Day 96 - Banff Cirque Peak

OMG Canada. 

Today was my favorite day. The climb to Cirque Peak started with a lovely hike to Helen Lake, climbing quickly at the start but then gently roaming on the backside of the valley, above tree line and with views south to infinity. I made it quickly to the lake then continued on the trail to Dolomite Pass, scrambling on top of the ridge beyond Helen Lake.  My destination :

Once on top of the ridge (above my head), I hiked around another lake and up the sandy right side of Cirque Peak, following the route picture from the scramble guide. I eventually made it to a snowbank at the crest of the upper ridge.  I figured walking below the snowbank to the nose would be safer for me with little snow experience, but I saw old steps cut up the near-vertical snowbank and I decided to go for it. 

Kicking steps with my right then left foot then propelling my hiking poles right then left deep in the snow above, I inched my way up a snow wall, keeping three solid contact points at all times, like in the movies--cool!  An exhilerating experience, my heart was pounding the whole way up. The snow bank was short- maybe fifty feet- and the sandy bank below would've broken my fall-- a good snow-travel test. Test passed, I hiked easily up to the summit with the only challenge being loose footing at the tippy top, requiring travel on all fours. 

A local German hiking guide was at the summit above me and he remarked at how he thought the views from Cirque Peak were the best in Banff. I agreed. The Wapta Icefield could be seen clearly above two alpine lakes. The Matterhorn of Canada could be seen 50km south down the valley. And I could be seen so happy after my first Canadian Rocky scramble triumph. 

After lingering at the summit for an hour plus, I climbed down, this time following the nose of the ridge and avoiding down-climbing the steep snowbank.  This was the proper route-- an easy scramble down.  The German hiking guide had recommended stopping by Peyto Lake on my way north toward Jasper, so I did. Prettiest lake view so far.

The drive north was relaxing after a long climb and the high alpine peaks put on a great show all the way to my night's campground near Columbia Icefields.