Hiking Canada 2023: Sentinel Pass!

On July 23, 2023, Joan and I set out determined to tackle Sentinel Pass, above Moraine Lake, a goal that had thwarted us in 2018. As this map shows, our first job was to climb the switchbacks of the Larches trail. (Click on any image to enlarge.)

We soon encountered a browsing deer.

Then, some just-blooming fireweed.

Joan and I kept to the right at the junction with the Eiffel Lake trail, continuing to climb. Above his burrow, a ground squirrel was on watch.

Seconds later, we crossed a dry runoff.

Then the view opened as we entered an elevated valley, quite different from 2018's snow-draped presentation.

Ten thousand foot peaks lined the view.

The trail re-entered the woods, and the climb continued until we reached level ground at the foot of Sentinel Pass and its lakes.

We were close enough to see the trail's trace in the scree slope, and paused to ingest a snack.

You must click on this one.

A glance back to the lake as Joan and I began the climb.

Accustomed to dodgy footing on climbs such as Wiwaxy Gap, we were not deterred, and being in good shape after all our previous hikes, we deemed Sentinel Pass "not that bad." The ascent is not as long or arduous as it looks from the bottom.

The route down the other side, to Paradise Valley, looked genuinely perilous. Especially that initial drop.

And Paradise Valley is a much longer route with more elevation change.

A permanent ad-hoc windbreak had been built.

But there were alternative sit-spots.

We found one and had our second lunch, with clear skies and contrails.

Now it was time to go back down, often more dangerous than climbing up in these mountains.

We made it,

and had time to pause and enjoy the views now in front of us.

Zooming in ...

Some glaciers appeared ready to plummet at any time, or at least shed a chunk.

Joan and I finished retracing our steps down to Moraine Lake, ecstatic at finally having mastered Sentinel Pass.