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Devils Thumb Hike

Where:

  • Devils Thumb

 

When:

  • September 27, 2022

 

Who:

  • Ed, Dave, Craig, Geoff, Todd

 

Trailhead:

  • the trailhead is at the Chateau Lake Louise
  • two hour drive from Calgary and one hour drive from Canmore

 

 

Degree of difficulty:

  • 750 meters elevation
  • 13 km round trip
  • the hike took us five hours at a leisurely pace
  • the initial 4 km to the back of Lake Agnes is not very challenging, but then it becomes steep to the Big Beehive, followed by some tricky footing along narrow ledges and shale to Devil’s Thumb

 

 

Interesting notes:

  • we did it during larch season, and the trail was packed up to the Lake Agnes Tea House but not beyond
  • the larch trees were in full bloom, and we had a sunny bluebird day
  • this was the best hiking day I’ve ever had!!!
  • the trail offers views of a vast number of surrounding peaks, including Fairview Mountain, Niblock, Mount St. Piran, Mount Temple, and the Plain of Six Glaciers
  • Devils Thumb was given its name by Native Americans, specifically the Ute and Arapahoe tribes, who after feuding for decades, settled their differences and buried the Devil, leaving only his thumb exposed as a perpetual reminder of the evils of war