More height more snow on Mt Eiffel
September 7th 2016
Start the hike from Moraine Lake parking. Go past the lodging and up the relentless switch backs. Take note Parks Canada often has a minimum party of four $25,000 is the max fine. Does seem a bit steep, who could afford that?? Heading up to the Larch Valley ignore the turn to Eiffel Lake at 2.4 km. Great views now of Mt Temple, Eiffel and behind to the Faye glacier in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Moraine Lake always looks a more vivid colour from higher up. Fifty meters past the Eiffel Lake turn watch out for a left side track dropping down to the stream that it crosses. Follow trail back up through Spruce and Larch to a bench above the Larch Valley. The trail is worn but look carefully for the first cairn to head up through scree before the boulder field. The only hard part is the narrow gully about 100 to 150 m from the summit. Today with the snow the loose rocks were not an issue but normally this is a busy mountain and rocks easily get kicked down. Helmet is a safe bet. On a clear day from the summit, which has one of the biggest cairns in the Canadian Rockies, the views into Paradise Valley and the Horseshoe Lakes under Mt Hungabee are spectacular. Then look over to Mt Temple and wonder how on earth you made it to the summit. Return the same way to join the crowds heading up to Sentinel Pass.
Sentinel Pass early morning
Through the boulders
Pinnacle Mountain and Mt Temple
Coming up through the gully
A bit bleak on the summit of Mt Eiffel. Massive cairn. There is a log but no one is replacing the books.
Looking back in the afternoon at The Eiffel Summit
Mt Eiffel looks impressive from lower down
Distance return 11.6 km Time return 7:30 hrs ( inc 30 min lunch ) Elevation Accumulated gain 1240 m Elevation to Summit 1220 m Summit height 3086 m
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