Canadian Rockies

Mount Robson
Lake O’Hara
Mount Assiniboine
The Rockwall
Limestone Lakes
Twin Falls/Iceline Trail

Mount Robson Provincial Park

My brother and I explored Mount Robson Park in late September hiking along the Berg Lake trail. An aggressive three day trip from Edmonton with ten hours of driving and close to 40 miles of hiking

Emperor Falls hike on the Berg Lake trail

We had several days of sunshine and no wind. The storms from the previous week had Emperor Falls going strong late in the season.

We camped for two nights at the popular Berg Lake Campground, the other campsites along the trail were mostly empty in late September.

From left to right: Robson glacier, Rearguard Mountain, Berg glacier, and Mist glacier

Morning sun on Mount Robson from Mumm Basin

Early morning walk to Mumm Basin for sunrise (4 miles return, 1000ft).

Snowbird Pass hike above the Robson Glacier on the Berg Lake hike

The longest dayhike from camp at Berg Lake goes to Snowbird Pass (14 miles return, 2500ft). The trail goes above and alongside the Robson Glacier, where we stopped to have lunch before climbing further to the pass.

View from Snowbird Pass on the Berg Lake hike

The north face of Robson from the meadows that lead to Snowbird Pass

Reef Icefield in British Columbia at Snowbird Pass

The British Columbia/Alberta divide at the top of the pass. The enormity of the Reef Icefield is impressive, ice stretching as far as we could see in both directions.

Reef Icefield at Snowbird Pass on the Berg Lake hike

Lake O’Hara

I had one night at the O'Hara campground which gave two days to explore (1030am bus in and 630pm bus out). The bus ride and difficulty of getting a permit both add to the excitement of the walk

Hiker above Lake O'hara on the alpine circuit route

Weather better on the second day so took to the alpine circuit in the morning

Pool near Lake Oesa on the Alpine Circuit route hike in Lake O'hara region

The "alpine" circuit stays high around Lake O'Hara in a horseshoe like manner

Coming down from All Souls Prospect

Mount Assiniboine

Mount Cautley and Gibralter Rock from Assiniboine Pass trail

There wasn't much ground that I didn't cover with three nights at Lake Magog in Mount Assiniboine Park-- climbing the Nub and nearby Cautley to Wonder Route

Sunset from Nub Peak looking towards Mount Assiniboine

My favorite was Nub Peak with all four lakes in front of Sunburst Peak and Mount Assiniboine

Mount Assiniboine from the valley below

Gog Lake and the Towers

The Cautley to Wonder Route follows the ridgeline east of Assiniboine. Would recommend ascending on the Cascade Rock side as the Wonder Peak climb is not straightforward. I decided to bail and slide down to the valley from the base of Wonder Peak

The Rockwall

In late August, I walked the Rockwall trail in Kootenay National Park (5 days, 46 miles)

Looking down towards Floe Lake from a nearby peak

With two nights at Floe Lake, I climbed the unnamed peak near Numa Pass on the rest day

Sunrise on Floe Lake on the Rockwall Trail

Above Floe Lake at sunrise

The route can be planned around Floe Lake permit availability. Hitchhiking from Paint Pots saves about 15 miles vs out and back. Instead of completing the full loop I woke up early at Helmet falls to climb above the Rockwall then went down the Tumbling Glacier trail

Numa Pass

Rockwall Pass

Sunrise on the Rockwall from a nearby peak

Rockwall and Sharp Mountain at sunrise

Limestone Lakes

Hidden in the forest service roads is the Joffre Creek Trail to Limestone Lakes. I spent two nights camping at the lakes

Twin Falls/ Iceline Trail

Twin Falls is one of the better waterfall hikes out there

I combined both trails into a 20 mile dayhike, cancelling camping permits due to wildfire smoke