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LARCH VALLEY
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Eiffel Pk. and Pinnacle Mtn. [284 Kb]
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Larch Valley is located two kilometers west and about
400 meters above Moraine Lake, in Banff National Park.
The trailhead at Moraine Lake, elevation 1888 meters,
can be expected to be very busy during the summer months since
Moraine Lake is one of the main tourist destinations
in the Lake Louise area. Once on the trail, however,
the crowds diminish rapidly since few of the tourists
venture beyond the lake shore.
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Moraine Lake [177 Kb]
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The trail switchbacks up through sub alpine forest, with views
through the trees down to Moraine Lake below and the
Wenkchemna Peaks to the south. The trail enters
Larch Valley at about 2.5 km and 2240 meter elevation.
Ringed by Eiffel Peak, Pinnacle Mountain, and Mount Temple,
Larch valley is really more of a broad glacial cirque than
a valley. It is, however, filled with alpine larch trees
as the name would suggest.
Two options are available for further excursion from Larch
Valley. To the west is the trail to Eiffel Lake and Wenkchemna
Pass, which takes you to the boundary of Yoho National Park.
The trail to the north ascends Sentinel Pass before descending
again to Paradise Valley. When we hiked this trail on 19 August 2003
we were required to pair up with another group, since reports
of an aggressive bear in the area prompted the park service to
limit hiking parties to six or more. Smoke from the many
forest fires burning in British Columbia during the summer
of 2003 obscured many of the views.
Other stuff:
Panoramic pictures
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