As usual, the Galatea parking lot was filling when we arrived at 9am as lots of people were visiting this area on a sunny weekend. But the hikers were well spread out so you didn't feel you were at the Stampede grounds while on the trail. The trail was in good shape with the odd muddy patch and we made Lillian Lake in a couple of hours and we were at the lower Galatea lake by noon:

Deb, Ron, Karen, Barb & John at Lower Galatea Lake

which became our lunch spot and turnaround point. It had been mostly sunny until then, and became mixed sun and cloud thereafter. There was time to enjoy some of the alpine flowers:


Glacier lily in bloom

The lilies and anemones in flower were indications that the snow melt had been relatively recent. Then it was back down the scree trail:


Descending from Galatea lake

to a busy Lillian lake campground where campers were coming and going. It was warm as we lost altitude and there was time for a photo at one of the creek crossings:


Karen (guest), John, Deb and Barb above a gushing Galatea creek

Back at the parking lot it was completely full and cars were parked along half a kilometre of Highway 40, so it paid to have been early.

Thanks everyone for an excellent summer day in the mountains. Participants: Ron C/S/P, Deborah, Barbara, John and guest Karen B.