Egypt Lake Shelter (Overnight)

Name: Egypt Lake Shelter

Activity: Backcountry Camping/Backpacking

Total Distance: ~30 km

# Nights: 2

Date: September 29 - October 1, 2018

Area: Banff National Park

Crew: Ben
Trailhead: Sunshine Parking Area/Gondola Base

Route: 
Day 1 - Sunshine to Egypt Lake Shelter (12 km, ~700m)
Day 2 - Pharaoh Peak (~6 km, ~800m)
Day 3 - Egypt Lake Shelter to Sunshine (12 km, ~400m)


Ben and I really wanted to get out to the mountains for an over-nighter since we didn't get as many in this year as we like to. As the weekend drew nearer, the weather forecast became worse, and as we watched the vacancy rise in Egypt Lake Shelter, we decided to book it. We decided to maybe do a day-hike on day 2 but if the weather was too poor, we were happy with hanging out at the shelter and reading. Luckily, the weather held out long enough for us to summit Pharaoh Peak, and it started to snow just as we returned! The hike out was snowy and low-vis but we had an awesome time... ski season is just around the corner!

I came here with Julia and Jeevan in 2015.

 At Healy Pass (day 1)

Looking over towards Egypt/Scarab Lake. Pharaoh Peak on the right.

Pharaoh Peak

Hike Name: Pharaoh Peak

Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: ~6 km (RT from Egypt Lake Shelter)

Altitude: 2,713 m

Elevation Gain: ~800 m (from Egypt Lake Shelter)

Area: Banff National Park

Crew: Ben

Time to Summit: ~2 hrs (from Egypt Lake Shelter)

Lisa's Mom Rating: Maybe

Trailhead: Egypt Lake Shelter or Sunshine Ski Resort Parking Lot

Additional Info:

We stopped at Egypt Lake on the way up to Pharaoh Peak (slight detour). It was a cold summit day, we were lucky enough to hike Pharaoh Peak on a Sunday, so it was tracked out in the snow for us from hikers the previous day. It was quite steep in the snow and the wind was very brisk but the view from the top was absolutely stunning. May be some of the best views in BNP. We had perfect timing on this hike, as it started to snow right as we returned to the shelter.

 Ben on the way up

 Myself on the way up

 Still on our way up.

 On the summit!

Couple Selfie!

Northover Ridge (Overnight)

Name: Northover Ridge

Activity: Backcountry Camping/Backpacking

Total Distance: 41 km

# Nights: 2

Date: July 21 - July 23, 2018

Area: Kananaskis Lakes

Crew: Ben, Mark, Laura
Trailhead: Interlakes

Route: 
Day 1 - Interlakes to Aster Lake (14km, ~600m) +3km because we missed a turn (so deep in conversation that we went 1.5km without noticing!)
Day 2 - Aster Lake to Three Isle Lake via Northover Ridge (13km, ~950 total)
Day 3 - Three Isle Lake to Interlakes (11km, all downhill, baby)


Northover Ridge has been on the top of our list for a looooong time. We have been talking about it for a few years, and booked it for September 2017 but had to cancel due to a snowstorm and hiked into Assiniboine instead. We finally got it booked for the summer of 2018 and we crossed our fingers for nice weather.

I'll start talking about booking - book 90 days in advance from the first day of your trip - they are strict. We emailed them at 9am on the 90-day-prior-mark and didn't get one of the 5 tent pads at Aster for the Friday night, so we shifted our trip by 1 day (Saturday to Monday instead) and booked right at midnight to get in. This was actually for the best, since on our hike in, everyone we talked to who had done the ridge said it was insanely windy - including on Saturday (the day we originally planned to do the ridge). Luckily, our ridge day - Sunday - had little to no wind and no rain/snow! We were beyond stoked. Of course.

The first day was pretty funny, as we were all head-down, chatting, following each other and kept missing turns. At one point we walked 1.5km in the wrong direction (at least it was flat!) and had to double back so we tacked 3km onto our day.... nice warmup, right??... right. The trail to hidden lake was a little tough to find (with our heads down & hearts in the middle of the now, as Bennett would say) but once we found it, it was quite obvious and a well-beaten track. I'll point out that the trail in the trees around Hidden Lake is solid too - as older trip reports say it is a bushwhack - it is not anymore.

Aster Lake Campground is a beautiful little spot. We met a guided group who had just summited Joffre that day and also ran into some friends at Aster Lake - which is hilarious, considering it is probably the smallest campground in Kananaskis (with 5 tent pads)! We ate some delicious backcountry tacos for dinner - not even dehydrated - thanks for carrying 2 lbs of raw meat in, Laura! We had also read about a porcupine infestation on previous trip reports and they were the butt of the jokes for the weekend - so we were diligent about hanging our packs and hiding our boots in our vestibules - and were looking forward to laughing at the porcupine shrieks in the middle of the night - but that didn't happen... so update: seems that there are no more porcupine at Aster Lake! Haha.

