It was a beautiful and calm evening as we chatted and walked down the trail to Moraine Lake. The late evening sun illuminated Mount Fay above green forest tops in the most scenic way.
Beautiful Evening Fay View
Evening Hiking in Larch Valley
We arrived back at the Moraine Lake parking lot, tired but well-satisfied, right around 8pm. It had taken us eleven hours - at the upper end of the 7-12 hours given in my scramble guide. I'm pretty sure that without us, Jerome would have done it in 7.
Interactive trackmap with photo points - Mt Temple via 'tourist' route - click map to view
Mt Temple via SW Ridge Route - Climb Data
Start Time:
9:08a.m.
End Time:
8:12p.m.
Duration:
11h3m
Distance:
15.45 km
(9.6 mi)
Average Speed:
1.4 km/hr
(0.9 mph)
Start Elevation:
6129ft
(1868m)
*
Max Elevation:
11651ft
(3551m)
*
Min Elevation:
6115ft
(1864m)
*
End Elevation:
6192ft
(1887m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
5520ft
(1682m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
5454ft
(1662m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
We were definitely famished after burning many thousands of calories climbing the many thousands of feet up and down Mt Temple. However, it was a bit too late to take the time to return home, take showers, and get ready to go out to a formal dinner. Instead, Cassándra suggested that we simply go straight to the Chateau Lake Louise's employee service hall. Inside was a pub that served a few dishes, and it was the kind of place that wouldn't much notice a group of dusty hikers off in the corner.
Post-climb Temple Burger
We were looking for alcohol and basic calories, and that's what we got. I went with the very appropriate Temple Burger, along with a huge plate of sweet potato fries. And ate every last one of them (no, that's a lie - I did share a few).
Tired reflections
As we lounged around on the couches in the pub (which very much had the feel of a university's student union building or student activity center), we reflected on the day's climb. As relatively new climbers, Cassándra and Anthony had done very well. Cassándra especially had come a long way from even seven days earlier, when she was quite nervous with the brief bit of scrambling on Forum Peak in Waterton Lakes National Park. I felt confident that if she went back to do the Forum Peak route now, she'd knock it off without so much as a back glance. Anthony's enthusiasm and energy seemed to know no bounds (well, maybe there was a limit with respect to carrying around that green army pack). And careful on those scree runs - you have not mastered the supervite® technique yet!
The Temple Burger
Meeting Jerome had also been an excellent experience. I had quite enjoyed his directness and wit, and admired the clever niche he had carved out for himself in this wonderful locale. He certainly had a backyard playground that was the envy of many a mountain enthusiast. Thank you very much, Jerome, for being able to accompany us up Temple today!
As a final sign-off to a challenging hike up a big peak, here are a couple of final shots of Mt Temple, glowing in the perfect evening light.
