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December 20, 2020 In Outdoor Edventures

Rummel Lake Snowshoe

Where:

  • Rummel Lake

 

When:

  • December 18, 2020

 

Who:

  • Ed, Jace, Craig, Ian, Gerard, Oak, Tram, Rod, Bauer

 

Trailhead:

  • a half-hour drive south (36 km) from Canmore on the Spray Lakes Road, but it can also be accessed from Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
  • park on the road across from the intersection of the road to Mt. Engadine Lodge/Mt. Shark

 

 

Degree of difficulty:

  • 400 meters elevation to the lake
  • 11 km to the lake and back
  • just over 3 hours total time on the trail
  • moderate climb most of the way with no extreme elevation
  • need to follow the signage as the trail intersects with the High Rockies biking trail where you turn left and follow the biking trail for about five minutes until the Rummel Lake trail breaks off to the right up the valley
  • around 4.5 km, the trail comes to a bridge where we go right in the summertime for a more scenic view but left in the winter as the right-hand route is along a steep ledge
  • at Rummel Lake, you can take the trail along the left side of the lake, and near the end of the lake, the trail cuts left up a steep gulley into the upper valley that leads to Rummel Pass (some of our lads went up to the valley and then left for a short loop where they rejoined the main trail)

 

 

Interesting notes:

  • a nice mid-level hike that does not burn out your lungs
  • beautiful views up and down the Spray Valley on the front end of the hike as you exit the first set of trees into a cut block
  • unfortunately, on this day, there were low hanging clouds, so the views were limited to the peaks that were close to us
  • Rummel Lake is very picturesque although it was covered in snow, with Mt. Galatea as a dramatic backdrop
  • is the only trail in Kananaskis Country that allows winter camping
  • backcountry skiers use the trail, so you need to be careful if they come barreling down behind you on some of the steeper sections
  • the trail is named after Lizzie Rummel, who was known as the Baroness of the Canadian Rockies (I read her book several years ago and highly recommend it)

 

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