The next day we hiked Northover Ridge to Three Isle Lake. And what a day it was! The photos will speak for themselves (below), but it was a stellar day with pretty ideal weather. We all agreed that this is the best backcountry trip we have ever done in Alberta/BC. The boys went for a dip in Three Isle lake, we played Shithead (which Mark remained undefeated in?????), then called it a night (at 9:30... bunch'a night owls).

Get ready for a photo overload...!

 Making our way to Aster Lake (Day 1)

 Laura (Day 1)

 U wot m8? (Day 1)

 One of the few scramble sections on the way to Aster (Day 1)

 The entire Aster Lake Campground in 1 pic. Seriously beautiful spot. (Day 1)

 The most scenic outhouse. (Day 1)

 Walking towards Aster Lake. Mount Warrior in the middle background (Day 2)

 Tight on the left path around Aster Lake (Day 2)

 HI MOM (Day 2)

 Joffre, Bennett, Warrior. (Day 2)

 Laura walking towards the pass we have to ascend soon (just right of Center, Day 2)

 ..and the Tarns, which you can random-camp at (they are in BC, Day 2)

 Bennett, Joffre. (Day 2)

 3 studs. (Day 2)

 A group close behind us (Day 2)

 A group not too far ahead of us (Day 2)

 Group pic before dropping down towards Three Isle (Day 2)

 Mark and the huge landscape (Day 2)

 Dropping in towards Three Isle, which can be seen at the end of the valley (Day 2)

 Crew still cruisin' (Day 2)

 Dinner with a view (Day 2)

Heading back to reality! (Day 3)

Surprise & Amphitheatre Lake

Hike Name: Surprise & Amphitheatre Lake

Activity: Hiking

Distance: 14.3 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,920 m

Elevation Gain: 900 m

Area: Grand Teton National Park, WY

Crew: Bennett

Time to Summit: ~2.5 hrs

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Taggart Lake Trailhead


Additional Info:
We arrived in Jackson the night before and needed to do a hike in the Tetons! It was pretty cloudy as we started but we had faith that the views would open up - and they did. There was a surprising amount of snow up at the lake which contributed to the cancellation of our plan to do the Death Canyon Shelf - which we will 100% come back for some day!

We did this hike during our Wyoming Roadtrip.

 Surprise Lake

 Ben taking a dip, of course

 Amphitheater Lake

Quick Westy + Teton Pic!

Moraine Lake (Winter)

Activity: Moraine Lake Road X-Country Skiing

Distance: 16 km ?

Area: Banff National Park (Lake Louise)

Crew: Steph, Mark

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

After many -30C days this winter and many cancelled cross country ski outings with Steph, we finally decided that it was no longer an excuse to not go on a bluebird day. Mark joined us as we skied up the Moraine Lake Road in the wintertime - truly a beautiful trail and a great view of the Valley of the Ten Peaks at the end! To go all the way to the lake, there are a few avi slide paths to cross. Hearing a few avalanches around us as we skied, we decided not to venture any further.

 Temple, baby.

 Valley of the Ten Peaks

 The crew!

Me & Steph

Prairie View iii

Trip #3:
Crew: Ben
Date: December 16, 2017
Time to Summit: ~1:30
Click here to see the Prairie View post

 On the way up

 Ben and I

 Ben and his orange BD gloves

 Back at the lake just around sunset

Gorgeous shot. "Winter", eh?

Bow Glacier Falls

Trail Name: Bow Glacier Falls
Activity: Hiking

Distance: 9.2 km (RT)

Altitude: ~2,100 m

Elevation Gain: 180 m

Area: Icefields Parkway

Crew: Mikaila and Rachel

Time to Summit: ?

Trailhead: Num-Ti-Jah Lodge

Getting There:

Heading north on the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93), take the exit on the left at Bow Lake/Num-Ti-Jah Lodge.

Additional Info:

Mikaila was in town so we decided to go into the mountains and get our fix! We stopped at Bow Lake to check out the shore but ended up walking to Bow Glacier Falls. Gotta love a little impromptu hike! It's funny because I had all my hiking gear in the car but I ended up doing the hike in my big parka and winter boots instead of my actual gear. It started out as a walk to the lake.. progressed into a little exploring around the trail.. then turned into a 9km hike... way she goes!

 Mik and I

 Mik, Myself and Rayho

 At Bow Lake

 Hikin'.

The Falls from a distance