The Helen Lake trail is an awesome wildflower season hike. With a relatively modest elevation gain of just under 600 meters from trailhead to lake shore, a long stretch of trail also offers expansive views of Dolomite Peak and several unnamed ridges, peaks and three glaciers. Upon reaching the scenic highlight that is Helen Lake, there are a few options to extend the day, including hiking to the Cirque Peak or a nice ridge walk above the lake.
Hiking the spectacularly scenic Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit is one of the premier day-hiking experiences in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Three things make it a stand-out: 1) altogether, the various segments of the Alpine Circuit lead to, pass by or incorporate scenic viewpoints overlooking almost a dozen turquoise mountain lakes; 2) it offers hikers the flexibility to complete the Alpine Circuit in small sections, linking as few or as many sections in one day as their heart, lungs and legs desire; and 3) it showcases the vision and generosity of spirit of Tommy Link and Lawrence Grassi, who devoted many years and considerable effort to create a network of engineered trails that significantly improve the hiking experience in the area while at the same time doing much to preserve the fragile alpine environment.
Whether your idea of staying cool is cultivating that fashionably attractive “it” factor, maintaining calm no matter what or simply becoming less hot, there’s plenty of scope for creatively photographing the theme “staying cool”.
This is an easy, interesting and scenic hike that starts along the Lake O’Hara shoreline, turns uphill via a short series of switchbacks and then enters an otherworldly plateau of loose talus and scree before ascending alongside Victoria Falls on stone steps constructed by Lawrence Grassi. After skirting the shorelines of two lovely little lakes, a short slope up through a break in the cliffs leads to the rocky slabs above scenic Lake Oesa.
Opabin West and East trails anchor an easy loop to Opabin Plateau – a beautiful, rocky hanging valley above Lake O’Hara. The plateau is dotted with multiple alpine lakes, offers spectacular views of Lake O’Hara valley and is criss-crossed by a network of trails that pass multiple waterfalls, larch trees and more.
What’s it like to spend a day photographing Banff with like-minded Olympus enthusiasts? Tons of fun and lots of learning! Thanks to The Camera Store and Olympus Canada for organizing/sponsoring the “Discover Banff” event with Olympus Visionary Peter Baumgarten.
This limited access area of Yoho National Park is named for Lake O’Hara. But Lake McArthur, situated in a hanging valley surrounded on three sides by Schaffer Ridge, Mount Biddle and Park Mountain, is roughly twice the size of Lake O’Hara, and definitely worth a visit.
Despite the need to make progress on some stalled projects, we made time for fun as the seasons transitioned from spring to summer. We got out and about biking, hiking, birding and geocaching, to name just a few. How about you?
Three artists are showcased at Esker this summer. Vanessa Brown prompts thought by using steel to embody living, natural things as sculpture. Anna Torma uses a blend of embroidery, drawing, appliqué, and layering to combine familiar and fantastic things in colourful, multi-layered textile art hangings. And over a twelve week stretch ending July 29, Jolie Bird’s performance-based installation will transform a blank space into an 8-foot diameter representation of the Fibonacci Sequence.
It’s early June and the mountains are calling. Canada’s highest public paved road is snow free but closed to motor vehicles until June 15th. What to do? Join the steady stream of cyclists and pedal to the summit of Highwood Pass!
