Sunday, July 8, 2018

July 8 – Joffre Lakes

Yesterday was another day off. Grocery shopping and planning our upcoming move. It was also another day of weather all over the place. Late in the afternoon we saw this burst of colour across the valley.

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It was weird because normally the lines of colour follow the curve of the rainbow but the curve seemed to go to the left while the colours curved to the right.

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Today we joined MANY hundreds of people on the hike to the three Joffre Lakes. This had to be one of the busiest hikes that we have been on. We should have gone on the day off we took on Thursday.

The first lake is very close to the parking lot. The middle lake is a steep 3 km, one way, hike that climbs about 300 meters. It is another kilometer and I would guess about 70 m in elevation to get to the upper lake.

All three lakes have deep green clear water. The lower lake is just 150 meters in. I should have used a polarizing filter to get rid of the sky reflection.

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In the background you can see a hanging glacier. We get closer at the middle lake and then the slope that the glacier is on drops right down to the upper lake.

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Let the selfies begin.

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You first climb through the forest. When I tried to take this picture I slipped and got rather muddy.

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Then we break out and climb the side of an open valley.

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This tiny Pika was out chewing on some leaves.

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Some nice red mountains off in the distance.

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Then it gets steep and the dreaded steps begin.

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We and everyone else took a lot of breaks along here so it got very crowded.

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Every once in a while there would be a small carved stump.

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Then some steep switchbacks.

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Second target in sight.

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I wanted a picture of these logs but I couldn’t get behind them to get a better background.

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A brave, very cold swimmer.

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The photosphere from here.

Just around the corner was the main viewpoint.

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Looking towards the glacier.

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Another swimmer.

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The photosphere.

We managed to find a bench and had lunch. I didn’t get a picture of us because there were so many people standing around in front.

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I had read that the trail to the upper lake was much rougher so Jennie stayed here while I made the quick trip up.

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The trail first goes around the lake to that white spot on the far shore, in the picture above, that is a creek flowing down from the upper lake.

By the side of the middle lake is a famous log that I guess has been here a long time. There was a long line of people waiting to climb out for a picture.

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Once I got around the lake, the trail follows the creek up. It was steep and muddy with very large rocks to climb over.

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Just up from the lake there was a waterfall. I waited my turn for a picture.

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The photosphere.

And upward.

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A rare “flat” spot. Just follow the dirt.

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Some nice views of the lake before I got to the main viewing area.

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It was even more crowded here.

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I made my way down to the waters edge.

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The photosphere.

Here is a shot from higher up on the rocks with more “foreground”.

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Some closer views.

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The glacier.

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The outflow.

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The trail continues to a campground on the other side of the lake but I did not go. I don’t think this lone yellow tent, that we could see over there just up from the water, was in the official campground.

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After some staring, I joined the line back down to Jennie.

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Still busy.

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And then down to the car.

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On the way up we had to stop a lot. I don’t think we stopped once on the way down but I am sure that our legs are going to be really sore tomorrow.

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