Click to hear me sing
Mt. Bourgeau
Elevation:
Height Gain:
Location:
 9,613 feet (2930M)
4,921 feet (1500M)
Banff
Note for 01 Oct 05: Solo trip. Flurries all day, thick cloud, very limited visibility, 1°C, and lots of snow. On the trip, I thought I was at the summit, but a month later, I'm no longer sure. Click for a detailed trip report
Note for 30 Dec 05: I went with Blair Piggot. Partly cloudy in the morning, then thick cloud (whiteout) in the afternoon. Skied up the scramble route to Harvey Pass. The rest was on foot. Click for a detailed trip report
  Date Ascent Time Descent Time
1st Time 01 Oct 05 Incomplete Incomplete
2nd Time 30 Oct 05 6:19 3:20
I accidently left my digital camera in Florida, so for this trip, I had to use a disposible camera. The picture quality was really bad, but you'll have to bear with me. Here we see the approach to Bourgeau Lake. This is looking up the valley.



Here is more of the valley. This is one of cliff bands in the lower valley. It is not the waterfall marked on the map.



This is looking across the valley to Mt. Cory. It was one of the few times during the day that I could actually see across the valley.



More of the trail enroute to Bourgeau Lake. For October 1st, there was a lot of snow.



Here we come to the waterfall. The trail crosses the waterfall to the other side of the valley.



Now we're into the hanging valley that holds Bourgeau Lake. The route would go through this marsh area until the lake (behind the trees on the left side of the picture). Then it will head off to the right (center of the picture) and up to Harvey Lake.



This is looking back down at Harvey Lake (after I had passed it). For a second, I thought the sun was going to come out. I was sadly mistaken.



This is looking at Harvey Pass. I thought I could take a shortcut by starting up the summit ridge early. I ascended the slope on the left of the picture. As it turns out, this is a waste of time. It's a big bump, which is even marked on the map. Unless you want extra height gain, go around it.



From the top of that bump, the visibility was still holding up. This is looking up the summit ridge. Above the highpoint in the picture, the slope lays back a little bit.



More of the summit ridge.



Nearing what I thought was the summit. This is a cornice. To give some perspective, the edge of the cornice is about 15-20 ft from me.



This was taken while I was on the summit (what I thought was the summit). I took a picture of the cornice. This time, the edge of the cornice is about 5 ft from me, and it's overhanging Bourgeau Lake. That's rather strange that a cornice would overhang a NW slope. Strange wind patterns, my friend.