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LOCATION:

Calgary, Alberta.
CANADA

 
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Chester Lake,
Kananaskis, Alberta.

GPS Coordinates::
Latitude : 50.8117 N| Longitude : 115.2747 W

Chester Lake is a small lake in the Alberta side of the Canadian Rockies. It is located in the valley north west of Mount Chester in Spray Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada. It can be accessed from the Smith-Dorrien / Spray Trail road from the Chester day use area. In winter, the trail leading to the lake is very popular for snowshoeing.

 

As the path began to climb towards the alpine basin, it started to wind through a spruce forest. The morning sun filtering through the trees felt warm on my skin yet wasn't strong enough to melt the pockets of lingering snow on the ground.

I was shocked to find a hidden winter wonderland at this time of year. Chester Lake was still frozen except around the edge. On the opposite side, where a rough narrow trail should have been, a late spring avalanche had tumbled down Mount Chester and into the lake. The snow became softer close to the water. I sunk to knee height every so often and my boots were getting wet and cold. My destination was to the Elephant Rocks, a group of glacial erratics, just as short distance away. But as I hiked up another incline and sunk to my waist in snow, it became too exhausting to go any further.

There are no native populations of Dolly Varden in Alberta. Northern Dolly Varden were successfully introduced in Alberta into Chester Lake. The lake sits west of Calgary between Lower Kananaskis Lake and Spray Lakes Reservoir. Dolly Varden primarily feed on fish and invetebrates. Spawning occurs in the fall with the eggs hatching in the spring. Spawning males are brightly coloured.

Cutthroat were introduced to Chester Lake to provide an additional food sourceand to hopefully reduce inferred cannabalism of large Dolly Varden on small Dolly Varden. Also to add to a more diversified fishery. Chester Lake is a very popular spot for hikers and fishermen. As you can see from the picture it has some Larches speckled around the area. The water is clear and sight fishing is possible when calm.

 

I find this lake interesting because it’s the only one with Dolly Varden in Alberta. It took me several hours to catch one. They seemed to be in the south west corner of the lake on the day I visited.


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