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September 23, 2020 In Outdoor Edventures

Mt. St. Piran hike

Where:

  • Mt. St. Piran

 

When:

  • September 23, 2020

 

Who:

  • Ed, An, Ian, Craig, Geoff, Lynn, Bailey

 

Trailhead:

  • take Highway 1 west to Lake Louise and turn off the right-hand side and then left across the overpass up to the Chateau Lake Louise parking lot
  • the trail starts out along the right-hand side of the lake just past the Chateau
  • take the first right-hand turn which leads up towards the Lake Agnes tea house

 

 

Degree of difficulty:

  • 950 meters elevation
  • 12 km
  • 4 hours total time on the trail
  • starts with a steady uphill for the first x km
  • just after Mirror Lake, take the trail to the right towards the Little Behive, and after 500 meters, there is a sign on the left for Mt. St. Piran
  • at this point, you turn left and take thirteen switchbacks to the summit (slow and steady as it’s a grunt)
  • it is quite a challenging hike due to the elevation
  • you can return the same way you came up or return down the backside into Lake Agnes
  • the backside is rocky, steep, and not for the faint of heart, but it has some wonderful additional scenery (be careful to follow the trail markings as you can get in quite a predicament if you get off the trail due to some steep ledges and slippery gulleys)

 

 

Interesting notes:

  • the trail is generally quite crowded until you turn off the Lake Agnes trail towards Little Behive and then almost nonexistent once you turn onto the Mt. St. Piran trail (there was nobody on the way up, and those that came down the front side only saw six people)
  • there are some windbreaks built out of rocks at the top that provide refuge from the gusts that are prevalent
  • one of my favorite hikes when done in the fall due to the vibrant yellow larch trees and the 360-degree views at the top
  • beautiful views of Devil’s Thumb, Fairview, Niblock, Lefroy, Mt. Temple, Big, and Little Beehive, and Lake Louise
  • the mountain was named after Saint Piran, the Patron Saint of Cornwall (the most famous of saints to come from Ireland to Cornwall)
  • it’s surprising how this trail is not very busy given the amazing views
  • you can finish off your day with a picturesque view from the lounge in the Chateau

 

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