O Canada! Lake O'Hara/Yoho National Park, 8.6.19 -8.9.19, Part 4 of 8
Once we had Bridgit situated on the trail to the Opabin Prospect, Sandy, Mike and I headed in the opposite direction up a gentle hillside to the head of the plateau and the highest lake appropriately called Opabin Lake. The lake is nestled into the head of a cirque surrounded by 10,889’ Mt Biddle, 11,460’ Mt. Hungabee and 9,354’ Yukness Mountain. On the opposite end of the lake, Opabin Pass was above the remnants of the namesake glacier.
Trail leading to the upper Opabin Plateau
11,460’ Mt. Hungabee above Opabin Lake
As we soaked up the views at Opabin Lake I glanced up and high on a ledge, a massive lone mountain goat was staring down at us. I’ve seen lots of goats on hikes but it is always really cool to see wildlife and this was a really stocky mountain goat.
I’m in charge here!
One big mountain goat
Pristine Opabin Lake
As we left the upper lake the trail slowly dropped down to the main plateau and the scenery through this section was just breathtaking. The lushness of the greenery carpeting the plateau and surrounding the numerous lakes contrasted starkly with the granite giants bathed in sunlight at the end of the valley. This was a really beautiful area.
Mike dropping into the main Opabin Plateau
Just imagine hiking around in this during peak larch season!
As is common in high rocky terrain, marmots and pikas live alongside each other.
Marmot along the trail
Soon we got to where the plateau leveled off and that led to what is called the Opabin Prospect. In Canada a prospect is what we call a viewpoint and what a viewpoint this was! The Opabin Plateau ends abruptly at the edge of a huge cliff. At this point, or prospect, we were directly over the top of Lake O’Hara looking down to the lakes that fill the valley. We were completely surrounded by the peaks we had become more familiar with and many more peaks off in the distance. This was an epic vista and the exact spot where the photo had been taken that started my interest in wanting to come to see Lake O’Hara in the first place. It is these kinds of views that enrich my very being.
View from Opabin Prospect
Mike at Opabin Prospect
Me at Opabin Prospect
For the final leg of the day’s journey, move on to Part 5.