Third Time's The Charm

[hiketofish]

I knew this hike was better to do with company. I had everything set up with my Brother to go, had even tried to get some forum members to take a chance and join me but no go and then my brother had to cancel. I was dropped off by family at the Mosquito Creek Campground with no one to fish with. I walked into the picnic shelter and saw a younger guy cooking his supper. I casually asked him if he was going to hike anywhere tomorrow. He said he was but hadn't picked a hike. So in literally 2 minutes, I had a hiking partner...not a fishing partner mind you but that's okay. This is actually a fairly common pattern with me. I can think of 4 significantly hard to get to lakes where my sole purpose was to check out the fishing and my trip partners could care less about even casting once. Here's the early morning start, after a short hike, you can really save some time if you can paddle. I have come to really like this pack raft, very versatile and light.

 

After crossing the big lake, you come to Margaret Lake. Pretty in its own right but not the destination. The crux of the hike is right above you, a fairly significant cliff band that you know is doable based on two prior experiences.

 

 

There are some old clues from a previous era that lead you in the right direction, faint green arrows. At least a half dozen that I saw. I will add that they are not easy to find until you are a few feet from them.

 

You go up this crack, the picture does not do it justice as to the steepness although going up was not hard. The reverse is petrifying.

 

Here's the guy I met the night before. He is surely enjoying himself. This is just above the crack, a better perspective on the cliffiness of the area. Not a hike to do in poor weather.

 

Then at a particularly steep part that was a bit wet with a spring, we find a chain about 20 feet long. Yes its a bit old and rusty but I was happy to see it. It certainly confirmed for me that we were on the right route. I had heard that the original route had chains at one time, I was super glad to find a remnant. I admit it was sliding through my hands on the descent.

 

Here we are a bit after the chain. Yep its still steep and scary. I was beginning to wonder what the down was going to be like but my anticipation of getting to this long awaited lake was trumping any fear. My new friend is still smiling and we press on. We aren't really getting much higher but are steadily moving across the exposure.

 

Here's a picture of the waterfall and part of a tree you have to go around. One of the scarier parts of the ascent I will add. To think the first time I tried to get here, I climbed 2/3's of the way up the waterfall before it became clear that it was not going to work.

 

You continue to traverse narrow ledges with loose scree, I was wondering if it was ever going to get easier. The excitement continues to grow in me. Would I finally get there, Would there be any fish? Would it matter? What if I saw fish but couldn't catch them, would I have to come back?

 

Finally we hit a gully that we climb straight up, we're finally away from the exposure. We are rewarded with our first look at the lake. It is a dark blue color, I don't actually know if its the color of Turquoise as I don't really know what that looks like. For those who have hiked to Loomis Lake in K-country, it is a very similar color.

 

 

I will try and post a second part tomorrow. I'm sure you realize that the down is going to be far harder than the up.

[SteveM]

Son, you is CRRRAAAZY!!!

We have to fish together some day.

After I win the lottery.

I'll meet you at the lake...

("Oh, pilot, would be be a good fella & warm up the chopper? Atta boy!")

 

I can't stand the suspense!!!

Did you survive???

 

[Bandi]

HikeToFish, it looks like a daredevil hike ^..^. Pretty cool photos, but have you wondered why you do not find hiking partners from the board? I would not go with you! Only kidding (well partially). My favorite is the first shot! (though the waterfall looks great, too)

 

[reevesr1]

I always look forward to your adventures! Can't wait to hear about the fishing part. I've started to do some hike in fishing myself this year, but NOTHING like that!!

[SteveM]

I always look forward to your adventures! Can't wait to hear about the fishing part. I've started to do some hike in fishing myself this year, but NOTHING like that!!

 

Rick, I really don't want to see your grieving family at your funeral any time soon.

I've seen you fall a time or ten. I wonder how many times your life could flash before your eyes if you took a tumble on that hike??? Do not join Hiketofish on a hike!!!

