Mt Niles Scramble via Niles Meadow

August 16, 2013 by Bill Rowe ·

Sherbrooke lake looking up the valley at Mt Niles

August 14th Wednesday Re-Visit July 22 2019

A bit of an alpine start leaving Canmore at 7:00 am. Started the hike at 8:00 am from Sherbrooke Lake parking just past the Great Divide Lodge ( now owned and operated by Lake Louise Ski Resort ). Park in the Hotel parking there is now a dual road so if you go to the official parking you cannot turn left.

Sherbrooke lake

The climb up to the lake is a moderate trek of 3.0 km.

The lake is long by alpine standards at about 1.2 km. The path stays very close to the lake and gives good views of the long day ahead.

Sherbrooke falls

After the lake the trail gradually rises along the Sherbrooke Creek. There are a couple of open meadows split up by treed sections,some are a little muddy and of course a couple of log and plank creek crossings. The action starts when you drop down into Niles Meadow.

Crossing creek no bridge

Niles meadow turn right and look for cairn

Nile Meadow & the route up to the shoulder

Find the cairn for the shoulder. Look out for a right turn in a few meters.

After finding the cairn do not go up the water course logs indicate a right turn to the switch backs.

The route ahead across the shoulder

At the top you look down on this view and the main marker point is the spire

Down again to come up onto the flat rocks

Looking back to the previous photo

This is the last chance to fill your water bottle, as there are a couple of little brooks to cross.

On the flat rocks with the Spire in sight

Spire ahead. Stay right and high do not head for the Col. 2cnd trip had snow at the col so a glissade worked great from the col

The Spire. Climb up as close to the left as comfortable

The rest is a good old-fashioned scramble. Loose rock ,boulders and scree. There are some cairns and some tracks to follow. From the Spire after you have covered 11 km you still have 350 m to 400m go.The views suddenly make it all worth while when the Daly Glacier and the Waputik Icefield come into view.