GROUP 7
Updated March 1, 2020
Departure: Sunday, September 20 (early - 6:00 am appx.)
Bus Number: TBA
Return: Friday, September 25 (after dinner)
Departure: Sunday, September 20 (early - 6:00 am appx.)
Bus Number: TBA
Return: Friday, September 25 (after dinner)
LAKE O'HARA PLANNING ITINERARY: SUBJECT TO CHANGES - YOUR CHAPERONE WILL CONFIRM ALL ROUTES
Egypt Lakes - Group 7
Day 1 - Sunday - Lake Louise Campground: Meet your group in the OKM parking lot bright and early to board your assigned bus. Gear will be stored in chaperone support vehicles and you will only need your jacket and bagged lunch on the bus. First stop will be a bathroom break in Sicamous. From there we will travel to the Roger’s Pass Visitor Information Center for a safety presentation. From here it is approximately 2 hours to the Lake Louise Campground on Hwy 1. After arriving at Lake Louise, you will set up your camp, enjoy your car camping meal and prepare to set off on your through hike tomorrow morning. If you have time, your group can night hike up to Lake Louise via the Louise Creek Trail (6km return).
Day 2 - Monday - Vista Lake Viewpoint to Twin Lakes Campground (7.2 km/715 m elevation gain - moderate/difficult): Up early and on your assigned bus by 8:00 am. Your drop of is the Vista Lake Viewpoint Trailhead which is 5 km west of Castle Junction. You will see a Trail sign that indicates 1590 m (0.0 km), this is where you will start your hike to the Twin Lakes Campground (TW7) which is approximately 8.2 km. From the trail sign to Arnica Lake the hike is somewhat difficult, first dropping over 100m to the shores of Vista Lake and then climbing another 600m. You will come to an outlet bridge at the east end of Vista Lake (1.4 km from starting point) where the trail begins its ascent by trailing up the lower slopes of Storm Mountain. You will come across a small pack of trees that were left unscathed by the fire of 1968 that marks the old trail and the new route. Take the new route which is on the right (2.6 km from the starting point). Once you have entered the unburned forest (4.0 km), it is about a half hour or less of steady climbing through Engelmann Spruce and Alpine Fir. You will come to a small unnamed pond (4.2 km) and you will continue a steady climb. The trail will then level off (4.6 km). You will then come to Arnica Lake (5.0 km). You are now at about 2150m, you will hike a steep uphill trail until you are at about 2285 m (5.8 km). You will then hike a steady downhill until you come to Upper Twin Lake Campsite (TW7) which is where you will be spending the night. Note: on some maps the campsite is labeled Twin Lakes (TW7) but the campsite is at Upper Twin Lake NOT at Lower Twin Lake.
Day 3: Tuesday - Twin Lakes Campground to Shadow Lake Campground (6.8 km/245 m elevation gain - moderate): Today will be an epic hiking day! Descend to lower Twin Lake, be sure that your water bottles are filled, and keep to the left and cross the stream for Gibbon Pass. You will then hike a steady ascent through the forest. You will come to a 2300 metre summit that is approximately 2.9 km from the Junction. The pass is an exceptional viewpoint for this area of the Rockies because there are no nearby mountains to block the view to either the north or south. As a result of this, views extend from Mount Hector near Lake Louise to Mount Assiniboine. At the summit drop your backs and scramble up Little Copper Mountain. This is a scree slope with established off trail routes. Look for a tree to the trees to find your way through the alpine to the summit of this little mountain. The views are amazing and definitely worth the side trip. Average hiker will be able to complete this side hike in 40-50 minutes. After you return to your packs, you will then hike a steep descent through dense forest for about 3.1 km to reach the Shadow Lake trail just below Shadow Lake. Fill up on water as the water source at the campground is sometimes questionable. The buildings that belong to the Shadow Lake Lodge and Resort are out of bounds turn left on the trail and the Shadow Lake campground is on the right. You will be spending the night at Shadow Lake (Re14).
