Sun, Aug 28 2022 - Cascade Amphitheatre (View Original Event Details)
| Event Coordinator(s): |  |
Peter Minarik
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| Participants: | | Peter Minarik, Patrick B, Julia T, Esther, Constantine C, Holly B, Robin R, Mary M, Val W, Andrew Billings, LauraLee B |
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Write Up:This classic Banff hike did not disappoint. The trail skirted Mount
Norquay ski area before descending to Forty Mile Creek. A series of
long, well-designed switchbacks brought us into Cascade
Amphitheatre, a hanging valley where small meadows alternated with
clusters of trees. The trail ended l in a small meadow nestled against
a boulder and scree field below the sheer cliffs of Cascade Mountain.
During lunch we observed scramblers on the ridge above climbing toward
the summit. We had good hiking weather, mostly sunny and pleasant.
Jackets were required early in the morning and then later in the
amphitheatre where an occasional draft of cold wind from the cliffs
above reminded us that winter was not far away. The trail was busy at
times but not crowded. The bears wisely moved away from the trail for
the weekend but we saw some deer. The insect of the biting variety
failed to wake up after a cold night or two but Patrick spent some
time photographing bees that were attracted to the flowers of a
thistle plant standing alone in the last meadow. It took this fit
group of hikers just under three hours to reach the end of the
trail, and over six hours to complete the hike, including rests.
Distance 16 km, total elevation gain 800 m. Peter Minarik
