Three Lakes Valley



October 5, 2017

Roundtrip time: 3.5 hours
 
Solo hike.
 
Last chance to see the larches in 2017? Probably….. and therefore I decided an after work hike was necessary, arriving at the parking lot at 4 pm. Of course the stellar fall weather for the day was also a motivating factor.
 
Not much to say about this trip except “Holy c$@p!!”.  I stopped briefly to talk to a fellow hiker, her accent clearly indicating she was visiting Canada from the U.S., and she commented, “You live in an amazing part of the world”. I, and I imagine everyone reading this, couldn’t agree more.
 
Blue skies, yellow larches, a dusting of snow, stunningly clear lake reflections – who could ask for anything more!  


It's hard to drive by the Kananaskis Lakes turn-off and not stop to take a photo or two of Mount Blane and The Blade



Things are looking good for a scenic evening



....and Mount Chester is a darn good start!



At the Chester Lake outlet. Little Galatea I, II (far left), Mount Galatea (distant left),
Gusty Peak (centre) and a chunk of Mount Chester (right) behind the lake



Little Galatea and Mount Galatea reflected in Chester Lake



Same as above with Gusty Peak



Gusty Peak reflection



Another scene that required at extended period of time to marvel at and photograph



The tilted strata of Mount Chester



Arriving at Elephant Rocks



Elephant Rocks and Gusty Peak. The snow and yellow larches added so much to the overall scenery



One of the cooler rocks at Elephant Rocks



The first of the three lakes of Three Lakes Valley and the west face of Gusty Peak. Mount Chester at the far right



Same as above



Looking back along the shores of the first lake



Crystal clear lake reflections



Looking down on the first lake. Mount Sir Douglas dominates the background



Up in the valley and looking at Mount Galatea. Unfortunately the Sun is setting



Gusty Peak's tilted strata



Same as above



Last look before the Sun leaves the valley



Another almost perfect reflection of Gusty Peak



The low angle of the Sun creates interesting colours



Last look at Chester Lake. What an evening!

The End
LOG