Og Lake and Cave Mountain
Completed when the marsh was completely dry so we were able to short cut and cross it. During the early to mid hiking season, this is likely not possible, so to complete this trip from Og Lake will add on a couple kilometres. This trip is possible in virtually any weather conditions, however, there are avalanche slopes on Cave Mountain that early season hikers should be aware of. Essentially no difficulties on this hike other than light bushwhacking and navigation on Cave Mountain. The rest is on a very good trail.
Og Lake is a small lake in the core area of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. It serves as the perfect place to stay on the way into Lake Magog from Sunshine. Many GDT hikers tend to stay here, as well as folks that couldn't get a permit for Lake Magog. This being said, the campground has only 10 sites and does fill up quite quickly. Og Lake, Lake Magog, and Gog Lake were all named from figures in the Bible and the Quran. The nearby Cave Mountain is a lovely diversion from either Og Lake or Lake Magog and was named because of the caves on its steeper but less visible aspects. Any open spot on Cave Mountain provides a beautiful yet seldom seen view of the entire Assiniboine massif.
The Mount Shark parking lot is situated at the very end of the Mount Shark Road, which is essentially at the furthest point on the Spray Lakes Road (Highway 742). From Calgary, both the south option and north are similar in time, although the north section of the road has a slow speed limit and can get quite bumpy. The road is all gravel, but a high clearance vehicle is not required. The total driving time from the Calgary city limits from either direction is just under 2 hours. From the parking lot, you must hike in 25 km or helicopter in to Mount Assiniboine Lodge or Lake Magog Campground, where the route begins.
This route describes our route taken, since it is a combination of all other possible routes. From the Lake Magog Campground, head toward Assiniboine Lodge on the lakeside trail. Continue up to Assiniboine Lodge and then hike through the mess of trail intersections, keeping on the trail to Og Lake. At the final intersection to "Windy Ridge", you can turn right for a day trip to Cave Mountain or Windy Ridge. To get to Og Lake, continue on the left trail and through the long meadow. On the other side, hike by a rocky outcrop and arrive at the campground. For Cave Mountain, return 2.2 km on the trail to Lake Magog before turning left and crossing the 0.6 km wide meadow to the Windy Ridge Trail. Take a left up the trail and hike up 1.4 km before turning right at a small clearing and into the bush (a GPS track is helpful here). Find a small drainage to follow up through easy bush. Gain elevation up a short scree slope and turn right on a trail that traverses to the right. Alternatively, you could gain straight up to the ridge. Either, way, once you find the ridge, follow it over much rolling terrain to the summit (the high point just past the massive cairn). Descend the same way back to the meadow. From the meadow follow the signs back to your destination. Keep in mind that on Cave Mountain, this is only an approximate route.
After hitting Sunburst Peak and quickly packing up, we were off to Og Lake. This was good since my dad could have a bit of a recovery day after hiking in and doing Nub Peak the day before. He felt alright, but we would still take it easy. We set off at 1 pm to cook some lunch (last night's dinner) at Lake Magog.
Hiking down to Lake Magog.
Two perfect rock chairs for us to cook on by the lake. What a surprise!
We enjoyed this view for a long time while we cooked, ate, relaxed, and took a time lapse of the clouds. Assiniboine just kept creating its own weather, so we never actually got to see the true summit on this day.
After a super long stay, we went to check out the lodge.
On the way, we found a lovely little bench close to the lodge.
The lodge was huge and so nice. We went and played around with a telescope/binocular thing for a bit, but then ended up leaving since we were over an hour early for the afternoon cake/tea/beer.
Only 4.5 km to Og. A long 4.5 km though.
Most of the walk is quite boring since you aren't facing toward Assiniboine.
But you can look back at the mountain every once in a while.
These meadows are lovely, but are deceivingly long.
Further along on the trail.
And getting further from Mount Assiniboine.
Still a ways to go...
The end is in sight! Well, actually the point where we can see the end in sight is in sight.
Now the end is in sight! Just around the rock outcrops and we'd be there.
Our camp spot came with a nice view.
After setting up, eating, and doing a bit of nothing, I still felt like I still had something in me. I was eyeing up Windy Ridge directly from the campground, but was unsure of whether I should give myself a rest.
I ended up realizing that I should make the most of my time there and since I had something in my legs, I was going to give it a shot to go as fast as I possibly could. If you want to read that report, you can here.
As I got back down, I found my dad sitting with two strangers and so I joined in and ate dinner while we all talked for a couple hours.
Gabby and Jacob were super nice and were planning on hitting the Nublet for sunrise the next day, before flying out.
Back at the camp looking at beautiful sunset light on Windy Ridge.
Og Lake was looking a little sad, but the sunset over on Mount Assiniboine was spectacular.
