Looking for Larches at Chester Lake
Last year, despite the noble attempt to pursue the fabled larches, we stumbled upon hurdles unlike no other: poor planning and insufficient parking. We did manage to salvage our side quest by hiking up to Elbow Lake, but again, there were no larches on this trail. I was left wondering... Can a future exist where our humble party might get to one day grace these golden conifers?
Each autumn, Calgarians flock to the mountains, like pilgrims, to bear witness to this seasonal botanical spectacle. Larches are a genus within the broader Pinaceae or pine family, which includes species like white spruce and balsam fir. Like many of their conifer relatives, they have cones and needles. But whilst members of the pine family are typically evergreen, larches are deciduous. For that reason, as we transition into autumn, the needles of larches alter into an assortment of yellow hues, then subsequently shed their needles, just as an oak or aspen would shed their leaves seasonally. This results in the trees, which are prominent in higher altitudes, forming a vibrant thread of golden conifers along Kananaskis Country's mountainsides. Though you can certainly find larches within the city limits; these are often introduced larches from Eurasia. Regionally, there are only three native larches in western Canada: (1) Tamarack, (2) Western Larch, and (3) Alpine Larch. The latter of the three, Alpine Larch (or Larix lyallii) is the species most Calgarians visit when looking for larches.
Like thousands of folks this weekend, Alexis, Krystal, and I made our way to Kananaskis to give attention to these arboreal creatures and enjoy quality time outside the city. Taylor would have joined us if they hadn't been invited to attend their first Sweat! Our contingent of three met up on the 27th of September at Chester Lake Loop trailhead to join other pilgrims. The hike to Chester Lake itself was under two hours. Once there, we looped around the gorgeous lake and took a break near the mountain's slope before checking out the larches. Whilst the larches were worth it on their own, we stumbled upon spongy moss, pikas hopping along the rocks, and Canada Jays. I normally might share more on the hike itself, but I figured I just wanted to share those few highlights, along with a brilliant collection of photographs taken by Krystal, Alexis, and myself that day.
