DESTINATION The Carthew - Alderson Trail 1 Photoset
2017-07-10 | |
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| Hiking | 14.76 Miles |
4,211 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.76 Miles | 6 Hrs 31 Mns | | 2.36 mph |
| 4,211 ft AEG | 15 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | I only spent two days in Waterton Lakes National Parks, but I logged three solid hikes and 33 miles of trail during my short time there and left feeling very impressed about the quaint national park just north of our border.
The Carthew-Alderson trail is billed as one of Waterton's most strenuous hikes, but the views it offers are probably the best in the park and there are backpacking options in the area and multiple peaks that can be reached from the trans-park trail, so its definitely worth the extra effort. I utilized the shuttle offered by Tamarack Outfitters for $15.00 and started at Cameron Lake. There are two shuttles available, with the earliest one leaving at 7:30 a.m. Shuttle reservations can be made in person, or in advance online.
Once the initial climb was made, the views along this trail were nothing short of amazing. In particular, the views to the south and into Glacier National Park were spectacular. Similarly, the windswept portions of trail above the treeline offered an equally scenic and unique hiking experience. I left the trail to summit Alderson Peak along the way, which was a little bit of a grind, but very rewarding. After the peak, I abandoned by ridgeline route a little early and shot an azimuth down to Carthew Lakes where I picked back up again on the trail. The descent was quick and rain threatened and sputtered a little at times, but nothing too serious ever materialized. Cameron Falls was a pleasant little attraction to finish to. |
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