Day 4 - Wednesday - Shadow Lake to Egypt Lake Hut (12 km/650 m elevation gain - moderate): Another epic day of hiking ahead. Head towards Ball Pass Junction Campsite, you will be hiking along valley / marsh and it is relatively flat all the way. From Ball Pass continue south and start gaining a bit of elevation towards Haiduk Lake. This is a good snack spot. The grunt work starts after Haiduk Lake up to Whistling Pass. Enjoy this viewpoint with lunch. Whistling Valley is a spectacular gap nestled between the Pharaoh Peaks and the sheer escarpment of the Great Divide. The way down to Egypt Lakes is a series of steep switchbacks. Take your time as the knees will be sore from this, and be careful of slippery mud. Walking poles are recommended to ease the strain. If you have the energy, explore Egypt Lake, Scarab Lake and/or Mummy Lake on your way towards the hut. When you arrive at Egypt Lake you can set yourself up in the hut for the night. Group 9 will be staying in the campground tonight so you can visit and swap stories.
Day 5 - Thursday - Egypt Lake Campground to Lost Horse Creek Campground (11.8 km - easy): You have more kilometers to cover today, but it is relatively easy hiking. When you are ready, head from the Egypt Lake campground along the Pharaoh Lake trail. Drop your packs and explore Pharoah Lake and Black Rock Lake on the way. It is 4 km from Egypt to Pharaoh campground, which might be a good spot for lunch. From Pharaoh you will hike 4.2 km to Redearth Creek junction. Stay right and hike the final 3.6 km to Lost Horse Creek Campground. Set up camp and enjoy your last night in the Rockies!
Day 6 - Friday - Lost Horse Creek Campground to Red Earth Creek for pickup (6.9 km - easy): Hike from Lost Horse Creek campground to Red Earth Creek to meet your assigned bus. From Lost Horse Creek Campground you will be hiking an easy, downhill 6.9 km to the parking lot for pick up. There is no need to rush and you may run into another group hiking out the same trail from Shadow Lake today. Your bus will arrive around 9:00 am to pick you up.
We will rendezvous at Roger’s Pass Monument (Time TBA) with all the other groups. A group picture will be taken here. Then we will proceed to Revelstoke for a lunch break at the fast food strip on the left-hand side of the highway at the main intersection.
Let your parents know once you have an idea when you will be home so they can arrange for you to be picked up (usually around dinner time).
Egypt Lakes - Group 7
Day 1 - Sunday - Lake Louise Campground: Meet your group in the OKM parking lot bright and early to board your assigned bus. Gear will be stored in chaperone support vehicles and you will only need your jacket and bagged lunch on the bus. First stop will be a bathroom break in Sicamous. From there we will travel to the Roger’s Pass Visitor Information Center for a safety presentation. From here it is approximately 2 hours to the Lake Louise Campground on Hwy 1. After arriving at Lake Louise, you will set up your camp, enjoy your car camping meal and prepare to set off on your through hike tomorrow morning. If you have time, your group can night hike up to Lake Louise via the Louise Creek Trail (6km return).
Day 2 - Monday - Vista Lake Viewpoint to Twin Lakes Campground (7.2 km/715 m elevation gain - moderate/difficult): Up early and on your assigned bus by 8:00 am. Your drop of is the Vista Lake Viewpoint Trailhead which is 5 km west of Castle Junction. You will see a Trail sign that indicates 1590 m (0.0 km), this is where you will start your hike to the Twin Lakes Campground (TW7) which is approximately 8.2 km. From the trail sign to Arnica Lake the hike is somewhat difficult, first dropping over 100m to the shores of Vista Lake and then climbing another 600m. You will come to an outlet bridge at the east end of Vista Lake (1.4 km from starting point) where the trail begins its ascent by trailing up the lower slopes of Storm Mountain. You will come across a small pack of trees that were left unscathed by the fire of 1968 that marks the old trail and the new route. Take the new route which is on the right (2.6 km from the starting point). Once you have entered the unburned forest (4.0 km), it is about a half hour or less of steady climbing through Engelmann Spruce and Alpine Fir. You will come to a small unnamed pond (4.2 km) and you will continue a steady climb. The trail will then level off (4.6 km). You will then come to Arnica Lake (5.0 km). You are now at about 2150m, you will hike a steep uphill trail until you are at about 2285 m (5.8 km). You will then hike a steady downhill until you come to Upper Twin Lake Campsite (TW7) which is where you will be spending the night. Note: on some maps the campsite is labeled Twin Lakes (TW7) but the campsite is at Upper Twin Lake NOT at Lower Twin Lake.