We went to bed quite early, planning to leave with our friends but then divert to Cave Mountain for sunrise.
We heard rustling outside and then decided to get up and go at around 4:30 am.
This may have been our fastest pack up time ever, because before we knew it, we were on the road for a sunrise view.
A cloud still looms over Mount Assiniboine. Bigger now than what we hoped for.
The morning was rather warm, but quite windy. We hiked in the dark at a very quick pace and soon took a left turn into the meadows at the narrowest point between the two trails. The 0.6 km through the grass was easy, but felt long and scary. Hiking in the dark is not the most fun thing. Anyways, we got on to the trail and went up toward Og Pass, missing the first turnoff and having to routefind/bushwhack a bit to get up to our viewpoint. I was hoping to be on the summit for sunrise, but it was becoming obvious that the viewpoint would have to do.
We simply had to traverse and head up to those trees, where we could stop and have breakfast with a view.
Before the sunrise colors at our breakfast spot.
With the peak of the sunrise colors. Spectacular.
Telephoto shot of the sunrise on Mount Ball over a sea of larches. It looks like it would've been even better over there!
After oatmeal, plenty of photos and videos, a long break, and a lot of enjoyment, it was time to bag my final peak of the trip.
Hiking up the slope.
Beware, the bump to the right is not the summit, not even close.
Mount Assiniboine + friends with some morning glow.
I was honestly a little worried about the cloud hanging out over Assiniboine, since it looked to be getting bigger and not smaller, and I was not very impressed by all the clouds on this supposed "clear" day. I guess that's how weather goes in the mountains. Our ridge of high pressure didn't seem to be very high or ridgy and looked to be fading fast judging by the insane winds.
Plenty left to go.
A cairn that marks nothing.
The quadruple rolling summits of Og Mountain. I'll have to bag that one next time since I didn't go up there the day before.
Enough of this already... Hopefully the summit is close.
Soon enough, I popped out into the sun and when I looked behind me, I found my shadow to be quite silly looking.
This massive cairn is unfortunately not at the summit. Why it was put at the false summit, I do not know...
Looking back at the false summit from the true summit.
Mount Assiniboine remains the star of the show, but even Eon and Aye are now visible to its left. They are also incredibly massive peaks as well, but being just under 11000er status, they are incredibly rarely ascended.
The ridge of Cave Mountain extends quite far.
.jpg&w=1920&q=60)
Pano from the summit. Og and Bashan at right.
Looking the other way to Bashan.
As I started descending from the peak, I noticed my dad coming up the slope! Once he arrived, we both walked back to the summit, before proceeding down rather quickly. It was an easy and quick descent back to the spot that we had dropped our packs (where we ate breakfast for sunrise).
The larches began glowing as the sun hit them.
So many bright larch dots all over! The ramp of Nub Peak extends to the left of the image.
I sat and enjoyed the view with some sunny larches and my dad continued back down to our packs.
When I got back down to the packs I saw this.
The same larch/Assiniboine picture as earlier.
Time to head back to Magog now. I was excited by how much time we had left in the day to do stuff.
After traversing a bit, I found that the route that we missed headed down close to this creek bed, so we followed it down on the right into the trees.
Some light bush to get back to the trail.
Back on the trail in no time and on our way back to camp. It looked a hell of a lot different in the light and definitely not as spooky.
Time for the longgg meadow now on the way back to Magog.
We made short work of the meadows since it was mostly down hill.
Almost back at the campground now. We just had the trail beside the lake at this point.
The dreaded trail to the campground.
Once we got back to the campground, we opted to find a more sheltered spot than we had on the first day since it was supposed to be windy and snowy. We ended up grabbing one by the middle of the campground and close to the cook shelters. After setup, we went to eat at the shelter.
A crazy view of Mount Assiniboine from the cookhouse.
To wrap things up, I'd say that if we could've stayed at Magog for the three nights, I would've rather done that. Og Lake was nice and we got to meet some friends, so I'm glad we did it, but having the hastle of constantly moving and the 6-7km to Og was just not ideal. Plus, Magog is closer to other day trips that I would've wanted to do like the Cautley Traverse and The Towers, and not to mention so close for a sunrise/sunset at the Niblet/Nublet, which I will most definitely be back for. All this being said, I'm glad to have bagged Windy Ridge and Cave Mountain easily from Og, and I'm now curious about the trail up to Windy Ridge, and will most likely be back for Og Mountain and Mount Bashan, but likely from Magog. In the end, I guess Og was a lovely diversion for more scenery, but just not the most ideal for day trips.
Soon after this, I'd depart on a return trip to The Nublet to grab the famous triple lake photo of Mount Assiniboine.