Among the Canadian AlpsBurpee, Lawrence J. (Lawrence Johnstone)
History
Among the Canadian Alps
Burpee, Lawrence J. (Lawrence Johnstone)
Canadian Rockies (B.C. and Alta.)
A good trail now leads from the Chalet around Saddle Mountain to
Paradise Valley, but one of the finest views of the valley with dainty
Lake Annette and the gigantic guardian peaks that tower above, Temple,
Aberdeen, Sheol and the Mitre, can be obtained from Saddle Mountain,
reached by an easy trail. One does not readily forget the exquisite
view that rewards the climber as he reaches the summit of the Saddle
and stands on the edge of a thousand-foot precipice that drops sheer
to the valley, and yet seems insignificant when the eye goes up and up
to the glittering peak of Temple Mountain soaring thousands of feet
above. The very contrast of the frowning walls that shut it in on
every side lends an additional charm to the fairyland that lies at
their feet, a perfect picture of green meadows, blue lake and silvery
streams, most appropriately named Paradise Valley.
From the Saddle a zigzag trail leads to the summit of Fairview
Mountain, from which one may look down upon Lake Louise whose
ever-shifting shades of blue and green seem even deeper and richer
than seen from the shore.
From the Chalet again a ride or climb up the trail that branches off
on the right-hand side of the lake brings one to Mirror Lake and Lake
Agnes. The distance to the former is about two miles, and a little
more to Lake Agnes. Mirror Lake lies at the foot of a curious rock
called the Beehive, and Lake Agnes is reached by a short climb up the
slope of the mountain. The lakes themselves are well worth the climb,
but one is rewarded as well with entirely new views of the encircling
peaks, and tramps through a bewildering garden of Alpine flowers among
which one finds the antennaria and bryanthus, which so curiously
resemble edelweiss and purple heather.
A short distance north of Lake Agnes is the Little Beehive, a mere
knob on the mountain, from which, however, a magnificent view is
obtained of a far-flung panorama of tremendous, snow-clad mountains,
blue lakes, green forest slopes and sparkling glaciers. "I have
never," says Wilcox, "seen this glorious ensemble of forests, lakes
and snow fields surpassed in an experience on the summits of more than
forty peaks and the middle slopes of as many more in the Canadian
Rockies." And, as he adds, the viewpoint is accessible to even the
most indifferent climbers, or may be managed on horseback.
From the Chalet, also, a trail of ten miles leads to the Valley of the
Ten Peaks and Moraine Lake, or the valley may be reached by a carriage
road which extends to the foot of the lake. Another trail runs from
Moraine Lake around an imposing cliff known as the Tower of Babel to
Consolation Valley, and still another leads in the opposite direction
to Wenkchemna Glacier.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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