Rae Glacier 423099 via Elbow Lake Trail hike on 5-Aug-2016

It was a gorgeous August day for our hike to Rae Glacier. Traffic on the Trans-Canada was terrific but it was relatively quiet in the Kananaskis. On the drive out and back we saw two deer and five sheep. We were at Elbow Lake by 10 for a group shot in the sun.

Elizabeth, Phyllis, Bruce, Tony at Elbow Lake

We found a scene of devastation from the 2013 flood on the drainage from Rae Lake. The lower trail was wiped out but we found our way up and down all right.


2013 devastation on drainage from Rae Glacier

The scenery was spectacular as we approached the glacier.


Approaching Rae Glacier

We enjoyed lunch at the lowest snow patch below what is left of this remnant glacier, which has been melting for over 10,000 years and is at the end of its life cycle.


Tony, Elizabeth, Bruce, Phyllis at base of Rae Glacier

On the hike back we met a young dude packing skis. He had skied the first seven months of this year and wanted to "bag" August too, but there was no snow up there for him to play in. Back at Elbow Lake we saw several nice trout swimming in the placid waters of the outlet to the Elbow River.


Trout swims in the placid water of the Elbow Lake outlet

Back to the car at 2, we headed for Fortress Junction for ice cream cones. Carl, coordinator and scribe, participants:Tony, Elizabeth, Bruce, Phyllis .