Participants: Jeff Trudel, Jimmy Quigley, Patrick Latter
Date: Jan 27, 2013
Distance: 10km
Time: 6 Hours
Weather: -8 °C (17.6 °F)

Directions

Drive south from Canmore on Spray Lakes road for about 45km. There will be turn off for ‘Burstall’ and a large parking lot.

Gear

• Snow Shoes
• Food
• Water
• Warm ski jacket
• Warm fleece
• Warm socks (or 2 layers of socks)
• Toque
• Thermal underwear
• Snow-pants or gaiters
• Gloves

Story

The trail passes through the forest for 4km until you reach the flats.

The snow here was already a meter deep in some areas but with the snowshoes, we had no trouble.

As were neared the base the mountain, the morning sun began to break through the clouds above.

Once we reached the base, we decided to have some lunch.

While it wasn’t brutally cold, the temperatures still began to freeze our water bottles.

Jimmy decided to build a snow cave while we ate. With almost a meter of snow, he was able to build it right into the ground.

Directions

Vermilion Lakes is a short 5 minute drive NW of Banff. Take Mount Norquay Rd from downtown towards Highway 1. Then turn left at Vermilion Lakes Drive.

Background

After nearly 4 weekends in a row of cloudy weather and missed sunrises, it finally came together this past Saturday morning. There was still heavy fog in the prairies to the east, which may have contributed to the amazing colours.