Lake Minnewanka the easiest hike in Banff - Winter camping - Part 1
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- čas přidán 7. 07. 2024
- Last hike of the winter season. April is always a tough month for outdoor adventures because we either have too little snow for snowshoes/skis, or it's too wet & muddy for boots. My friend Geoff (aka Wandering Panda on YT) and I timed this trip perfectly.
Lake Minnewanka is very close to Banff, and it's an extremely popular summer destination with hikers, cyclists and canoeists. I personally would never visit this lake in summer because it's just too crowded. Winter is the perfect time for a quick visit. We had the place to ourselves, and we even got to enjoy a walk across the ice.
0:00 Introduction
2:43 The trail head
4:47 LM8 Campground (Aylmer Pass Junction)
8:33 Cutting firewood
9:39 Walking on the frozen lake
14:06 Setting up my tent
16:38 Talking about bears
23:22 Meal time
#Martyupnorth #LakeMinnewanka #Backpacking
Lake Minnewanka is very close to Banff, and it's an extremely popular summer destination with hikers, cyclists and canoeists. I personally would never visit this lake in summer because it's just too crowded. The shoulder season (April/May or Oct/Nov) is the perfect time for a quick visit. We had the place to ourselves, and we even got to enjoy a walk across the ice. As a bonus for some folks, there's almost perfect cell phone coverage.
What beautiful landscapes! I understand why this destination is so popular and crowded!
As always thanks for the uploads
Please continue to stay safe and be careful Marty 👍👍✌
Never walked on a frozen lake, then again, I live in Texas. Enjoy your videos.
fun video with gorgeous scenery! perfect trip for some good leftovers and drinks - cheers
I used to spend my summers at my grandmother's cabin in upstate NY. I had never seen it frozen so I drove 5 hours one winter to see it frozen. It was great to walk on the frozen lake where I had only been boating and swimming before.
Guy LaFleur and Brandon Yip will have to wait another year for some puck :)
Side Note for this year: for people who do a bit of bike-packing or just road cycling, you can visit Minnewanka and ride the Lake Minnewanka Loop Road May 1 - May 20. Parks will be completely closing that road to motor vehicle traffic as a pilot project.
After that, the Bow Valley Parkway will again be closed to motor vehicles from Banff to Castle Junction (gas station) beginning May 20. I, for sure, will go give both a spin this year a few times. Got a good bike Marty?
People doing Johnson Canyon, Inkpots etc will have exit/enter road walk from the Junction to the trailhead; although last year I saw that they let a couple vehicles through to pick up hikers coming off the multi-day Sawback route.
Beautiful snow mountain s👍pakistan 🇵🇰
I lived in Yellowknife NT for 15 yrs and on the May Long W/E my friends and I would go on a backpacking trip walking on the frozen lakes with no snow on the portages or in the bush. Early "break up " is an awesome time to be out !!!
Down here in Australia I’ve never had the pleasure. Plenty of snow but no frozen lakes .. very envious indeed !
Yup, walked, skated and skied on lakes. Rideau Canal (OK, not a Lake) is great to skate on when you get the chance. XC Skied @ Elk Island many years ago, there was a layer of melted water laying on top of the ice but it was covered by snow so I didn't know it was there. Skiiing along and suddenly it was really hard to ski, looked down and the water had frozen to my skis, scared the crap outta me. Then took an hour to chisel the ice off my skies (it was around -25C at the time). Turns out the ice can be so heavy it'll settle and if it cracks, there can be water upflow. Lesson learned.
I went to school for 4 years at the University of Ottawa. When I needed a break from studying I'd lace up the skates and go for a long skate down the canal with buddies.
I have never walked across a frozen lake before. I grew up in Missouri so our lakes never free over. Maybe someday I can get to Canada and experience it. Really enjoy your channel. Cheers
As soon as the border between our countries opens up to non-essential travel I have a trip planned with hikes in Colorado & Utah. I have a cousin in Texas that I haven't seen for 3 years. Cheers.
My man! You got yourself a new subscriber when you whipped out the marmot tent.
It's a great tent at an unbeatable price.
Hi, Marty, I was booking for a few trips this year and remembered this vid and decided to see if I could get a spot at lm 8 too this May. I was surprised when one was available so we made the drive up from Vancouver and had a great sunny day . A few fishers on the water but few people overall. Nice spot. Wanted to say thank you and that the highlight of the trip was that my wife was so happy to have been walking in your footsteps sir. Always appreciate your work. Thanks again :-)
I love hearing stories like this. My number one goal with my channel is to introduce people to this amazing sport, and help them discover great areas. Were you able to walk on the lake by any chance, or is it already melted? I'm glad the long drive was worth it. Say hi to your wife for me. Cheers. Marty.
The lake was without ice just a bit of snow hanging around here and there. Don't mind the drive been locked up for awhile, good to be getting back to normal. Take care, btw thanks for tip on the Wilmore map. Good resource. Thanks again.
Awesome video! LM8 is so sentimental to me! It's a good thing you can't bike the trail anymore but I'm old enough to have done it multiple times as a teenager. It was a fun ride! We did it once with my high school and a few of us rode on ahead to the junction since we knew the trail and were faster. We were hanging out at the campsite when our teacher came flying up behind us freaking out saying we had to keep moving because there was a bear with her cubs like 100 meters back next to the trail. We were going so fast we didn't even see them lol.
Also not only is it the rule to hike in groups of 4 or more with bear spray during certain times in the summer/fall. But if you're caught it's a mandatory court appearance and up to a $25,000 fine. You also can't have dogs past the bridge since they attract bears.
Nice story. Thanks for the feedback on the rules. It's really too popular for me to go there in summer. I prefer places that are a little more quiet. Cheers.
Great video, my friend! Great winter camp! Enjoyed watching, your and bushcraft skills are terrific! And the surrounding nature is amazing. Cheers from Russia, Marty , and welcome to my channel about special Russian bushcraft tips and hacks! Best wishes, Yuriy!
L’appétit vient en mangeant! 😂
🥩
Great video Marty. Question. Could you ice fish that lake?
The lake has big Lake Trout and Mountain Whitefish. It's very deep. I know folks who fist in the summer. Not sure how to catch Lakers in winter (or if there's even a winter season). Need to go very deep. I'd have to do some research.
👍😉🇨🇦
we went in I think the second week of May and it was already almost totally thawed.
I ice fish on Sturgeon Lake in Valleyview, Alberta. Different perspective walking and driving on lake ice
I've fished that lake many times. I lived in Fox Creek as a young g adult in the 1990s.
@@Martyupnorth I have family that lives in Fox Creek as well as my girlfriend. Really cool.
Is there any chance you could make a video on how you do bear bagging in areas where they're are only spruce or pine trees? I'm just starting out backpacking and I only know the one tree method
Unfortunately I have such a long backlog of videos. One on hanging methods would be months away.
How long is the blade on your Silky Saw? What size?
That's the 170. It cuts like butter.
I’ve never even seen a frozen lake