Within the winter earlier than Parks Canada backcountry reservations opened, I poured over my topo maps in search of a backcountry journey in Banff Nationwide Park I hadn’t completed that appeared attention-grabbing. I ended up selecting a four-day variation of the Sawback Path hike that began on the Moose Meadows parking zone (close to Johnston Canyon) and took us up Johnston Creek Valley, Pusatilla Go, Baker Lake, and completed on the backside of the fireplace street close to the Lake Louise Ski Space. It turned out to be a tricky hike with lengthy days and sufficient elevation acquire to present you fairly a exercise.
On the upside, we found some stunning nation on the Sawback Path that few individuals see, particularly within the space between Luellen Lake, Badger Go and Pusatilla Go. It’s grand, empty – and generally desolate feeling. As a bonus the campsites are wonderful at Luellen Lake and Badger Go Junction, particularly in comparison with the not-so-private mud holes which are referred to as campsites at Baker Lake Campground.
The total Sawback Path hike begins on the Mount Norquay day lodge and finishes about 73 km later on the Fish Creek Parking Space close to Lake Louise. Nonetheless, every thing I had learn in regards to the first part of path sounded lower than attention-grabbing. Assume lack of views and plenty of bushes, much like what I noticed on my hike to Cascade Amphitheatre – which covers the start of the path. I’m positive Mystic Lake and Mystic Go are stunning, however there’s a number of kilometres to hike to see them.
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Sawback Path hike abstract
Whole distance for our model of the Sawback Path: 62.6 km (38.9 miles) although Judy’s app examine 69 km.
Approximate elevation acquire/loss: +2,254 m (7,396 ft)/-1,828 m (5,997 ft)
Degree of issue: Laborious
Time wanted: 4 days was good for this distance.
Greatest time to hike: Late June till the snow flies, often someday in September.
What to take: You’ll want a backcountry reservation for all campsites and a nationwide parks cross to hike the path
Backcountry campsites on the a part of Sawback Path we did: Jo9 (Larry’s Camp), Jo18 (Johnston Creek), Jo19 (Luellen Lake), Jo29 (Badger Go Junction), Ba15 (Wildflower Creek), Ba11 (Baker Lake), Sk5 (Hidden Lake)
Issues: The Sawback Path traverses prime grizzly nation, so take straightforward to entry bear spray and know use it. Porcupines love salt and can chew your mountain climbing poles and mountain climbing boots if accessible.
Canine: Permitted on a leash.
Don’t neglect: Make sure you pack the mountain climbing necessities and depart a plan of the place you’re do out with somebody. Attempt to depart the campsites cleaner than you discovered them. We noticed nearly no rubbish on the path, save for the odd errant bar wrapper.
Discovering the trailhead for the Sawback Path hike
We did a model of the Sawback Path hike utilizing two vehicles. We left one at our end – the Fish Creek parking space – off the street to Lake Louise Ski Space and one other at Moose Meadows on Freeway 1A the place we began.
Fish Creek Parking Space
Flip north off the Trans-Canada Freeway and proceed on Whitehorn Highway in direction of the Lake Louise Ski Space for two km, passing the turnoff to Freeway 1A alongside the best way. Take the correct onto a mud street – signed for Skoki Lodge. There’s a good sized parking zone and a few porta pottys too.
Moose Meadows parking
From Citadel Junction on Freeway 1A (the place you will get gasoline, snacks, and chilly drinks) drive 4.9 km southeast to achieve the signed turnoff to Moose Meadows. For those who’re driving Freeway 1A west from Banff, you’ll discover the Moose Meadows parking zone, 1.2 km northwest of the Johnston Canyon parking space.
Day 1 on the Sawback Path: Moose Meadows Parking zone to Luellen Lake
Distance: 17.1 km or 10.6 miles.
Time shifting: 5:23 hours
Elevation acquire/loss: +708m/-149m
Vacation spot: Luellen Lake Campground
The hike on the Sawback Path rom Moose Meadows to Luellen Lake is simple. The 5.3 km path to the Ink Pots is signed and nicely used after it meets up with the path developing from Johnston Canyon. (You can begin at Johnston Canyon, however parking is at all times a problem right here, so I believe it’s extra thoughtful to liberate an area for 4 days and park at Moose Meadows as an alternative.)
From the Ink Pots head throughout the meadows on an apparent path to achieve a bridge over Johnston Creek. Go up the path about 50 m to achieve the Johnston Creek Path. Flip left and comply with the path to achieve Larry’s Camp within the bushes beside a creek at 7.6 km. Cross the creek and go left to proceed in direction of Luellen Lake. Going proper takes you to Mystic Go.