 

[acct421]

Gotta admit, I've always wanted to join you on one of these ridiculous adventures. That's intense!!!

 

 

[kentan]

I would go if it didnt look you could die with every step you take! Thats some F%$&ING crazy shizit man!

[dekkard2019]

Truly epic!!

 

[treeplanter]

Way to go for getting there, I puked out on the cliff face when I tried this one.

The suspence is killing me: We know hiketofish made it down, but:

did the young guy in sneakers freeze up on the way down? (I've been with a guy when he froze up on a cliff...no fun let me tell you!)

are there still fish up there, if so are they splake or have they evolved into all sorts of brookie/laker hybreds?

stay tuned.

[hiketofish]

So what fly does a splake like? Earlier this summer I had spent a day in Narrow Hills Provincial Park in Saskatchewan where there are lots of Splake Lakes and struck out despite people telling me they were the easiest fish to catch as long as you were at the right depth. I walked part way down the shore and set up a rod with a large nymph and a yellow indicator. On my first cast, a fish came up 3 times and took my indicator. I was definitely going to have to rethink this depth thing. I know most people would be disappointed having to resort to dry fly tactics at a high mountain lake but I certainly wasn't. It actually turned out to be only okay as only the small splake come up a eat your dry fly. I did catch my first Splake on the same nymph I started with on the third cast. Just a little guy.

 

I like the markings on their heads.

 

Here's a few more. There were definitely color variations in them.

 

 

This one was a juvenile and had some of his Brook trout heritage showing

 

The fish were not huge, I would say the largest I caught was maybe 13 or 14 inches. I did not keep any. I did see some larger ones, and missed a few who came shooting out from under rocks as my black wooly bugger went by. I only fished one side of the lake and wished I'd tried one spot on the other side where my hiking partner said he could hear lots of water draining into the leg through the scree. The lake is actually quite large and you cannot walk around it due to cliffs. Here's the view to the side with easy access to the near by peak.

 

He was kind enough to give me a picture looking down on the lake. Part of the Wapta Icefield can be seen above the lake.

 

Well time to go down. It is definitely one thing to go up facing a cliff, climbing on easy to see hand and foot holds, never getting any vertical induced anxiety. Here's a look a Margaret Lake a long way down.

 

If I could go up to this lake 10 times and not have to go down once, I'd do it. There is no simple way to explain how dropping down to ledges with a big void in front of you is knee buckling. This section here, we are both taking a break, trying to get our heart rates back below 200. I know it doesn't look that scary but coming around that corner was super scary on the way down.

 

At times we crawled, walked like a crab, always knowing there were secure ledges and foot holds as long as you didn't slip. There is about 30 minutes of exposure that is unfun where you are on the edge of safe. My waterbottle had become dislodged on the way up and fell the 200 meters or so. It survived.

 

So as happy as I was to make it to Turquoise and catch some Splake, I was even happier to see Margaret Lake again. My hiking partner stated that his "adrenaline gland was on empty". Once back to Hector we had to take a break and get back to normal before paddling down the lake again. I did not catch any fish in Hector by the way. I seem to only be good at fishing untouched pristine lakes. So would I do it again? Probably not, there is definitely some awesome views, some good fishing, a beautiful lake, and pristine surroundings. But the descent was just not that enjoyable. It would be too easy for someone in a group to freeze up on the ledge and not want to descend and usually on a hike, a slip means you hurt yourself, maybe break something. A slip here would not be good. For those who have done similar cliffy hikes such as Ribbon Lake, Canaervon Lake, Block Lakes or Lineham lakes, this one is way scarier (is that a word?). I'm not trying to dissuade people from going the hike as it is rewarding but realize what you're in for and remember that what goes up must come down (in one piece).

[cheeler]

Great pics, but I'd be on the helicopter if I wanted to visit!

[kentan]

I feel funny just reading the story and looking at the pic's, I wouldnt do that lol!

