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Rockies :: Yoho :: Grandeview Prospect and Little Odaray

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Panoramic view from Little Odaray Summit looking down ascent ridge.  Grandeview Prospect bottom center left

September 27,  2022

Of all destinations radiating from O'Hara lakeshore, Odaray Basin probably offers the most bang for the buck for seasonal hiker/scrambler.  It also offers more solitude; while (arguably the most scenic) Opabin Plateau is swarming with casual hikers in larch season, here you might be by yourself.  Views, just like everywhere else in the area, are fantastic.  Hikers usually turn back at Grandeview Prospect, only place in the basin from where both  Lake O'Hara and Lake McArthur can be seen, but for experienced scramblers summit of "Little Odaray" - almost 3000m high- can be attained without problems. Parks Canada are restricting access to the area due to busy grizzly bear corridor - only 2 parties Aug 15 - Sep 15, 4 in other parts of the year.  It is unclear though how these restrictions are practically enforced.

From Lake O'Hara follow signed trail to Schaffer Lake, passing Elizabeth Parker ACC Hut along the way.  Continue on lower McArthur trail for ~10min to marked junction and turn right.  Parks kiosk is here informing you about restrictions, along with voluntary registration booklet.  Trail is just beautiful, meandering through stands of larch trees and rock outcrops then by the closure gate (see Gallery) turns left and switchbacks on some broken terrain towards Grandeview Plateau,  ~2hrs from Lake O'Hara.  Trail ends by bivi corrals among barren rocky landscape and this is normal turnaround place.

If continuing to Little Odaray conditions should be dry.  Although rock face looks serious, it is quite straightforward (easy side of moderate on Kane scale) and consists of series of class 2 rock steps with talus shelves in between.   Good trail exists most of the way marked by cairns.  Final bit before breaking on the ridge is the hardest, but not difficult - just follow cairns.  Note place where you topped on the ridge (cairn) for descent.  Directly ahead is permanent, often icy snowpatch - it can normally be bypassed on either side. Remainder is fantastic ~30min ridgewalk with bit of lose rock towards the end.   On my visit in September '22 there was register with entries dating back all the way to 2012, testifying that scrambling hordes do not come here so often after all.   Views are stupendous and include even length of Ottertail River leading towards mighty Goodsirs.  Continuing on the ridge towards "Big Odaray" is possible, but it does not connect all the way to the summit as there is deep technical notch just before the summit requiring ropes.

Note: If dayhing from the Highway -and not being able to secure the bus- including Little Odaray will mean quite a long day. I walked the road both ways on my visit; ~35km return with ~1400m vertical, so make sure you are fit enough.

Gallery

Larch Shadows Early evening shadows creeping in over O'Hara basin on descent from Grandeview Prospect