I have wanted to summit Mount Bourgeau since unstable weather forced us to turn around last year. I couldn’t wait to see what was beyond the lake.
Fab and her dog Kopek joined me on Saturday. While it was gently raining when we started, the skies didn’t look too threatening. After reaching Bourgeau Lake in about an hour and a half (7.5 kilometres), we stopped to take a few pictures of the glacially-carved amphitheatre before continuing.
The gradual climb through the lush green forest on a well-defined trail is lovely. The smell of the forest is refreshing especially after the drive along the Trans Canada highway. Many people stop at the lake and call it a hike.
But I believe the true magic lies beyond the lake in Harvey Pass, and (reportedly) the summit of Mount Bourgeau.
After the lake, we climb about 500 metres in the forest before we reach this massive boulder field. The rocky trail isn’t very welcoming but it is not a long haul so we just powered through it. Harvey Pass is about 2.2 kilometres from the lake.
Oh wow. I was completely overwhelmed with emotion by the treasures offered by Harvey Pass – stunning mountain vistas, undisturbed mountain lakes and glorious green valleys. The slog over the scree bit was was quickly forgotten.
A couple ahead of us gave us a preview of the trail. I don’t mind chasing someone ahead of me because it takes some guess work out of route finding. After we caught up with them at Harvey Lake, I offered to take pictures of them. Note: Couples always love it when someone offers to take their pictures together.
We decided to take a go at Mount Bourgeau while the couple headed down. By now the wind had picked up, and there was the threat of rain in the air. The chances of reaching the summit and actually seeing something were not looking good. The more we climbed, the stronger the winds.
We turned around at a cairn just as the winds kicked it into high gear. I estimated we had about one more kilometre to go before reaching the summit. At the end of the day, there was no point in climbing any higher. The cloud cover put a stop to any epic views from the top.
There were a lot of people heading up while we started down. We wished them good weather as they began the slog to the summit.
I am getting used to being turned around on the mountain so I wasn’t too disappointed about failing to reach a summit again. That’s just the way it is in the mountains. Some days are perfect, most days are not.
All said I feel so grateful to have the privilege of spending so much time in the Canadian Rockies. It is here I find my peace and perspective, and I never want to take this for granted.
Have you been to Banff National Park? Where are your favourite places to run or hike? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.