![]() I had watched all the videos on what to do when you confront a bear and how to use bear spray but just like those airline spiels about oxygen masks and life jackets, I never thought I'd need the knowledge. So, be prepared to see wildlife and take bear spray. We were staying at Swiftcurrent Motor Lodge at the head of the trail so later on my friends went back up the trail a little ways and saw a moose playing in the smaller of the lakes. The little squirrels will come out to beg. You can stop at a waterfall and take a water/snack break. The hike is steep at first, but gets easier as you go up. We egged them on and enjoyed watching them accomplish jumping from ice berg to ice berg with the occasional slip and dip in the water. Several young males decided to go ice berg walking. I couldn't believe how beautiful this lake and the hike before it was. It gave the lake an eerie feeling of other-worldliness. Because it was overcast, the clouds were capping the walls of the mountains that surround the lake as if they were the ceiling. The day we chose to go up was overcast and that turned out to be great because when we turned the corner to see Ice Berg Lake it was one of those 'ta-da!' moments and I literally dropped my jaw and gasped (my husband, who was behind me, thought I saw another bear.) It was the most breathtaking site I had ever seen. After yelling and banging our hiking poles together, the grizzly diverted up into the woods (almost as scary since we could hear him walking but could no longer see him.) We all had bear spray, but we didn't need to use it. We watched as he continued down the path, amazed at how fleshed out he was compared to the skinny grizzlies we had seen from afar. I backed up around the corner and warned my group. It's a steep trail in the beginning but gets gentler as you climb.I was ahead of uro group going up and, upon turning a corner, discovered that I was eye-to-eye with a very large grizzly bear who was taking the trail down the mountain. Park at the Num Ti Jah Lodge located on the north side of Bow Lake approximately 40kms north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway.The five of us started on this hike early in the morning (by eight in the morning.) My husband has trouble with bad ankles and has two artificial hips, but he made it through this ten mile hike by taking it slow and easy. It is only about 5 km with an elevation gain of 350 metres.The lake is fed by Bow Glacier and drops out over the ledge as Bow Glacier Falls, to all the sightseers below. Upon reaching the crest at another large cairn continue left as Iceberg Lake opens up before you. Go left again to find another cairned route up this second moraine in front of you. Then climb through a number of treed cliff bands, arriving at a lovely little protected plateau. The first 70 metres is very wide and then there is a slightly exposed portion of only about 3 metres. It is not near as scary as it looks from below. Before reaching the top of this first moraine, watch out for the rock ledge on the left. Just past the turnoff to Bow Glacier Falls, cross the large rock on the left and once back down at creek level, cross the creek and head up the trail on the left side of the moraine. this short scramble includes a creek crossing and some brief cliff edge exposure.At first glance, it would seem impossible to access any lake above Bow Glacier Falls, but with careful attention you will be rewarded.To get to Iceberg Lake, take the trail towards Bow Hut from Bow Lake. Easier than it looks, but don?t be fooled.
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