Lake O'Hara sample pics

[Neil]

I just got back from 2 weeks in the CDN Rockies and made a quick and disorganized selection of 2 days worth of pics from the L. O'Hara region.

PICTURES

Due to speculation about a gathering out there next summer I thought these pictures might serve to stimulate discussion.

IMO a gathering at the O'Hara campground would not be a typical VFTT gathering. Ie. hiking, hiking, scrambling and climbing would take major precedence over partying and imbibing. Not that there wouldn't be any of these fine adjunctive activities, it's just that late night carousing, bellowing and singing of sailor songs wouldn't fit well in a small-ish campground to which hikers travel long distances to stay at and hike out of.

If I go back to the CDN Rockies next summer (highly likely) I would sign up for 2-4 nights at O'Hara. The hiking is out of this world and there is equally excellent scrambling and climbing. Hiring a professional guide and doing some of the bigger peaks would be a great idea.

 

[Toe Cozy]

I'm drooling! Thanks for posting, Neil. Good to be reminded of why I loved my first trip there and why I want to go back.

Was the hut first come/first served style? Did you use any particular hiking/scrambling guide book for planning your adventures?

Thanks again. Great pictures.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Wow, nice pics, especially the morning sun on the mountains!

 

[prino]

Sailor songs or not.... I'm in!
I'll stay home to climb some mountains next year.
Great Pictures Neil!

 

[mookie]

Wow

WOW,
Real nice photos, looks amazing!
Any Grizzlies?

 

[timmus]

Very very nice Neil. 'hope you guys had a great trip.

 

[Darl58]

Beautiful pictures Neil!! Glad you had some nice weather and how can you go wrong with those views!

Heading up this Friday to Banff/ Bugaboos, your pictures are making me having a hard time concentrating at work.........

Can't wait to see more pics! How are the Grizzley closings??

 

[Gillian]

Thanks Neil - beautiful pics!

 

[Bobby]

Great pics.....looks like a fine time

 

[Neil]

Was the hut first come/first served style? Did you use any particular hiking/scrambling guide book for planning your adventures?

Thanks again. Great pictures.

The hut is reservation based but rarely full. Non-members (of the Alpine Club of Canada) pay $36 plus a $10 per night wilderness fee and a $20 bus ticket (unless you don't mind walking 7 miles one-way on the O'Hara road).

Abbot's Pass Hut is a very straightforward hike/scramble that I've done often so I have no idea where to look it up in a guide book.

For all other off-trail stuff the bible is Alan Kane's, "Scrambles in the CDN Rockies".

For trailed hikes the bibles are, This one and

Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies:
The Opinionated Hiking Guide
By Kathy and Craig Copeland, hikingcamping.com (publisher), 5th edition, 2006, 544 pages, full color, $36.95.

 

[Peakbagr]

When we were in the CR's, our 2 weeks looked like your gorgeous pictures. It was Sept and our weather and views out of Lake O'Hara were wonderful. We did a ton of hiking on the routes all over there.
When we climbed Abbot Pass, we should have had helmets and the cliffs on both side were shedding rocks on both sides of us as we climbed. We stayed right in the middle but were lucky one of us didn't get bonked.
Really makes me want to go back. Joined the Lake O'Hara Trails Club as a lifetime member when we were there.