[PeteZahut]

Great pics and story as usual! Great advice as well. I could feel the anxiety as I read and looked at the pictures.

[flyfishingdoc]

Dude, that's some crazy story.

Thanks for sharing

[Crowsnest]

HTF,

 

that is wickedly sick.

 

You ARE the man.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[darrinhurst]

Personally, I think you're nucking futs, but hey, that's just my opinion.

 

Awesome shots and great story.

[Jayhad]

THats Awesome, I almost can't believe there are still splakes up there.. but proof is in the pudding... bravo

[bigbowtrout]

 

Awesome and thanks for taking the time to post.

[Hawgstoppah]

I have to admit, reading your story makes me feel nauseated.... I would be the guy who clammed up going down. Call in the chopper!!!

[zed]

i threw up twice reading your report. looks terrifying. well done.

[bhurt]

It would be a awsome adventure, but truthfully I do not think you could get me to do that, I trow upin planes taking off let alone scaling cliff walls, well done.

[fishpro]

Unreal report and pictures, looks like a trip of a lifetime. Great work!

[Heimdallr]

Awesome report and pictures! I had actually pondered your offer when you posted, but the timing just didn't work for me. Looks intense!

[FraserN]

I think I read a report about this last year. The hike is patently insane just looking at it. It gives me anxiety and was difficult to just read about it. I would never do a hike like that. The worst I ever did was three isle lake, but it was nothing like this.

[hiketofish]

I think I read a report about this last year. The hike is patently insane just looking at it. It gives me anxiety and was difficult to just read about it. I would never do a hike like that. The worst I ever did was three isle lake, but it was nothing like this.

 

 

Yes I posted something last year with my Dad on the same trip. We tried climbing up way to the right and then traversing a thin ledge all the way across. It actually takes you to what would be the top of the crack that is in one of the pictures. The problem is the ledge disappears. It is not the hardest lake I've been to, (that Distinction goes to David Lake hands down) but is the scariest (ie riskiest) for the descent.

 

Anyways Thanks for the nice comments and encouragement to post. No I'm not crazy, just like to Hike and fish. I might post a day hike I did a few days before going to this lake. It helps to relive the hike by making a bit of a story with the pics. Perhaps we'll get a few more hike in (or fly in) fishing trips posted. Here's a few more pics.

 

Here's a pic from the very top (the side peak above the lake) looking down at Hector and part of Margaret.

 

Here's a pic of me flyfishing or flailing away with the lake in the background. When I was fishing along the steep scree, it was amazing how many flies I lost either during the cast or once a fish bit. I think it was because my tippet was getting cut along the scree.

 

The lake is quite big and I believe fairly deep, although not sure how one really tells. In some of the pictures if you follow the left side of the lake to the base of some cliffs, you see a tiny speck of snow to the left of the cliffs. That was where I hiked to. Well that little bank of snow was at closer to 3 times my height and prevented any reasonable casting there. There was no up and around the cliffs either, so I couldn't walk around the lake which would have been nice. Perhaps the next guy can walk the right side of the lake.

 

Here's a small Splake on a Dry Fly. The best way I found to catch then was to cast a weighted pattern out and then start walking along the scree. Usually within a minute the fly would be drawn close to the rocks and I think since I wasn't there anymore, they would bite. That worked way better than stripping it in.

 

 

One last look at the lake before leaving

 

So I'd like to do at least one more fall hike and I have the go ahead on the home front. Most of the lakes I go to are not the standard run of the mill ones which to me makes them way more fun. I love to either get off the trail or take a seldom used one. You just have to want to come and have okay fitness. Just be like that guy in the shelter. I have three lakes on my radar that I would like to do, 4 if you count the one I went to last year that wasn't the actual lake. I'd love to take a partner that flyfishes that would actually fish the lake we go to. So much more to talk about. So if there is any interest, let me know. Right now I'm thinking of Saturday till Monday night of next weekend or maybe the next. One is in Banff, three are in Jasper. You would need the Monday off.