Sat, Aug 13 2022 - Aster Lake (View Original Event Details)

Event Coordinator(s): Dianne M
Participants:Dianne M, Mary M, Dean G, Deb G, Carolyn H, Berthilde M, Constantine C

Write Up:
We started the hike at 9:00 am with a cool temperature, making the hike along the lake a pleasant beginning. The surface of Kananaskis lake was totally ripple-free, giving us beautiful vistas of the mountains and sky reflected on the surface. We stopped numerous times to take photos. When we got to Hidden Lake, the water level was very high, and we had to trek through the winding ups and downs of the upper trail. The hike across the scree slope was challenging, but we progressed slowly and cautiously. The slope was in the shadow, and there was a lovely cooling breeze. We stopped many times to enjoy and photograph the amazing views of Upper Kananaskis Lake, Hidden Lake and the falls across the valley. At the end of the scree slope is a rocky bluff, which we needed to navigate to get to our final destination. Usually, there is a relatively easy dirt trail on the left side of the adjoining waterfalls, that enables hikers to skirt and get to the top of this bluff. However, a huge snow patch covered this trail, leaving us with no other option, but to cautiously scramble up the bluff. This was an acceptable challenge for some of the hikers, but some chose not to ascend the bluff, feeling that they had already enjoyed beautiful scenery and managed a challenging hike. The remaining hikers ascended the bluff and carried on to the lake. A very brief rainfall—light, with one crack of thunder, caused us to wonder whether we should continue, however, it lasted less than 15 minutes. The hikers that traversed the bluff carried on to the lake, enjoying the flowers in the meadows, second waterfall, and the lake itself. The other hikers slowly returned down the scree slope and waited at the bottom of the slope for the other hikers to return. At around 5:00 pm we regrouped and embarked on the long trek back along the winding, hilly trail above Hidden Lake and rejoining the Kananaskis Lake Trail. We got back to our cars at 7:00 pm—a long, challenging, but very rewarding journey. Thanks to Berthilde, Carolyn, Constantine, Dean, Debra and Mary for your support and companionship along the way. It was a fantastic day!