It is early Tuesday morning and the noise in the chalet begins around 07:15. Breakfast to be served at 08:00. On being seated at our designated table there is a side plate of fresh blueberries and freshly made warm scones with a fantastic jam. Breakfast was a poached egg on an english muffin with arugula and a herb hollandaise sauce. Another great meal and good start to the day. I take an extra scone! Too yummy and pairs with my orange juice. ;-)
Lana still suffering with her sore right knee and unsure of her ability to hike. The guide Carleena thought she could start with the group and branch off with Tate (guide) if her knee was not working. That is exactly what occurs as the group continues to the mouth of the Durrand Glacier while Lana and Tate go to Goat Lake. Eventually, we meet them at Goat Lake for a quick snack. It is a hike from the chalet downhill and then up to the mouth of the glacier. The itinerary for the group from the glacier is to Goat Lake then up the Goat Pass to Goat Peak. Then hike down from the peak onto and then up Mirror Lake Ridge and then down into the bowl with Kala Lake system and then Mirror Lake and back to the chalet.
Another beautiful day with no wind and warm temperatures. Once we are at the glacier I want to diverge from the group and explore at the mouth. There is a cave just above a creek draining the gigantic glacier. I have lots of energy so not worried about getting tired later. Also, Ruedi, who established the lodge in 1985, had the foresight to spray paint a line where the glacier was along with the year. It's really sad to see this marker now and note how was the glacier has receded over the past 35 years.
At the mouth of the Durrand Glacier
Closer to the mouth of the glacier.
Mouth of the glacier.
Yup, the hiking guide loves taking my picture!
My agent gets 15% of any photos.
Pretty good hiking up to Goat Peak. One fun thing was jumping a narrow crevice in the rocks. If you don't make it not sure how far you would fall to your death? The group sticks together for the most part except when there is some steep incline hiking. All pretty good people and if you don't want to chat you can just stay silent. Of course some of the hikers like to talk. Carleen is our guide and keeps a steady pace and sets expectations.
We lunch at Mirror Lake Ridge which was a steady but gentle incline. The best thing is you can have views from both sides of the ridge. On west side all glacier and jagged peaks in the distance. Lots of rock scree so some tricky steps. Slightly breezy, but warm.
I chose to have a peanut butter and jam sandwich with some veg snacks and fruit and goodies. Each morning you pick up your two white lunch bags as you make your choices a couple of days in advance. For some reason on each day's hike I forget at times to resume my Garmin watch so my stats are not going to be perfect.
Mirror Ridge lunch spot. This part of the ridge is pure bedrock. Tricky hike down into the bowl area below.
Beautiful wild flowers in the alpine meadow.
Mirror Lake.
Kala Lake area. Check out the peaks in the distance. This entire area is ground and excavated by the massive receding glaciers.
HIKE DATA: 11.5 km 745 metres elevation gain 5 hours hiking
Sunny and warm on arrival at the chalet. I decide to make the 10 minute one way walk/hike from the chalet to Marmont Lake for a swim on my own. I am wearing my bathing suit under my shorts. The water is freezing cold and then the horseflies start swarming around me given most of the my skin is now exposed! I let you some yells when hitting the cold water (nobody is around). The bottom of the lake is sandy, but pieces of slate/shale are underneath so tricky to walk. Not very deep and given the attack by the flesh eating flies I make a decision to dip for a bit and then get outta the lake and dressed. Oh well, it was refreshing and I did not get bitten by the flies. It is a beautiful trail to and from the lodge full of grass, wild flowers and trees.
My decision is have a shower and get warmed up. Lana is napping. She returned around 2 pm. Time for snacks in the dining room. Today snacks are sushi and polenta peach cake. Hmmm, another yummy dining experience. Lana reading the Sunday NY Times in the dining room. Unfortunately, her right knee is still sore, but being a trooper she made it through the hike with Tate.
OK, Englishmen do know how to make a delicious baguette! This bread is as good as any baguette we've had in Paris--crusty outside, great texture inside.
Menu board for tonight. Dinner at 6:30 pm tonight. Lana had seconds of the entrée which was only a small roasted chicken leg with mushrooms sauce. It was served with two types of braised cabbage (savoy and red) as well as roasted butternut squash. Dessert is a whole poached peach served with a hazelnut cream. Our guides discussed options for hiking tomorrow. We could start as a group, but the fitter and more ambitious group will go longer and steeper. We need to be down tomorrow for breakfast at 07:00 and hiking departure at 08:00.
Sunset from the patio.
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