It was a perfect day for a Larch hike as we and many others discovered. When we left the Taylor Lake parking lot at 9.15am there were about 10 cars, but on return around 3.45pm it was full. But it was okay on the trails.
With breaks, we progressed upwards on the good Park trail to the turn-off to lake O'Brien in 2 hours. We decided to continue to lake O'Brien for lunch. This side trail was quite muddy with some puddles but no bushwhacking was needed before we found some drier terrain at lake side for lunch. Here we met a group from Slow and Steady doing the same. Pleasant views of Lake O'Brien with Mt. Bell behind in the sunshine before it went behind another mountain.

Lake O'Brien

Lake O'Brien with Mt. Bell behind

We then returned to the trail junction and took the short walk to the popular Taylor Lake where we took a long break.



Ramblers at Taylor Lake

We started back down around 2.00pm. All trails were quite damp and muddy with occasional deadfall which produced a profusion of mushrooms.


Mushroom Collage #1 near Taylor Lake in Banff NP

Mushroom Collage #2 near Taylor Lake in Banff NP

Back at the cars in the full parking lot by 3.45pm and an uneventful return drive to Calgary. I was grateful to my car driver, Anne, for taking a detour into Canmore so that we could return some forgotten gear from a previous trip to another member.
Stats: 17km, 685m, in 6:30hrs.

Participants: David,Turid,Susan,Anne,Elaine,Ingrid,Krystyna mushroom collages,Torstein welcome new member.