Col descent to Little Temple Lake
September 23rd 2015
Wow Little Temple and Temple Lake hike / scramble has it all. In September it has even more with the Larch trees in full colour. Little Temple is not named on the map but is the high peak above Temple lake. The hike starts from Moraine Lake road at the Paradise pullout. Hike on the well worn trail up to Annette Lake with glaciated Mt Temple towering above . From the lake go to the south end and jump around on the large boulders heading for the gap between Mt Temple and on the left the hillside start of Little Temple. There are three ways to do this route. Route 1. Heading for the gap stay low head straight for the Col (photo in gallery) above the lake. This way you are not going up Little Temple but just doing the lake circuit. Route 2. Go the same low way and as the trees thin head up to the ridge below Little Temple. Route 3. After the boulders head left and as the Little Temple side opens up head straight up to the Larch trees and wonder through until on the ridge. This is the way we took. The thought is elevation has to be gained so get it done. The advantage is also that you have the views of Paradise Valley behind you all the way and it gives you an excuse to stop to take in the fantastic views. To the Peak it is the usual scramble over loose scree and boulders. There is another a sub peak below which could easily be gained if energy allows. We returned back to the Col and descended down to the lake. A very steep grassy, rocky slope a near 500 m plunge. Walk along the side of the lake to the far end were the creek exits. Then follow the trail down the creek eventually coming to the Moraine Lake Highline Trail. Now if you only have one car and it is at the Paradise Parking turn left and walk back about 3.5 km. Or place a second car at the u-bend corner of the Moraine Lake road about 3.0 km from the Paradise parking. Then it is a shorter 0.5 km hike back to the car by crossing the Moraine Highline trail and continue following the creek, heading straight to your second vehicle. Another option to just see Temple Lake is to hike in from the road up Temple Creek.
Little Temple and Lake Annette from the Summit of Saddleback
Annette Lake Paradise Valley
South end of Annette Lake. Route is left and below the moraine ridge
Breaking out of the larch trees
Looking back into Paradise Valley from the open ridge.
Hungabee and the Horseshoe glacier rising above the Horseshoe lakes
Not far to Little Temple summit to the left the sub peak
From the summit to lower peak and Lake Louise ski hill
Temple lake from the summit.
Looking back to the summit of Little Temple from Temple lake.
The trail down from Temple lake to Moraine Lake Rd follows Temple Creek
Crossing the Moraine Lake Highline trail. Route is still down the creek on the right bank.
Distance return 12.0km Time return 6 hr ( inc 30 min lunch ) Elevation Accumulated gain 990 m Elevation to Summit 940 m Summit height 2660 m
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