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- - Watch Tower Canyon
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Watch Tower Canyon
Today being a nice day and my day off it is time for me to do a simple hike that I have only ever done on the ice in the winter. I will never have the "epic" days of some of the others, especially after a long day followed by a short night as was the case today! However I do love to walk out into the bush and enjoy this area of the park. This is not an "official" park trail and is used primarily in the winter as an ice climbing, weeping wall and it wasn't until I spoke with one of those users that I even knew that you could get into the canyon in the summertime.
https://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/267000/267210.jpg https://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/267000/267211.jpg https://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/267000/267212.jpg https://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/267000/267213.jpg Medicine Lake is low enough to walk along the side to just ahead of the creek following a faint trail. The trail disappears in the slide area to reappear farther along, usually lower as if slid complete to a lower spot! Few flowers and fewer bugs made for a nice stroll for a hot day, the smoke has come back with a vengeance so the pictures aren't crisp of the mountains in the distance. |
If you park at the north end of the lake, I'm assuming you follow the west shore until you get to the creek. Or do I have that all wrong? How far is it along the shore before you can start hiking in? And how far is the hike?
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It's a very short hike from the west end of Medicine Lake, Peter. Follow the south edge of the first parking area to find a faint trail, likely 2 km to the creek and I'm not real sure just how far the distance is along the creek. Really pretty summer or winter I can now say! I have since been told that they climb in there in the summer as well.
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Thanks. I know where to look.
Going up there this weekend to do Bald Hills and Sulphur Skyline. Might have to pick a few lesser trails in the neighbourhood if it rains too hard or the smoke's too bad. This might be a good one. |
The map shows Medicine Lake running NNW to SSE with the approach from the valley below at the NNW end. Not trying to be difficult, but if you're navigating with a compass you night want to double check.
I'll get something more accurate this weekend. |
LOL, you know you're a local when.... sorry Peter, you're right, I didn't even have my little backpack with me to think to look at a compass I just knew from doing it in the winter where to start and then in response to your first query I just looked at my map on the wall! lol Sorry, it is the NNW, or town end where there is a parking area and out house, no information stands there.
If the smoke continues like this then this would be a very nice spot to be this wkd. It is a short hike with no real elevation change. I hope you enjoy the weekend here in Jasper once more. |
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Medicine Lake was smoked in Saturday AM. https://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/268000/268998.jpg We did Bald Hills, with smoke all the way to the lookout. While we were sitting around griping about the lack of views, the skies miraculously cleared completely and we had mostly sunshine all the rest of the way. https://www.clubtread.com/forumPix/268000/268999.jpg Maybe you could join us some time? Will post TR soon. |
I just saw this!!! That looks like such a pretty spot! [:p] Did you go for a swim?
Don't even worry,my days are not all epic lol...sometimes,I walk on a dyke!! The joys of city life ;) |
Joining your group sounds like fun Peter, however I work wkds so it would have to be one of your evening strolls! The shifting winds keep everyone guessing as to where the smoke might be lighter. I'm glad it lifted enough for your group to get some views. I'm really hopeful B.C. is getting some much needed rain.
NoQuitting, I do enjoy living in paradise! and having the smoke covering so much of our mountains lately it makes me appreciate the area even more now it has lifted some. Little walks or big hikes there is always a reason to be glad to live here! I wasn't swimming as the creek is flowing fast and shallow, dipped my hands in though! There is another little lake that we like to swim in that is actually real warm. |
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LOL the little lake is probably losing all its water by now as it is just a wee beaver dam area that I did spend a beautiful afternoon floating on earlier this summer. And ya it needs to be kept quiet or Lobo would have both our hides! His favorite cool off spot! lol
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Hmmm....
No offence intended, but somehow the idea of seeing Dieter floating around naked in a mountain pond doesn't appeal to me. |
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