I have done this trip later in the summer, but we found this time that the higher water of early summer dramatically improves the scenery on this gorgeous alpine hike.

Warspite Lake--the bathtub is full

You start at the Mount Black Prince trailhead and take the interpretive trail to Warspsite Lake in the Black Prince Cirque. At this time of year the lake is full and a beautiful emerald green. Later in the summer it can be a dry mud flat. We met two young fellows who saw a moose with calf swimming across the lake. They saw the moose again on the return. We failed to see it.

Lush forest in Black Prince Cirque

At the end of the lake you take the informal trail to the right and cross lush forest, then a talus fan, then grind up an alluvial fan.

Cascades from hanging valley

The trail gets steeper and steeper to the cascades.

Hanging valley below Mount Warspite

You are finally rewarded by the hanging valley above, with Mount Warspsite above. We saw fresh bear diggings and spoor.

Black Prince Lake--3 tarns now one

The trail turns right and peters out. You simply climb the ridge in open alpine country to the ridge, where you look down on, at this time of the year, one icy lake complete with ice bergs and ice floes. Later in the year the lake becomes three small tarns as the water drains away.

Mount Warspite and hanging valley

From our lunch spot on the ridge we had a bird’s eye view of the upper cirque and Mount Warspite, and were visited by a hummingbird.

Alpine flowers in stupendous setting

The alpine flowers were set in a spectacular setting.

Swim up bar with 3 tables--but no skinny dippers!

There was a “swim up bar” iceberg in the lake, with three tables, but nobody was up to skinny dipping in zero degree water!

We were back to the car at 4:15. Wildlife seen on the drive home: 12 sheep. Participants: Wally, Jeannette and Carl, coordinator and scribe.