3 Days Solo Backpacking in Canada’s Most Iconic Mountains

This adventure in Lake O’Hara was one of the most spectacular backpacking trips I’ve ever done—packed with crystal-clear lakes, insane summits, and classic Rockies scenery at its absolute best.

I started by arriving at the Lake O’Hara trailhead, cooking up a delicious meal and camping overnight to be ready for an early start. The next morning, I caught the shuttle into Lake O’Hara, set up camp, and hit the trails right away, heading up to Wiwaxy Gap and attempting some scrambles on the surrounding peaks. I then explored Lake Oesa, the stunning Seven Veil Falls, and the beautiful lakeshore trails around O’Hara before another cozy night at camp.

The second day was an absolute mission—kicking off with the Grandview Viewpoint, where I got mind-blowing panoramic views over the entire O’Hara area. From there I hiked to Lake McArthur, with crystal-clear conditions and mirror-like reflections, then took on a summit of Mount Schaffer. After that, I visited the iconic Lake O’Hara viewpoint, explored the valley lakes, and tackled the incredible Yukness Ledges route, getting unforgettable views over the Opabin Valley and Lake Oesa before finishing the day back at camp.

On the final day, rainy weather rolled in, but I still got in a hike to Linda Lake, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere before taking the shuttle out and hitting the road toward Whistler for the next adventure.

Timestamps:
0:00 Arriving at Lake O’Hara Trailhead + Camping
0:11 Morning Shuttle & Setting Up Base Camp
0:59 Hiking Wiwaxy Gap + Scramble Attempts
4:40 Exploring Lake Oesa & Seven Veil Falls
7:01 Lakeshore Trails & Camping Night Two
8:05 Grandview Viewpoint Panoramas
9:38 Lake McArthur Reflections
11:18 Summiting Mount Schaffer
12:39 Iconic Lake O’Hara Viewpoint
13:28 Yukness Ledges Traverse & Opabin Valley Views
15:35 Linda Lake Hike in the Rain
17:53 Shuttle Out & Outro

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