Whitehorn to Berg Lake.

June 28, 2011, Day 2

This park was created in 1913 by the Province of BC. The first recreational trail was built in 1913 by Jasper outfitter "Curly" Phillips. I can understand why the trail was build but I have a hard time to imagine how the tail was built 98 years ago.

Jim and I started the hike early which turned out to be a good decision because when we packed up in the morning the tent was dry. To say that the trail from the Whitehorn Campsite to Berg Lake is mostly up is an understatement. But the scenery is worth every step. I would call this a walk of waterfalls as you can always hear the falls and there are a number of places to view the falls. White Falls, Falls of the Pool and when you reach the upper part of the trail you can take a short walk to view the Emperor Falls. Jim and I pressed on, we would view the falls on the way back. After a rest at the Emperor Falls campground we continued to where the trail traverses a talus slope. Considerable resources must have been expended to upgrade this portion of the trail and the trail is relatively level and easy walking. Watch and listen for Rock Rabbits and marmots among the rocks. Rock Rabbits are the only other mammals beside we humans, that I know of, who put up hay for the winter. They do not hibernate. When you come to the alluvial deposits at the end of Berg Lake to the left is the Misty Glacier and then further along is the Berg Glacier. Berg Glacier is a calving glacier as large chunks of ice break off from it and fall into the lake. Hence the name Berg Lake.

During hike up we encountered enough rain to put on rain gear but we were fortunate to pitch the tent dry. Sometime after the tent was pitched it poured rain. Toboggan creek rose and got a bit murky. In late evening at the bridge across Toboggan Creek the water velocity was so fast that I could hear rocks being tumbled along the creek bed. There were icebergs on the lake with some very interesting shapes. There is a cabin at Berg Lake but do not count on there being any firewood for the stove in it. Someone did light the stove later in the evening and it was nice to warm up just before going to the tent to sleep.

Checking my notes from 2001 it seems to me that we took more rests during that hike. Even though Jim is older than me I still have to work to keep up with him.

There is a Park Ranger cabin just beyond the Berg Lake toward the BC-Alberta border.

The map shows the trail to be 10 km..

Moving time was 2 hr. 21 min.

The total time for us to do the hike was 5 hr. 10 min.

Total ascent was 1821 ft. Total descent was 533 ft.

The maximum elevation was 5514 ft.