Apr 30, 2017
This trail also had its share of wind and snow damage, most of which has been cleared. There are a few trees to climb over/under but no major issues. The way up is a nice little leg workout, everything various colors of green. The first creek is easy to cross with waterproof boots, runners would leave you with wet feet! Don't know its name but it has a nice little waterfall. Just past the 1.5km mark is the signage to Evans Peak/Alouette Mountain. This trail is labelled "very difficult". Met a fellow coming down it. He had gone up just past the view area (beautiful mountains, Alouette Lake) when he ran into snow. He ventured on a little ways but was soon falling through snow up to his thighs. He felt unsafe so turned around. So there's still lots of snow up top!
I passed a couple of interesting trees - one had a big burl thing jutting out its side (disease, injury or? Anyone know?). The other I call "the saddle". Going up it looks like an English saddle, coming back a western one (with RIP scrolled on it, for some reason).
At the 1.78 km mark you have reached the trail top. To the left a path goes down to a rocky outcrop and a nice view of upper Alouette Lake. Good place for a snack. To the right of the main trail is an unmarked path which soon goes steeply down to that roaring waterfall you've heard already and a lovely canyon. You can also see the lower end of Alouette Lake with it's earthen dam and the beach area. There is quite a sudden drop off and it's a good idea to have dogs on leash. This is Viking Falls, hard to see through the trees. It is tempting to move down the big rock there for a better look but it is steep, very wet and slippery. I stayed safe. Ahmad's posting of August 2015 mentioned that his little daughter enjoyed scrambling among the rocks around the falls. I tried to imagine this! There must be another way down to the falls and rocks below than my described route.
Despite being Sunday and reasonable weather there were very few people on the trail today.
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