Arnica and Twin Lakes

It is now full on winter in the Rocky Mountains.  Everything in Banff was covered in snow when I woke up, so I decided to take a hike!  Peaks were out of the question, so I headed up to Kootenay for some lake action.  At the day’s highpoint, around 2300 M, there was about one foot of snow on the ground!  It is incredible how quickly and dramatically the landscape changed.

Looking West from Vista Lake

Storm Mountain in the clouds

Arnica Lake

Lower Twin Lake

Arnica Lake from the highpoint

Mount Whymper

Mount Whymper, named after Edward Whymper known for the first ascent of The Matterhorn (1865) is located 30 minutes Northwest of Banff in Kootenay Park.  Despite its moderate scramble rating, much of the ascent is on downsloping slabs covered in loose rock, and requires much routefinding.  At two points I found myself far off route, the first necessitating a downclimb, but on the second I found a great piece of history.  While contemplating my bad spot, I found at my feet an antique food tin.  I like to think it was from Whymper’s first ascent.

The route as seen from the Stanley Glacier trail parking lot

Looking West from the summit

Snow is flying

Looking South towards Storm Mountain and Mount Stanley

Whymper's food tin