Mountain of the Week - Sentinel Pass and Wasatch Pass

Okay, mountain of the week should really be pass of the week and was more of a hike than a scramble. A fantastic hike, I might add. We started at Moraine Lake (which is depicted on the backside of Canada's old 20 dollar bills) close to Lake Louise. The first three k:s are not very exciting, switchbacks through pine trees, but then you reach Larch Valley full of larch trees, meadows and wild flowers. Around you you have the ten peaks and the majestic Mount Temple, the highest mountain in the region with its 3544 m. We went over Sentinel Pass (2606 m), between Pinnacle Peak and Temple, and into Paradise Valley. Sentinel Pass got its name from the high pointy rock formations.


Paradise Valley lives up to its name. Surronded by mighty mountains where you can hear avalanches roar down the mountain sides, forest covered slopes and meadows in the valley with small streams, it is an impressive valley.


After a few kilometers in the valley it's time for the next pass, Wasatch Pass. You work your way up boulder fields, scree and steep snow slopes to reach the top and catch a glimpse of Eiffel Lake. After the descent to Eiffel Lake there is easy hiking for about 6 km back to Moraine Lake. The trip was in total about 17 km and 1200 m total elevation gain. Anyone visiting the area around Lake Louise shouldn't miss Larch Valley and Paradise Valley. No bears this week, we had to be satisfied with chipmunks, a deer and a porcupine.


Picasa.