Mt Assiniboine: Sunshine to Magog - Itinerary/Campsite Help
Hi everyone. I've read a couple other posts about backpacking to Lake Magog but couldn't find some opinions about my special circumstances.
I'm planning on a 4 night, 5 day trip with my brother in mid-August. All I know for sure is that we both wish not to use the helicopter option and are planning on taking either the gondola/bus up to Sunshine then hiking in and out from Sunshine to Lake Magog and back, staying 2 nights at Lake Magog. My uncertainty is how to space out the rest of the trip/nights. Splitting the way in and out in half would have us staying at Porcupine both ways but I heard that it's not the most scenic of campsites to stay at and seems like a waste to stay at the same place twice.
I get the impression that it's easier, as far as elevation gain, going to Lake Magog, whereas returning to Sunshine is the harder trek. With that in mind I thought about the possibility of going all the way to Og Lake the first night, which would be about 21km, as it would give us more time in the core area. The longest we've backpacked in a day was 19km between Snowbowl and Tekarra campgrounds on the Skyline Trail, if any of you are familiar with that hike in Jasper. So I thought we could probably handle going to Og Lake in one day. Anybody have comparisons between those two trails, that have done them before? Comparisons as far as elevation and difficultry?
I thought on the way back we could stay one night at Porcupine, to split the km's on the way back evenly, as the way back is supposed to be more difficult as far as elevation gain and making the days a little shorter would make it a little easier.
So that would make our trip Og Lake - Lake Magog x2 - Porcupine. Thereby skipping Howard Douglas altogether. That would give us one long 21km day, a short 5km day on day two (with the option to rest or do a quick day hike), then a full day to hike around Lake Magog, then splitting the way back in half staying at Porcupine (I think Howard Douglas would be to much from Lake Magog in one day).
So I'm looking for some input and opinions on this itinerary from anyone who's hiked in and out from Susnhine to Lake Magog and from people who have stayed at all the campgrounds. Thank you everyone for your help and taking a moment to read this.