Fri, Jul 16 2010, Sat, Jul 17 2010, Sun, Jul 18 2010 - Jacques Lake, Sulphur Skyline (View Original Event Details)

Event Coordinator(s): PM
Participants:julie c, Saeed, Doug B, Noelle, alinaelena, Amulya, Cindy M, Eldon B, Naved, Gay Maveety


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Write Up:
Eleven of the twelve people booked for the trip managed to make it to the Maligne Canyon Hostel on Friday evening. We got bunks sorted out, divied up the earplugs, and bedded down for the night.

The Jacques Lake trail is just up the road from the hostel, and we were at the trailhead by 8:30. The hike is a 13 km trip each way, but while it's long, there's not a lot of elevation gain.
We passed Beaver Lake and the two Summit Lakes, then crossed the divide and started following the course of the Rocky River down to Jacques Lake. With all the snow in the days before the trail was very wet, and we were often fording streams or hopping across puddles.
A break for lunch at the campground (with a moose), then we headed back. We met many people hiking up when we were returning - apparently it's a popular beginner backpacking route, but they do it in two days, not one.
Back to the hostel, and while some people went into town for supper or supplies, others cooked dinner at the hostel. There was time for an evening exploration of Maligne Canyon, across the road, then off to bed.

In the morning, we packed up and headed for Sulphur Skyline. Where Jacques Lake is long and level, Sulphur Skyline is steep and high. We made it to the top in about 2 hrs, and got the mandatory summit photos, but had to head back down fairly quickly when thunder clouds started rolling over. We paused back in the treeline for lunch, the descended to Miette Hot Springs. An hour or two relaxing in the pool, and we were headed back to town by mid afternoon.

Thanks to everyone for coming, and special kudos to Naved for doing the whole 26 km with a sprained ankle and soggy shoes.


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