Day 3: Tuesday - Twin Lakes Campground to Shadow Lake Campground (6.8 km/245 m elevation gain - moderate): Today will be an epic hiking day! Descend to lower Twin Lake, be sure that your water bottles are filled, and keep to the left and cross the stream for Gibbon Pass. You will then hike a steady ascent through the forest. You will come to a 2300 metre summit that is approximately 2.9 km from the Junction. The pass is an exceptional viewpoint for this area of the Rockies because there are no nearby mountains to block the view to either the north or south. As a result of this, views extend from Mount Hector near Lake Louise to Mount Assiniboine. At the summit drop your backs and scramble up Little Copper Mountain. This is a scree slope with established off trail routes. Look for a tree to the trees to find your way through the alpine to the summit of this little mountain. The views are amazing and definitely worth the side trip. Average hiker will be able to complete this side hike in 40-50 minutes. After you return to your packs, you will then hike a steep descent through dense forest for about 3.1 km to reach the Shadow Lake trail just below Shadow Lake. Fill up on water as the water source at the campground is sometimes questionable. The buildings that belong to the Shadow Lake Lodge and Resort are out of bounds turn left on the trail and the Shadow Lake campground is on the right. You will be spending the night at Shadow Lake (Re14).
Day 4 - Wednesday - Shadow Lake to Egypt Lake Hut (12 km/650 m elevation gain - moderate): Another epic day of hiking ahead. Head towards Ball Pass Junction Campsite, you will be hiking along valley / marsh and it is relatively flat all the way. From Ball Pass continue south and start gaining a bit of elevation towards Haiduk Lake. This is a good snack spot. The grunt work starts after Haiduk Lake up to Whistling Pass. Enjoy this viewpoint with lunch. Whistling Valley is a spectacular gap nestled between the Pharaoh Peaks and the sheer escarpment of the Great Divide. The way down to Egypt Lakes is a series of steep switchbacks. Take your time as the knees will be sore from this, and be careful of slippery mud. Walking poles are recommended to ease the strain. If you have the energy, explore Egypt Lake, Scarab Lake and/or Mummy Lake on your way towards the hut. When you arrive at Egypt Lake you can set yourself up in the hut for the night. Group 9 will be staying in the campground tonight so you can visit and swap stories.
Day 5 - Thursday - Egypt Lake Campground to Lost Horse Creek Campground (11.8 km - easy): You have more kilometers to cover today, but it is relatively easy hiking. When you are ready, head from the Egypt Lake campground along the Pharaoh Lake trail. Drop your packs and explore Pharoah Lake and Black Rock Lake on the way. It is 4 km from Egypt to Pharaoh campground, which might be a good spot for lunch. From Pharaoh you will hike 4.2 km to Redearth Creek junction. Stay right and hike the final 3.6 km to Lost Horse Creek Campground. Set up camp and enjoy your last night in the Rockies!
Day 6 - Friday - Lost Horse Creek Campground to Red Earth Creek for pickup (6.9 km - easy): Hike from Lost Horse Creek campground to Red Earth Creek to meet your assigned bus. From Lost Horse Creek Campground you will be hiking an easy, downhill 6.9 km to the parking lot for pick up. There is no need to rush and you may run into another group hiking out the same trail from Shadow Lake today. Your bus will arrive around 9:00 am to pick you up.
We will rendezvous at Roger’s Pass Monument (Time TBA) with all the other groups. A group picture will be taken here. Then we will proceed to Revelstoke for a lunch break at the fast food strip on the left-hand side of the highway at the main intersection.
Let your parents know once you have an idea when you will be home so they can arrange for you to be picked up (usually around dinner time).