The purpose of this hike was to hike to both Rummel and Chester Lakes to get some exercise and enjoy the last of the colourful larches. We achieved this but the hiking on a sketchy trail between the lakes was much harder than expected with post holing to 15cms and messy route finding at the Chester Lake end.

After completing the short car shuttle, we started up to Rummel Lake about 9.15am. While the trail was snow free at the road, within a km we were walking in snow. Nothing serious before Rummel Lake which we reached about 11.00am for snacks and photos.

Ramblers at a bench at the intersection of the Rummel Lake Trail and High Rockies Trail

Rummel Lake: Brian, Kim, Yolande, Anne, Teresa, Jane, Alda, Jeannette

Bear foot print (+phone) near Rummel Lake

Aided by GPS we backtracked to a rare trail arrow where we left the main trail for a faint one in the woods down to a SE/NW trending drainage. We post holed up this drainage in about 15cms of new snow before stopping at 1.00pm for lunch near its "summit".


Rough trail from Rummel Lake to Chester Lake Brian, Jeannette, Kim and unidentified

Temperature remained near freezing but we could feel the sun's heat when it occasionally broke though. All the above is the same route as for the winter ski traverse.

We now followed a faint trail steeply down the SE side of the drainage. Although this was marked on my 2003 Gem Trek map and 2 GPS's, it quickly dwindled to zero. We followed the creek bed down to the bottom, turned left and bushwhacked up another creek to eventually emerge in the meadows below the avalanche slopes of Mt. Galatea (same meadows as for the ski traverse). Another 500m of tiring snow walking brought us to the popular, packed trail near Chester Lake. We walked the short distance to the lake for another break and photo opportunities.

Chester Lake in early October, 2019

Chester Lake: David, Brian, Anne, Jane, Jeannette, Kim, Yolande, Alda

After ignoring one member's hopes of scrambling on Elephant Rocks, and rejecting the snowshoe trail which no-one had used, we descended down the usual skiing/hiking trail to the Smith-Dorrien road. Most were wise enough to use micro-spikes on this hard packed trail. The author managed without but with some slipping. Back at the cars around 4.15pm for a 7hr day, and estimated 15km and 450m elevation gain. Good drive back to Calgary via the gravel 742 and highway 40. The Smith-Dorrein (742) was in much better condition than when last visited in early September 2019.

Thanks to all for the good company and trail breaking and especially to Teresa for some photos.

Participants: Kim,David,Yolande,Alda,Jeannette,Brian,Teresa,Jane,Anne