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Rocky Mountain Ramblers Association

Trip Report
Trip Date:
2-Sep-2018
Activity:
Trail hike
Trip name:
Iceline high point out & back + Yoho Lake
Coordinator:
Ron
Report:

It was quite smoky on parts of the drive to Takakkaw and the clouds were misting the summits of the peaks, but in the Yoho Valley it was okay.The weather was cool so it was a good for the climb through the forest to the alpine:




Ross slogging up the trail

The weather was fairly clear underneath the cloud ceiling and we had good views of the Emerald Glacier and many of the peaks once we were above the treeline:



Following the cairns across the glacier recession slope

In one of the glacial tarns we passed there were three birds wading and swimming which our birder affiacandos (Philip & Peter) pronounced as phalaropes, possibly of the red-necked variety migrating from the arctic as opposed to the Wilson's variety more commonly seen in Alberta. Certainly the terrain around the tarn is more arctic-like. Further along we had a view of some ice caves:



Ice caves in the Emerald Glacier

We continued as far as the high point on the trail where a small hill serves as an appropriate photo point:



Most of the group at the Iceline high point




Panorama photo at the high point

It wasn't that warm and a breeze encouraged us to descend to to a sheltered spot along a tarn for lunch. When the peaks started to mist up we started back hoping it wouldn't rain. It didn't and the fog dissipated back to a high ceiling so we had good views:



View from Iceline across to Daly Glacier, Mt. Niles & Takakkaw Falls

Under these favourable conditions we went the extra four kilometres returning via Yoho Lake. This forest walk had lots of flowers still in bloom. At the lake it was a little too cool to partake of a swimming opportunity, but we were able to relax in Parks Canada's Red Chairs:



Barbara & Anne in the red chairs




Ron & Cristina in the red chairs at Yoho Lake




The view from the red chairs of Mount Wapta & reflection in Yoho Lake

On the return to the cars there were delays caused by the proximity of ripe blueberry and currant bushes. Seven participants stopped in Canmore for dinner and electrolyte replacement.
Participants: Rosanne, past member guest Mathieu, Philip, Ron C/S/P, Barbara, Douglas, Clifton, Ross, Lenard, Cristina (panorama & other photo), Peter, Anne and guest John.