Bryant Creek Shelter iii (Overnight)

More info to come!

Trip #2

Initial trip

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!

Bryant Creek Cabin (Overnight)

Name: Bryant Creek Cabin (Banff National Park)
Activity: X-Country Skiing/Overnight
Crew: Bennett, Jaimie, Mark, Oliver, Jon, Trevor
Dates: January 20-22, 2017

Summary:
Day 1 - Ski in from Mt Shark Trailhead to Bryant Creek Shelter (14 km)
Day 2 - Ski to Marvel Lake (6 km RT)
Day 3 - Ski back out to Mt Shark Trailhead (14 km)

Update: We stayed at this shelter again as a backpacking trip again in the fall of 2017, and in the winter again in 2019.. Unfortunately we did not have the whole planned group attend- there was a weird flu/cold going around and it seems like everyone caught it! Regardless, we had an amazing weekend with unreal weather and snow conditions. We arrived on Friday, the cabin was chilly as no one had been there for probably about a week, but we got the fire going right away, and by the second night the cabin had warmed up significantly enough that some people (cough Oliver) were wearing shorts.
Bennett and I made a few dehydrated meals using his dehydrator which were more successful than we were expecting! With eggs for breakfast as the clear winner for both of us.

 Approaching the cabin (Day 1)

Getting water from the creek - Oliver had to break through the ice with the axe to get to the flowing water

Woke up to this beautiful sunrise (Day 2)

 The shelter

 Bennett testing the ice on Marvel Lake (Day 2)

 Mark on Marvel (Day 2)

 Bennett

Oliver 

 Jaimie, Bennett, and Oliver crossing the creek to the Warden Cabin field

 The view from our water hole

Bennett and I in the field in front of the Warden Cabin