SteveR
Member
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2016
- Messages
- 882
I took my own advice given in a previous Canadian Rockies thread- about late cancellations being somewhat commonly available for camping at Lake O'Hara, so after our Labour Day weekend Bugaboo plans fell through due to forest closures as a result of extreme fire hazard, I got on the phone to O'Hara in Yoho National Park first thing on the Monday morning prior to the long weekend. Bingo! An opening had come up for a camp spot on Saturday night. Two nights would have been ideal- but one was better than nothing.
After the bumpy school bus ride up the limited access O'Hara road on September 1, and a quick setup in the campground which while more akin to a frontcountry one, is nonetheless a pleasant place to stay-
we were on our way around the "Alpine Circuit". The initial grind up a slidepath was a small price to pay, once the glory of O'Hara revealed itself:
After the entertaining section of rocky ledges- there was a bit more of a grunt ahead to gain Wiwaxy Col:
At Wiwaxy Col, looking north to Cathedral Mountain, and the Wapta Icefield in the distance. After a summer plagued by skies obscured by forest fire smoke- it was a treat to have such clarity, which had been rare lately:
Abandoning the col all too soon in the face of sudden winds, we continued on along the Huber Ledges section of the route. Lake Oesa began to show as the trail rounded the shoulder of Mt. Huber:
We have done this route many times- this scene never gets old!:
A late lunch at Oesa:
No need to hurry on such a fine afternoon:
After nearly an hour relaxing, and wandering the shores, the shadows began to fall from the high peaks that ring the Oesa basin:
So-we continued around into the sun, on the way to Opabin via the Yukness Ledges:
Some fall color was starting to appear on the larches, above a birds eye view of Lake O'Hara from the Alpine Route:
Hungabee Lake beckoned as the trail descended to the Opabin Plateau:
And...another fine spot to while away the late day sun:
Where we met one of the full time residents of the Opabin Plateau:
Opting out of the final stretch of the circuit- we started back to camp on the middle route through the plateau, which takes in a series of meadows, cascades and tarns:
We woke up after a comfortable, and a very warm for the rockies in September night, to find overcast skies, and the return of the smoky haze which drifted in and out all day. Schaffer Lake, on the way to Lake McArthur:
Pockets of wildflowers were still hanging in along the high route to McArthur:
While the light could have been better, it was hard to complain when visiting one of the iconic places of the Canadian Rockies:
An all too brief moment of sun illuminated Lake McArthur as we walked the lakeside cliffs:
Fireweed made for a nice contrast with the brilliant glacial blue of the lake:
At it's lakeside home, this denizen was busy trying to fatten up for winter, potentially as a snack for the resident grizzly who had left pits all over the meadows- by begging from the "tourists":
Bees were busy too, harvesting the last of the summers bounty:
A look behind at the panorama as we left the lake:
We have always preferred the highline route to and from McArthur, for it's superior views compared to the lower trail:
With a bit of time to kill before catching the bus out- we took the longer Big Larches trail on the return, which offered a nice parting view:
After lingering a bit too long at the scene above, while waiting in vain for some spotlighting on Lake O'Hara, we barely made it back to the campground in time to load up for the 4:30 bus out.
A bit sad to have to leave after only one night, but despite that, and the hassles of getting into this area where access and visitor numbers are tightly controlled- it was more than worth the relatively minor effort. Of course- it helped to have luck on our side!
After the bumpy school bus ride up the limited access O'Hara road on September 1, and a quick setup in the campground which while more akin to a frontcountry one, is nonetheless a pleasant place to stay-
we were on our way around the "Alpine Circuit". The initial grind up a slidepath was a small price to pay, once the glory of O'Hara revealed itself:
After the entertaining section of rocky ledges- there was a bit more of a grunt ahead to gain Wiwaxy Col:
At Wiwaxy Col, looking north to Cathedral Mountain, and the Wapta Icefield in the distance. After a summer plagued by skies obscured by forest fire smoke- it was a treat to have such clarity, which had been rare lately:
Abandoning the col all too soon in the face of sudden winds, we continued on along the Huber Ledges section of the route. Lake Oesa began to show as the trail rounded the shoulder of Mt. Huber:
We have done this route many times- this scene never gets old!:
A late lunch at Oesa:
No need to hurry on such a fine afternoon:
After nearly an hour relaxing, and wandering the shores, the shadows began to fall from the high peaks that ring the Oesa basin:
So-we continued around into the sun, on the way to Opabin via the Yukness Ledges:
Some fall color was starting to appear on the larches, above a birds eye view of Lake O'Hara from the Alpine Route:
Hungabee Lake beckoned as the trail descended to the Opabin Plateau:And...another fine spot to while away the late day sun:
Where we met one of the full time residents of the Opabin Plateau:
Opting out of the final stretch of the circuit- we started back to camp on the middle route through the plateau, which takes in a series of meadows, cascades and tarns:
We woke up after a comfortable, and a very warm for the rockies in September night, to find overcast skies, and the return of the smoky haze which drifted in and out all day. Schaffer Lake, on the way to Lake McArthur:
Pockets of wildflowers were still hanging in along the high route to McArthur:
While the light could have been better, it was hard to complain when visiting one of the iconic places of the Canadian Rockies:
An all too brief moment of sun illuminated Lake McArthur as we walked the lakeside cliffs:
Fireweed made for a nice contrast with the brilliant glacial blue of the lake:
At it's lakeside home, this denizen was busy trying to fatten up for winter, potentially as a snack for the resident grizzly who had left pits all over the meadows- by begging from the "tourists":
Bees were busy too, harvesting the last of the summers bounty:
A look behind at the panorama as we left the lake:
We have always preferred the highline route to and from McArthur, for it's superior views compared to the lower trail:
With a bit of time to kill before catching the bus out- we took the longer Big Larches trail on the return, which offered a nice parting view:
After lingering a bit too long at the scene above, while waiting in vain for some spotlighting on Lake O'Hara, we barely made it back to the campground in time to load up for the 4:30 bus out.
A bit sad to have to leave after only one night, but despite that, and the hassles of getting into this area where access and visitor numbers are tightly controlled- it was more than worth the relatively minor effort. Of course- it helped to have luck on our side!
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