The parking lot at Lake Louise was filling fast when we arrived and we managed to get a spot in the lower lot. The trail to Lake Agnes had a fair amount of traffic as we headed up to the teahouse where we took a break and contemplated our destination:


Devil's Thumb from Lake Agnes Teahouse

The trail along the lake had lots of alpine flowers growing in the rock crevices beside and above the trail. After ascending the switchbacks to Big Beehive we started along the Devil’s Thumb trail and shortly encountered the small rockband that required some easy scrambling:


Easy & short scramble section on Devil's Thumb trail

Thereafter follows a great contour trail that provides superb views towards the peaks above Plain-of-Six-Glaciers:


Mt Lefroy & Mt Victoria

Some avalanche cascades were seen plummeting off Lefroy. However all was not easy as the flat trail came to an end and the working section begins:


Steep slope up back of Devil's Thumb

The grunt up the back of Devil's Thumb

Final ascent to the top of Devil's Thumb

But it was worth the effort as we had scenic panoramas from our private lunch aerie:


Lunch at the top : Barb, Aldis, Bill, Ron with Bruce in front

Barb & Aldis on top of Devil's Thumb

Lunch view from Devil's Thumb: Lakes Agnes & Louise

Bill overlooking Lake Louise

We examined the views and were able to name almost all of the peaks in sight (well… Bill could). Mt Temple to the south played peek-a-boo behind veils of cloud. We eventually started to head back down:


Just as steep going down

There was time to join the throngs at the Big Beehive gazebo where a persistent melody resulted in an avian identification:


Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

From there we returned via the south side trail from Big Beehive and took the connecters to the very busy route along Lake Louise back to the Chateau and parking lot. It was still full and cars were parked down the road to below the Old Hwy 1A parking lot. Good thing we did a non-weekend visit. The drive home had one slow section where there was a narrowing to one lane at the Sibbald turnoff where they were installing cable style guard rails.
 
Thanks for a great day to a new destination for the coordinator. Participants: Barb, Bruce (photo), Aldis, and Bill (photos). Ron, C/S/P.

Trip profile: via Lake Agnes - Big Beehive Jct. - Devil's Thumb - Big Beehive lookout - down to Plain-of-Six-Glaciers trail - return along Lake Louse lakeshore.


Devil's Thumb profile: via L.Agnes, Big Beehive, Plain of 6 trail