Temple Mountain

I told you I was coming for you Temple...

Cascade Mountain

Stop looking at me Cascade! Seriously, this peak has been staring me down for a long time now and I have just plain had enough of it. This typically isn't prime trail running territory, however my legs were barking and needed to be let off leash. Was able to run the whole way to the Amphitheatre and combo run/ scrambled to the summit in 1hr 57min! For some arbitrary reason, I wanted to beat the 2hr mark, not like it means anything. Time for a granola bar and back to the car in 3hrs 45min. Legs and lungs felt amazing today and back to Calgary before my wife noticed I was gone.

Rockbound Lake - Castle Mountain

Today's route took me from Castle Junction, up to Rockbound Lake and up to towering Castle Mountain. Seeing as it was a Monday of a long weekend, I was startled that there were only found 5 cars in the parking lot when I arrived. I think a lot of people are put off by this trip due to the fact that it includes 16km's of trail in tree cover. I imagine the trails surrounding Lake Louise would be littered with day-trippers already.
Some quaint little trail details along the way. As I trotted by my attention was drawn to this young Aster getting to know this crotchety old tree stump.
As the trees break, you are faced with a shear wall of what I found out was primarily limestone. Impressive and menacing staring down on you.
Rockbound Lake is obviously a fitting name here. You as a visitor also feel bound to the lake by the cliff faces infront of you. Just off of camera right is a scree slope that you can use to ascend the rock wall.

Once I gained access to the cliff band, the fun began. It was running hedonism along the limestone and quartz shelf all the way to the summit. Here the whole route is exposed. The highway/ parking lot is just visible camera center. The route follows the valley up through the trees and deposits you at the lake. From there you ascend a steep scree slope camera left and gain the shelf. The summit of Castle mountain is camera right just before the isolated cone of rock named the Eisenhower.

Tried a pano here but my memory card wasn't cooperating and this is the only image I recorded from the summit. A good chunk of the Bow Range is in view and memories of past adventures at Lake Louise, Borgeau, Taylor Lake and Lake O'hara come flooding back as I refuel.
Temple Mountain is has pulled a cloud in front of it's east face hiding it from view. I think in my mind it's scared knowing it's next on my list. You can't hide Temple. I'm coming for you.