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As a result of going to bed a little earlier than usual last night I found myself wide awake at 5:30am. As someone who generally isn't a lover of mornings I didn't want to waste the opportunity so I got up, had a quick cuppa and made a sandwich as a 'take along breakfast' before heading out to Kananaskis.
I hadn't actually determined where I was going but I wanted to reach the mountains before sunrise if possible, with low clouds drifting through I hoped to get some bounce light beneath them and as I drove down highway 40, I got lucky.
Close up of Mt Kidd
Close up of The Wedge
Looking south on highway 40
After spending 15 minutes at the roadside shooting the sunrise I returned to my truck and continued south, only to find myself stopping again to shoot the blanket of fog enveloping Kananaskis Lakes
As I haven't been to Kananaskis Lakes for a while I decided today was the day to make the long trek to the Hidden Valley which, this morning, is well and truly hidden by the rolling fog bank.
Everyone who spends time in the mountains knows these morning fog banks are usually short lived and sure enough, as I reached the car park for the upper lake the fog was breaking up. A little sun caught the side of Mt Indefatigable and illuminated the last of the low cloud. On the left of the shot below is Mt Sarrail and beside it to the right is Mt Lyautey, the pass between them is where I'm heading today.
The trail begins beside the large information kiosk on the south-western side of the car park. I find myself needing hat, coat and gloves this morning as the cold mountain air struggles to warm up from the -5 that was reading in the truck as I arrived, a strong breeze was doing nothing to help with the chill.
The walk beside the lake is wonderful, made entirely in the shelter of trees with picture windows every now and then to remind me of the stunning surroundings just a glimpse away.
Sarrail Creek Falls are still running at a good rate though the full width isn't used at this time of year. The bridge that stood here previously was annihilated during the 2013 floods but there are enough rocks and tree limbs scattered around to make crossing the creek a straightforward task.
I had hoped for better reflections this morning but that strong breeze that was helping with the fog bank, eliminated any possibility of a 'mill pond' scenario. I still dropped down to the waters edge to grab a shot when I saw one calmer area about half way to my turn off.
Looking down to Mt Lautey from the waterside as a snow shower blew through over the summit releasing a few flakes on the breeze that carried all the way to where I was standing.
It would be easy for those not paying attention to walk right past the turning for the 'Hidden Lake' trail which is much narrower than the Kananaskis Lakes trail and branches off to the left behind a tree. At around 4.5 km start looking for the green flagging or the orange band directly behind it.
A nice easy forest trail winds its way through a myriad of fallen trees on a lush carpet of moss, the underfoot conditions are perfect with soft cushioning of every step and a little spring back as you stride forward. In no time at all I can see Hidden Lake through the trees beside me (though much of the water has gone at this time of year)
Snow showers are still rattling around as I reach an opening in the forest where I can see the small remaining pool of water in the surprisingly large lake. On the opposite bank Mt Lautey remains under siege from the passing showers as it's flanks begin the transition to autumn gold.
My trail remains tucked away in the trees which keeps the light snow showers at bay as I follow the contours of the lake around to the southernmost point. From here the scale of the lake is more readily identified, there is still plenty of water here but it is under the rocky bed and making its way out to Upper Kananaskis Lake.
I depart the lake shore at the southernmost point and follow a steep winding trail through trees until it pops out onto the avalanche slopes on the western flanks of Mt Sarrail where boot deep snow hides the trail.
As I ascend the western slope of Mt Sarrail I can finally see the source of the thundering roar of water which has been with me since I popped out of the trees on the col, the impressively sheer Fossil Falls is something I will definitely be revisiting but today I'm just exploring.
Higher still and a view opens up over the route I've hiked in, with the low water of Hidden Lake followed by the turquoise green of Upper Kananaskis Lake and the ribbon of forest that separates the two.
As I reach an abutment at the top of the avalanche slope I find another smaller waterfall with tempting scramble potential. I decide to climb up a little way to find a lunch spot.
The scramble is really good fun with a nice slope of water worn rock that reaches upward in waves, I wonder if this actually becomes a full waterfall in the springtime, if so it would be quite a sight.
I followed a large side crevice for a while until seeing this little snow covered ridge which I crossed in order to get a view of the falls which (it has to be said) are far from impressive.
I eventually found a nice little spot out of the breeze and sat down for lunch. I was still pretty cold up here (about 7500 feet) but as I sat there the sun broke through the cloud and I got a lovely shot of Fossil Falls with the tiny patch of autumn colour lit up as if by a spotlight.
A little more scrambling after lunch got me to a higher vantage point which was unfortunately a dead end owing to the wall of rock ahead, it did allow a look across the western end of the lakes into the long valley that holds Invincible Lake...another place I've yet to see.
After boxing myself in on the ridge and having to turn back (for today at least) I decided to call it a day and make the 10km trek back to the car park. As I walked the trail alongside Upper Kananaskis Lake the sun burst through the clouds and lit up the small patch of autumnal colour at the base of Mt Indefatigable and the sheer wall of rock along its flank. If it wasn't for the next occurrence this might have been my favourite moment of the day.
I used to tell my friend Cecil "if you make the journey out to Kananaskis Lake it always rewards you for the effort" I know Cecil would have loved to be here for this as this big fella stood around waiting for me to take as many shots as I wanted while he chomped away at the surrounding greenery.
I was happy to get back to the car today, this felt like a long way. Maybe a combination of the scrambling and the boot deep snow on the ascent (for the first time this year) combined to highlight my fitness level, maybe 20km is a long way. No matter what, it was a really nice unplanned day in my favourite area with a bonus moose to cap it off, perfect.