Hiking at Lake Lousie: What to wear and where to hike

How do you choose your workout outfit? After checking the weather, do you just throw anything on, or do you start with which pair of runners you plan on wearing?

By Karen Kwan

Sometimes I throw whatever I can find first that’s clean, especially in the winter months when I have to pile on so many layers. But when I have time, I’ll start with one piece (whether it’s my runners, compression socks, bottoms, top or sports bra) and build from there. My outfit decision here is inspired by the mountains and lakes of Alberta with the angular pattern and mix of greys and teals of these GapFit tights. With its busy pattern, I kept the rest of the look neutral with black Adidas Ultra Boost and a Lole sports bra.

It seemed just right for hiking in Banff National Park, where I did a very easy morning hike lead by a naturalist around Moraine Lake, and a moderate 3-hour round-trip hike at Lake Louise to the Lake Agnes tea house. The latter is a steady climb with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet, which caught men off guard. It was more difficult than I expected (loads of tourists set out to do this hike so I was expecting a very flat and paved trail). I highly recommend it if you find yourself at Lake Louise, although there are a number of trails so choose from, but this is the only one I had time for after I took a wrong turn (I had initially set out for the 4-hour hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers tea house).

Just remember to dress in layers (including a rain jacket); the weather can change quickly in the mountains (and I speak from experience; many of us got caught unprepared in the rain during our hike); and bring water, some snacks and cash if you plan to stop into the charming tea house (it’s a cash-only spot as there is no electricity there). There are signs for each of the trails leading off from the right side of the lake, but you can also get a map from the concierge at the Chateau Fairmont Lake Louise.

Karen Kwan is a regular iRun fashion and travel contributor, and you’ll find her running fashion posts every Friday on Instagram. She contributes to a number of publications and you can also follow her travel and running adventures at Health & Swellness.