Proceed for an additional 8.5 km on the Sawback Path via a mixture of meadow and forest, climbing progressively to achieve a wide-open space and an indication pointing left or west in direction of Luellen Lake. We had been fearful we’d missed it as this part felt lengthy however we didn’t, and also you received’t. Cross Johnston Creek once more and climb gently for about quarter-hour to achieve peaceable Luellen Lake and the campground.
A spotlight for us on this part was seeing Mammatus clouds about 20 minutes after leaving the Ink Pots – an indicator of potential heavy rain, hail, and lightning – all of which some individuals we met on the path the subsequent day skilled within the night.
The Luellen Lake Campground in Banff Nationwide Park
Lengthy, slim Luellen Lake is in a reasonably setting beneath the Helena Ridge cliffs. We noticed a household of grebes on the lake within the night and once more within the morning.
I actually appreciated the Luellen Lake Campground. There have been 5 personal tent websites, a privy an extended distance from something, bear lockers, a picnic desk, benches, and a fireplace ring. As you may see, it was straightforward to get water from the lake – and there was an fairly outlet stream only a brief distance away.
Day 2 on the Sawback Path: Luellen Lake to Badger Go Junction
Whole distance: Roughly 16 km from Luellen Lake to the Badger Go Junction Campground – after which an out and again to inside a kilometre of Badger Go.
Distance one technique to Badger Go from the Johnston Creek Path: 5.0 km
Time shifting: 3:57 hours.
Elevation acquire and loss: +578m/-376m
The 6.3 km hike on the Sawback Path from Luellen Lake to Badger Go Junction Campground is a simple one you could knock off in underneath two hours.
Retrace your steps to the intersection you left the day earlier than. Flip left and proceed on the Sawback Path because it heads northwest up the valley. It will get prettier as you go along with the Sawback Vary coming into view.
There’s one stream you’ll need to ford on the best way to the campground – and there are a number of chest excessive willows to get via. You’ll attain the turnoff to Badger Go about 0.5 km earlier than you attain the campground. We elected to move to the campground, arrange our tent, drop our meals – after which retrace our steps to the turnoff to Badger Go and do it as a day hike.
To get the the Badger Go Junction Campground, rock hop throughout a stream, head up the hill and begin in search of campsites. I discovered a really personal one with a incredible mountain view.
Day hike to Badger Go from Badger Go Junction
After our lunch my good friend Judy and I rustled up some enthusiasm to hike to Badger Go. We each agreed we solely wanted to go a brief distance up – however the extra we hiked, the extra we each needed to see.
You could backtrack 0.5 km from the campground to achieve the path as much as Badger Go. There’s instantly a brief part of steep mountain climbing however half approach up there’s a view of a stepped waterfall. The photograph beneath doesn’t do it justice. Shortly after, we topped out in some fairly meadows that had been loaded with potentilla (shrubby cinquefoil) – the yellow flowering hardy shrub.
To get to Badger Go you have to ford a number of streams. Some had been a snap, however in the event you needed to maintain your ft moist, others took some scouting.
It’s a gentle 519 m (1,703 ft) acquire to Badger Go, however a reasonable one with plenty of meadows, flowers and a few beautiful views as you get out of the bushes. On the opposite facet of Badger Go there are two campgrounds – Block Lakes Junction – 7 km distant and Flint’s Park, 12.5 km away. You may hook up with the Mystic Go path in the event you take this route.
Day 3 on the Sawback Path: Badger Go Junction to Pusatilla Go to Baker Lake Campground
Distance: Roughly 16.4 km although Judy’s app learn as 20.5 km.
Time spent shifting: 5:35 h
Elevation acquire/loss: +828 m/-603m
Vacation spot: Baker Lake Campground
The hike to Baker Lake Campground from Badger Go Junction on the Sawback Path was principally half incredible (the half to Pusatilla Lake) and half not a lot enjoyable.
You begin by fording a stream instantly after leaving the campground. Proceed strolling northwest, via willows at instances, for 3.9 km with to achieve Pusatilla Go. It’s a magnificence – and Pusatilla Lake is a spot the place you simply wish to drop your pack and calm down. We didn’t, however we did cease for an early lunch to soak up the views earlier than plunging steeply down into the bushes for six.4 km to achieve the Wildflower Creek Campground on the junction with the Baker Creek Path. In locations there have been plenty of bushes down, however nothing that was tough to get round.
The subsequent 5.3 km on the Sawback Path weren’t a number of enjoyable – plenty of water, soggy floor, avalanche paths with particles, flash-flood rubble at Lychnis Creek – after which a steep 1 km part that delivers you in a subalpine meadow. As soon as on the meadow, the mountain climbing was good once more – and offered sweeping views up the valley. We had a pleasant dialog with 4 younger guys from Toronto (their get together of seven dwindled to 4 after the primary night time of thunderstorms and lightning) earlier than turning left or northwest to hike 0.8 km to the Baker Lake Campground.
