchbacks, Joan and I stood on the shores of Lake Annette.

In 2018 we attempted to go further than Annette, but the steep ascent and snow soon forced us to turn around. Today we kept on, and gained in altitude. This view looks back the way we'd come.

We were now high enough that occasional remnants of snowbanks greeted us.

Up and up we went, and then, boom! Joan and I emerged into the open.

We walked into the middle of this stony zone,

and decided it was time for lunch. Our view across Paradise Valley left us in awe.

Behind us loomed a rock wall.

We could see in the distance, near the head of the valley, a waterfall formation known as the Giant Steps.

The steps are a popular destination, but Joan and I decided to forego the extra descent and re-ascent that would incur. We basked in the sun and finished lunch. Even here in the rubble field, flowers bloomed, such as this fireweed.

I convinced Joan to pose, emphasizing the scale of this mountain setting.

The final descent back to Lake Annette.

We weren't the only ones to pause there.

The water, the rocks, and the sun's angle cooked up a perfect combination.

On the long walk down the valley, a sign of winter storms.

And of spring's regrowth.

We had a perfect day for this extended hike.