Wed, Jul 9 2014 - Aylmer Lookout (View Event Details) Event Coordinator(s): (To see who coordinated the hike, log in to the Member Area) Participants: (To see who hiked, log in to the Member Area)

Write Up:
Eleven hikers completed the hike to Aylmer Lookout on a hot, sunny day. The total distance to the lookout and return was 24 km and the elevation gain was 575 m. Total hiking time was 8 hrs. Although the views from the lookout are fantastic, this is a long hike, especially when the climbing starts AFTER you have already walked 7.8 km along the Lake Minnewanka shore. The trail up to the Aylmer Pass/Aylmer Lookout junction is steep. It took us approximately 1.5 hrs to reach this point even though the distance from the shoreline to the junction was only 2.3 km. From there, it was another 1.6 km to the lookout over a trail that was mostly flat with some up and down sections. The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide is correct when it says to allow 4-5 hrs to reach the lookout. It took us just over 4 hrs with water and snack breaks along the way. Although we got an early start (9:30) we didn't get back to the cars until 6:15. Recommendation: this hike should be listed as Difficult (perhaps even extra-difficult) and a caveat could be added that hikers should expect a long day.