Lake O’Hara Hiking

The trail to Lake Osea

The trail  to  Lake Oesa

Wednesday September 2nd 2015

Thank you to Joy and Cam for inviting me to join them on the bus to Lake O’Hara. What a day it turned out to be. First we had rain as we set off to The Abbot Hut. Then heavy snow as the elevation increased. Later we got sunshine. The snow was falling so hard mid morning that as we approached the scree run up to the hut we decided to abandon that part of the hike. Hikers were reporting thigh deep snow ahead. The visibility was poor so what was the point in carrying on. By the time we arrived back at Lake Oesa the clouds were beginning to part.  After a stand up lunch in the snow the sun came out. As we had five hours until the 6:30 bus and it was my first time in the area it was a great opportunity to see as much as possible.  We set off for Lake Opabin via the Yukness ledge trail. Then onto the Opabin Prospect plateau before descending down to Mary Lakes and back via the Elizabeth Parker ACC hut. Although we could have pushed on and made the 4:30 bus we sat up on the plateau above the lake and admired the view for a good half hour. A great day and I and I am looking forward to returning.

Lake Osea

Lake Oesa

 

Abbot Hut route across scree over rocks and left. Note hikers on scree

Abbot Hut route across scree over rocks and left. Note hikers on scree

On the ledges coming back through the rock band

On the ledges coming back through the rock band

Coming through a rock band going to Yucknes Ledges

Coming through a rock band going to Yukness Ledges

Small tarn Yuckness trail

Small tarn Yukness trail

Hikers coming from the Yukness Ledges

Hikers coming from the Yukness Ledges

Lake Opabin. Mt Hungabee Lft

Lake Opabin. Mt Hungabee Lft

Cascade Lakes near Opabin Prospect outlook. Cathedral Mt

Cascade Lakes near Opabin Prospect outlook. Cathedral Mt behind

View from Opabin prospect outlook

View from Opabin prospect outlook. Mary lakes and O’Hara lake

 

The route down from Lake Opabin from Opabin Plateau

The route down from Lake Opabin and the Opabin Plateau

LakeOHara

 

Lake O'Hara profile

 

Distance return 13.5 km Time return 7:30 hrs ( inc 30 min lunch ) Elevation Accumulated gain 850 m Elevation to Summit 450 m Summit height 2500 m abandoned heavy snow

GPS Download

Google Earth – KML

Mt Huber emerges from the clouds

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Mt Huber emerges from the clouds

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