


If
you like flowers, you should put this hike on your list of must do!
A short hike or a full on camping and multi day backpacking. The
access that I will mention is from Medicine Lake on the Maligne valley
lake road. Start at the south end of Medicine Lake where there is
a
parking lot and day use area complete with a trailhead map and outhouse.
An easy and
gentle walk on a wide maintained trail is a great way to spend a day.
You
walk along side a creek and don't forget to notice the flowers and the
trees. From
White Lady Slippers to Labrador tea, you'll find many species that you
might have to
look up in a flower book. It might have been a late bloom season because
there were
flowers that should have been gone at time of writing this story. These
photos were taken
with a digital camera, but if you are going to take flower shots, bring
a camera with macro
capabilities.


The first
lake that you will see is Beaver Lake, where there a boat docked for
fishing
or just a float on the lake (make arrangements from the fishing shops
in Jasper to
hire a boat). Summit Lakes does not take long to reach, it is just under
5 kilometres.
As I mentioned before you can go for a multi day backpacking trip, by
passing
through Summit Lakes and head for Jacques Lake about 12 kilometres,
where it
connects with the South Boundary trail, a whole other story.


July 23, 1999
By Eddie Wong