Rocky Mountains

Schaffer Lake among the Larches

Schaffer Lake is generally where one stops, takes off their pack and has a drink or snack on the way from Lake O'Hara to ... somewhere else. In this case, I did exactly that on the way up to Lake McArthur. I was told that McArthur was a colleague's favorite place on earth the day before so I was eager to get up there and see what it was all about. 

This is taken from atop a giant stone on the trail up to McArthur. The larches are just starting to turn and over the next couple of days in my trip, they would become very yellow. The clouds would disappear, though and the light would become very harsh - with photography, never give up a shot thinking the light or shadows could get better ... it sometimes only gets worse!

Alternatively, from Schaffer Lake, you can head on up to the All Souls Alpine Route and make your way to Opabin Lake - if you are up for a tough scramble.

As for the name of the lake, Mary Schaffer's influence is all over the most beautiful places in the Canadian Rockies.

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