The next day we were allowed to hike up Abbot Ridge in Glacier NP Canada. Due to the abundance of bears in the area we were not able to do a lot of the hikes unless you traveled with 4 or more hikers. The Abbot Trailhead starts at the Illecillewaet Campground and is 4.3 miles one way, with an elevation gain of 3,375 feet. The trail passes by the Marion Lake on its way to the ridge, and we took a side trail to a viewpoint above the Trans Canada Highway where we could see trains coming from or going into the Connaught Tunnel, completed in 1916, to protect rail traffic from the deadly avalanches of the Rogers Pass. We continued to hike up into true alpine tundra the land above the trees and ends on a narrow ridge. It was a strenuous hike but well worth the effort once we reached the summit, where the views overlooking Mount Sir Donald and the Illecillewaet Glacier were breathtaking. We paused at the top for lunch and a few yoga poses before heading back down the trail and back to the KOA. Great day and hike, love the mountains in the Canadian Rockies.
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