Paradise amoung Mayhem

When you arrive to Lake Louise you never fail to see a million tourists taking photos of the gatorade blue lake backdropped with glaciers and snow capped peaks.

Even at 7.30am when we arrived Lake Moraine road was already blocked off (thankfully the girls had put a car up there a night prior), and Lake Louise parking lot was already mostly full. Even so, when going down Lake front the amount of people was low and the ability to nab a pre-day hike photo was possible.

From the lake you head to the west side towards Saddleback Mountain. This path continues up at a steady incline switching back every so often until reaching the pass between Saddleback and Fairview. The views from this stage are decent (especially at 8.30am with the sun pearing through the clouds) and you get to see how much elevation you've gained already.

From this point on the pass you are just at tree line and wind through a pre-set gravel path slowly edging towards Hadoo Peak and Sheol Mountain. At the edge of the pass you descend down the ridge, switchbacking down to the bottom of the basin winding through thicker forest with a thinner less tracked path still towered by the mountains. From here you follow the glacial stream down around Sheol Mountain clambering through a few rock falls and avalache shoots. At this point it is highly recommended to be in groups of at least 4 due to bear activity. Once coming to the junction where the trail meets Paradise Valley Trail we found relatively fresh Black Bear poop. SO naturally being 5 girls we started to freak out a little. This section was the first of two larger inclines and descends. (Will update elevation gain and descent when I have a chance to figure it out)

Following the Paradise Valley Trail up towards Lake Annette is a calmer walk with little elevation so gives the knees a break winding through the low valley forests following the river. Lake Annette is tucked behind Mount Temple in the Paradise Valley. It is as calm as a lake can be and if not bluer than Lake Louise. It was the perfect place to stop for a snack. At this point we were near 4 hours of hiking already. I was some what disheartened knowing this and knowing how much longer I had to go.

From Lake Annette and our lunch break (which then caused me to have a post lunch slump) the path is a little incline (large post lunch) up into the woods. This only continued for another 15-20 minutes before popping out into a large rockfall on the backside of temple above Lake Annette over looking the most stunning views of Paradise Valley. With the snowcapped rockies and British Columbia borders in front as well as a hugging Horseshoe Glacier we couldn't help but stand there for a bit and just admire. Far off in the distance we could make out what was the Giant Steps. I knew it was only close to 3km before we got there and the path was that of a gradual descend (along with the fact I wanted a long scenic break for lunch), we were able to power down in bang on an hour.

The Giant Steps were GORGEOUS. You get to them and at first it looks like super flat rock worn down by water which you can walk across when not flooded. Approaching the big rock bricks you can peer over and see the gushing water cascading down the "steps" and it was by far the best waterfall I have seen since being in Canada. The rocks also make amazing lunch spots and you can perch on the edge looking down at the rushing waters with the most spectacular background. But be warned the rocks are super slippery when wet as we learned the hard way.

From the steps you can either trace back your steps up the steep switchbacks to the Sentinel Pass Junction or opt to going right into the meadows and working your way up in the opposite direction which meets up to Sentinel Trial but is shorter. From the meadows looking up to the pass is daunting. The sheer cliff faces and enormous hoodoos showing you. This is difficult hike for sure. The path switches back (oh the classic Canadian hike) on the left side of the valley slowly making it up the rocks. From the junction to the pass top was only like 2km but felt like a lifetime. The path is hard to navigate but is somewhat marked but cairns. This almost becomes vertical at the very top (because we decided that it was the way to go and had actually missed the turn off), and the rocks are loose and it very much is a scramble. Not for the faint-hearted. I was very much dead after 7 hours hiking.

(Photo: Vogue model poses on Sentinel Pass- Jokes its me).

Looking down to Minnestimma Lake there are a few switch backs (which are much easier than the previous side of Sentinel Pass). In saying so I would suggest taking the same route we took as the descent down the rocks would be much more difficult than going up. The lake is where I had been the previous fall for sunrise and was blown away by the beauty. Even at 3pm in the afternoon after near 8 hours of hiking the beauty still astounded me.

At this point all 5 of us were spent. Even though we were in the most astounding place in the world we were exhausted. Side note: I saw a Marmot. They are huge rodents! Super blonde from the sun just posing away on the rocks. Perked my energy up. We made our way down Larch Valley to Moraine Lake which was another 5.8km to finish from Sentinel Pass. Luscious green trees, wildflowers scattered through meadows and blue skys to finish the day. Switch backs all the way down and all of us complaining and grumpy, sore and tired. Elena even ran just to get it done. Had I done that I think I would have seriously mutilated my face against rocks and dirt as my co-ordination was bismal at this stage.

Relief swept through us so much you could almost hear it when reaching the lake side of Moraine and being surrounded by tourists. This hike for me personally is one of the more rewarding ones I have done. Not only as you end up at Moraine when everyone else gets turned away but the fact you've hiked over 21km (don't quote me this I need to research exact numbers). It is not easy in parts but if you are skilled enough and comfortable on scree you would be fine (with lots of caution). One for the books for sure.

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