Baker Lake Campground
I visited Baker Lake Campground 10 years in the past and nothing has been upgraded, in that point, save for the outhouses. I really like the mountain climbing you are able to do out of Baker Lake, together with the Skoki Loop, however I don’t like the dearth of privateness, the filth solely tent pads, and hanging meals such an extended distance away.
On the intense facet, Baker Lake could be very stunning, particularly within the morning when it’s quiet. We had a deer wandering across the camp, seemingly oblivious to people. At night time I woke as much as a porcupine munching on the deal with of my mountain climbing pole – so remember to pack mountain climbing boots and poles inside your tent. Some hikers had the complete deal with gnawed off their mountain climbing pole whereas they slept. (Duct tape offered a little bit of a repair.)
Day 4 on the Sawback Path hike – Baker Lake Campground to Lake Louise trailhead
Distance: Roughly 13.1 km
Time spent shifting: About 3.5 hours.
Elevation acquire/loss: +140/-700m roughly
Vacation spot: Fish Creek parking space
It’s an easy and really stunning hike on the final part of the Sawback Path for roughly 6 km beginning on the Baker Lake Campground via to the turnoff to Hidden Lake Campground. After that, you’re simply able to be completed, particularly on the ultimate 3.9 km-long part of fireplace street on the finish.
We met two hikers from France on the day we hiked out from Baker Lake who requested if they may be part of us – despite the fact that they had been sooner hikers. That they had began out and obtained about half a kilometre down the path once they noticed a mama grizzly and her cub. They beat a hasty retreat to the campground after which joined us to Boulder Go. Though they carried bear spray, they actually didn’t know use it, so earlier than they left us, I made positive they knew what to do.
I really like the part as much as Ptarmigan Lake for all of the chook life, marmots, and floor squirrels. Ptarmigan Lake, particularly in wildflower season is beautiful.
As soon as your attain Boulder Go it’s all downhill and it goes shortly.
For extra pictures and an in depth description learn: Backpacking to Baker Lake in Banff Nationwide Park.
Tenting gear I used
MEC Spark 2-person tent
Usually I camp with my husband John and we take our three-person MSR Elixir tent – as it really works nicely with the canine.
On the Sawback Path hike, MEC was type sufficient to supply me with a 1.75 kg (3.8 kilos) Spark 2V2 tent and a 244-gram MEC Spark 2-person footprint. I cherished it because the tent was light-weight and compact, with the poles folding up with the tent and fly into one seamless bundle. The tent itself was roomy for me and the canine – and it was light-weight sufficient that I might carry it and all my different gear for 4 nights. There have been two doorways and two small vestibules. Inside there have been two deep pockets (4 could be supreme for me). After I’d put it up the primary time, I used to be in a position to do it unaided in about 4 minutes – which is nice in the event you’re in dangerous climate.
This tent is a lot extra compact and simple to hold than the Elixir that we’re taking it on the Kungsledden trek in Sweden later this yr.
For ultralight weight tenting you may in concept use the fly and the footprint and forgo the tent however that’s not my factor.
Backpack
On the three night time, 4 day Sawback Path backpacking journey, I attempted the MEC Zephyr 65L girls’s backpack (males’s model right here).
The backpack weighs 1.75 kg (3.9 kilos) and is large enough to hold gear and meals for per week (rather less with me as I take extra contemporary meals). What I cherished about it was the next:
- A big expandable mesh pocket on the entrance the place you may throw a jacket and some bars
- Two deep water bottle holders – that may additionally match extra of your stuff
- A whistle constructed into the shoulder straps (and it’s loud!)
- Straps on the backside of the pack which are excellent for carrying a tent or sleeping pad
- A zipper on the backside that permits quick access to any gear you’ve put there
- A lot of straps and the power to get an excellent match
- Padded hip belt that by no means rubbed (in contrast to my 70 L pack)
I’ve used it on two backpacking journeys now and really feel that it serves my wants. It’s made with sturdy denier nylon in excessive put on areas so I ought to get years of use.
Different vital tenting gear to take
For snacks take plenty of selection – bars, nuts, dried fruit, jerky and sweet.
For those who’re mountain climbing the Sawback Path, chances are high you’ve got plenty of backcountry tenting expertise. If not take a look at Tenting for Novices: What You Must Know.
Extra backpacking journeys in Western Canada you’ll in all probability wish to do
British Columbia
Alberta
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