Thursday, August 07, 2008
Three Isle Lake
Renee had the Monday off, and invited me to join her on this one. She said since she hadn't been out yet this year, that she was a little out of shape, which meant that I I didn't have to push so insanely hard to keep up. Out of shape, indeed.
Anyway, she's also working evening shifts, so we didn't get to the trail head until after noon. But no worries, cuz it isn't too strenuous or long a hike. We got to the Interlake parking area, and found a spot way, way down the road, cuz it was nearly full.
Across the damn and over the spillway gate. The trail up to Mount Indefatigable was piled with larges rocks. It seems there has been a lot of bear activity up there the last couple of years, so it's officially closed.
The trail goes through forest and along scree slopes, and climbs a little, so that it's several metres above the lake. At one point it splits off and one part descends down to lake level to continue around it. We stayed on the high path.
A group of three or four young guys were trail running, heading past us toward the lakes. Renee said they were from the Canada Olympic Development Association Ski Camp on Haig Glacier. Apparently they have to run the trails whenever they go in or out.
A couple more scree slopes along the back side of Indefatigable, and eventually, we reached the bike parking. This seemed to be a popular rest stop, since there were several stopped and resting. We crossed the noisy Invincible Creek and moved on.
The forest changed becoming a little more dark and lush, closing in a little, in a way that was strangely inviting. It smelled more of old pine forest, too. There was little else but striding through the forest now.
At the Forks campground, we sat for awhile and dug out lunch. A large group of young people were busy hanging out, moving off, others joining. Another group of hikers came out of the bush from the Great Divide Trail, which goes toward Turbine Canyon and the Haig Glacier.
After lunch we headed up the Three Isle Lake trail. Mostly it was easy going for awhile. More lush forest, and then we got close to Three Isle Creek, which we followed up the valley.
We soon started to gain altitude and the path turned into a series of switchbacks, which took us up the head wall. We began to have to work a little, even to doing a little light scrambling. The view back over our shoulders was becoming more and more spectacular as be we gained altitude.
Eventually we reached the top and the trail started to drop through forest again. Very shortly we were at the Three Isle campground and lake. We wandered through the deserted campground to come to the lake, where we found a couple of small boulders to sit on.
After snacking we started back. Up over the top of the headwall and down to a small meadow, where Renee wondered if she'd left her camera back at the lake or had just forgot to bring it. We headed back to check. No camera, so it must not have made it to her backpack.
Climbing down the headwall was fun, just one spot where the trail was ambiguous for a moment. In the valley we continued deeper into the forest, and back to the Forks campground.
It was getting a little late by this time, although at this time of year, there was still plenty of daylight. After this it was just walking, back to the parking lot. We got there, and I dropped Renee off at just about sundown.
Three Isle Lake
Starting elevation: 1713 m (5620 feet).
Highest elevation: 2214 m (7264 feet).
Lowest elevation: 1713 m (5620 feet).
Elevation gain: 501 m (1644 feet).
Distance: 24.6 km (15.3 mi).
Time: 7:40.
Anyway, she's also working evening shifts, so we didn't get to the trail head until after noon. But no worries, cuz it isn't too strenuous or long a hike. We got to the Interlake parking area, and found a spot way, way down the road, cuz it was nearly full.
Across the damn and over the spillway gate. The trail up to Mount Indefatigable was piled with larges rocks. It seems there has been a lot of bear activity up there the last couple of years, so it's officially closed.
The trail goes through forest and along scree slopes, and climbs a little, so that it's several metres above the lake. At one point it splits off and one part descends down to lake level to continue around it. We stayed on the high path.
A group of three or four young guys were trail running, heading past us toward the lakes. Renee said they were from the Canada Olympic Development Association Ski Camp on Haig Glacier. Apparently they have to run the trails whenever they go in or out.
A couple more scree slopes along the back side of Indefatigable, and eventually, we reached the bike parking. This seemed to be a popular rest stop, since there were several stopped and resting. We crossed the noisy Invincible Creek and moved on.
The forest changed becoming a little more dark and lush, closing in a little, in a way that was strangely inviting. It smelled more of old pine forest, too. There was little else but striding through the forest now.
At the Forks campground, we sat for awhile and dug out lunch. A large group of young people were busy hanging out, moving off, others joining. Another group of hikers came out of the bush from the Great Divide Trail, which goes toward Turbine Canyon and the Haig Glacier.
After lunch we headed up the Three Isle Lake trail. Mostly it was easy going for awhile. More lush forest, and then we got close to Three Isle Creek, which we followed up the valley.
We soon started to gain altitude and the path turned into a series of switchbacks, which took us up the head wall. We began to have to work a little, even to doing a little light scrambling. The view back over our shoulders was becoming more and more spectacular as be we gained altitude.
Eventually we reached the top and the trail started to drop through forest again. Very shortly we were at the Three Isle campground and lake. We wandered through the deserted campground to come to the lake, where we found a couple of small boulders to sit on.
After snacking we started back. Up over the top of the headwall and down to a small meadow, where Renee wondered if she'd left her camera back at the lake or had just forgot to bring it. We headed back to check. No camera, so it must not have made it to her backpack.
Climbing down the headwall was fun, just one spot where the trail was ambiguous for a moment. In the valley we continued deeper into the forest, and back to the Forks campground.
It was getting a little late by this time, although at this time of year, there was still plenty of daylight. After this it was just walking, back to the parking lot. We got there, and I dropped Renee off at just about sundown.
Three Isle Lake
Starting elevation: 1713 m (5620 feet).
Highest elevation: 2214 m (7264 feet).
Lowest elevation: 1713 m (5620 feet).
Elevation gain: 501 m (1644 feet).
Distance: 24.6 km (15.3 mi).
Time: 7:40.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
