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Rockies :: Icefields :: Cirque Peak

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Classic view of Helen Lake with Cirque Peak in background.  Dolomite Pass upper right

September 9, 2020

Cirque Peak is perfect hiker's peak.   Situated in prime alpine area of Dolomite Pass, ascent is just a steep hike above popular Helen Lake.  Summit views are nothing short of spectacular and include many distant peaks of Icefields corridor and Siffleur wilderness in eastern BNP.  

Helen lake trailhead parking is on east side of Icefields Parkway some 25min north of Lake Louise,  directly opposite Crowfoot glacier tourist pull-out.  This popular trail gradually climbs forested slopes of unofficially named "Crystal Ridge", then turns north after rounding shoulder at south end of the ridge.  Views of Dolomite Peak and Mt. Hector / Andromache on SE side are spectacular.  Trail heads north and after crossing Helen lake outlet creek (rock-hop) traverses gorgeous alpine meadow before the lake;   ~6km and 1.5hrs from trailhead.  Switchbacks continue on right side of the lake to Dolomite Pass.   At the pass leave trail by large cairn and head towards Cirque peak, passing unexpected (and very beautiful) alpine tarn tucked in shallow rocky amphitheater.   There are 2 options:  Trail with cairns ascends the low end of talus slope left of the tarn, but it is also possible to continue more directly on the right side climbing red dirt, then intersect ascent slopes higher up. Stubborn cornice persists most of the year and needs to be circumvented in this case.  Beaten talus trails continue above.  Final ~150m vertical are bit lose;   hiking poles are great help.  There is bit of rock guarding lower south summit (class 2), but one can also skirt this on climber right reducing effort to simple hiking.   From the notch between two summits scramble easily to north bump which is true summit that sometimes has register.   Views are spectacular although summit area is fairly narrow and space might not be easy to find as peak is popular.   Return the same way;  if time allows it is worth exploring spectacular Dolomite Pass a bit more, perhaps dropping to beautiful Katherine Lake on east side.

In winter Dolomite pass is often visited on skis; with stable snow,  Cirque peak can be skied as well.  It has also been included in Nugara guide, although snowshoeing ascent will require considerably longer time. Summer conditions are preferred, but solitude might be hard to find.

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