Sparrowhawk Tarns 216410 Off-Trail hike on 17-Jul-2024
Sparrowhawk Tarns turned out to be a great place to escape much of the heat, with breezes and occasional clouds keeping temperatures tolerable at higher elevations. Reports had mentioned impassible snow before the upper tarns as recently as ten days ago, but for us there were only a couple of small avoidable patches remaining. Unlike later in the summer, all the tarns were nicely filled, and the flowers about as abundant as they get in this rocky basin. Things turned hotter in the rockslide on the way out, but a shaded break and trees provided some relief for most of the final stretch, with running water for Piper to cool off in. Thanks everyone for coming along on a favourite hike!
Participants: Christine,Nancy,Shirley,Joanne,Barbara,Steve,Mark,Monique
Great rock gardens in the middle rockslide area!
Crested Beardtongue.
We had lunch by the shores of the nearly full first tarn.
Piper was the only aquabelle to take advantage of a cooling dip.
On the way after lunch to the distant cascade, and the ascent alongside it to the basin holding the upper tarns.
Rockwall tarn.
The uppermost two tarns were still partially snow covered.
Last year in early July, this tarn was already drying.
Aaahh! No other takers for snow angels?
Heading out along the burbling brook in the beautiful green hanging valley.
Sparrowhawk Tarns group, minus photographer Steve.