Three Lakes Valley II
January 4, 2018
Solo snowshoe.
I’ve long lost count of how many
times I’ve made my way to Chester Lake and beyond, but it’s guaranteed that the
scenic delights of the area will keep dragging me back. My last visit, an after
work speed hike in the fall, yielded some of the best scenery I had ever
experienced during a simple lake hike, largely in part because of the perfect
weather. A winter visit in similar conditions seemed to be a win-win
proposition and for the most part it was.
Actually the first few hours of
the trip was somewhat disappointing, simply because the Sun’s rays couldn’t
find their way into either the Chester Lake valley or the Three Lakes valley.
It still amazes me how much of the difference those rays makes to the visual
appeal of the majority of mountain scenes. For future reference I would wait
until March or April before repeating this trip.
Getting to Chester Lake was as
usual easy affair and although the snowshoe trail is always well packed down,
it is still my preference to wear snowshoes throughout. They help with traction
immeasurably, especially on descent.
Elephant Rocks was also reached
with ease. Usually replete with scenes of awe-inspiring beauty, the Sunless
views prompted me to go right past the Rocks (taking only a single photo!) and
continue towards the Three Lakes valley.
Reaching the first lake was very
easy, but the ascent to up the headwall behind the lake felt a little sketchy.
I wouldn’t venture here when the avalanche risk was high. I then slowly plodded
past the middle lake and stopped at the big cairn and highpoint between the
second and third lakes – I decided that travel beyond that point would not be
worth the energy, since you lose elevation and the views would be inferior.
Again, I was a little
disappointed in my timing and proceeded to “lollygag” around the area in hopes
that the valley would soon escape the shadow of Mount Chester. It did but now
the Sun had swung quite far to the southwest and the stunning group of
mountains centered around Mount Sir Douglas (one of the other highlights of
this trip) was now in shadow. Oh well… you can’t win them all!
Had I an additional 2 hours to
“lollygag” I would have waited for the Sun to move into the western sky and
completely light up the Three Lakes Valley, but an evening event (as well as
the eventual setting of the Sun) would cut my stay short.
The descent was definitely the
highlight of the trip. Sunny views of the first lake were magnificent, the
snowy and serrated profile of Gusty Peak providing an awesome background. I
then followed a snowshoe track around to the highpoint at the southeast side of
the lake. Again the scenery and views here were stunning. This little diversion
also led me easily back to the Elephant Rocks and more fantastic scenery.
Exploring the Rocks in sunny conditions is always a treat.
Another breath-taking winter day
in the Canadian Rockies!
Birdwood, Pig's Tail, Commonwealth and the moon, as seen on the drive in
The moon and the summit of Commonwealth Peak
The Sun is just hitting Mount Galatea
Sun-less Elephant Rocks and the southwest end of Gusty Peak
Galatea is getting full Sun but the valley is not
Mount Sir Douglas is the centerpiece of the view to the southwest
Closer look at Sir Douglas
Still waiting for the Sun
"Lollygagging"
Same as above
Same as above
Here Comes the Sun
Now that the valley is getting Sun, the view to the west is in shade!
Heading down
Awesome curves of snow
Looking back into the valley
Tracks up (left), tracks down (right)
Looking down at the first lake and Mount Chester (right)
Back at the end of the lake
A similar view from October 5, 2017
Heading up to the highpoint at the southeast end of the first lake
The west face of Gusty Peak is pretty darn impressive!
...and avalanche prone!
Last look down to the lake and up the valley
Who knew the southwest side of unofficial Gusty Peak was so good-looking?!
From the highpoint, the environs of Chester Lake are visible
Who knew there was another version of Elephant Rocks above Elephant Rocks?!
Same as above
Same as above
Back down to the official Elephant Rocks
Compare this sunny view of Elephant Rocks to the Sun-less one at the beginning
Another comparison of the effect of the Sun on mountain scenery (left was taken around 10 am and right around 2 pm)
The very well packed down snowshoe trail
Little Galatea (far left), and the southwest peak of Mount Galatea
(there is a route to the latter described in Mike Potter's Ridgewalks in the Canadian Rockies)
Pristine winter scenery
The End