Blown off a Saddle Just East of the Great Divide and Angel Glacier: Days 3 and 4 in the Canadian Rockies

The weather continued to dismantle us in the Canadian Rockies on our trip the first week of September 2015.

The final ascent to Harvey Pass. 

We did a relatively short trip to a glacier just outside of Jasper called Angel Glacier.  Low clouds and pissing rain made for limited views. As we climbed higher to Cavell Meadows (named after a nurse who was executed for being a compassionate caretaker during WW2), it began to snow fairly heavily.  We did snap a few photos during a break in the clouds on our way down.  The other two hikes in between Jasper and Banff we had planned were not completed on our third day due to a flat tire and low clouds.  

Angel Glacier, from lower Cavell Meadow

Glacier in Jasper, below Angel Glacier

Angel Glacier and Lake

Harvey Pass and Bourgeau Lake, Banff National Park, day 4:

This was a 6 mile, 3200 foot climb to Harvey Pass, which approaches the Great Divide from the east side and grants views over the top.  Once again, the wind was against us. We hiked the bulk of the trip up a gentle grade through forest to Bourgeau Lake. Beyond that point, we passed three groups and two solo hikers who stated they had turned around just above the timber line. When I asked why, they each answered something to the effect of "It was extremely windy and cold... you'll see".  We briefly stopped after a steep climb up some talus just below a shelf in the last thicket of trees to refuel and rest.  Just beyond, the wind that greeted us was stronger than any I have ever personally experienced. Imaging a constant blowing as intense as the strongest gusts on a windy day. The northern weather pattern was forcing a tremendous volume of cold air over the ridge directly into our faces. Imagine standing up in the back of a pickup cruising down the freeway. Then imagine steep grade and sideways ice cold rain. 

Views of the Great Divide, towards Sunshine Ski villiage, from Harvey pass.

We took shelter behind a rock and were fortunate to have the opportunity to watch the clouds lift.  What followed could only be described as extreme clarity.  The clarity after this occurred was almost absolute. There was zero particulate matter in the air. Hard to describe

Descending from Harvey Pass through completely pure air.

As a reward for powering through the wind which destroyed the seams of our pants and sideways rain, we had the whole alpine zone of the hike to ourselves; the only people crazy enough to press on in those miserable conditions. This scenery was completely buried in clouds during our ascent, so the view on the way down was our first. 

Small alpine lake, below Harvey pass, trail visible in talus field in the background. 

Steep descent down talus field, above Bourgeeau Lake

 This was a tricky area to go down. loose irregular rocks everywhere, and is steep enough to require th use arms in places. I walked down just like Johnny Depp. That is when I realized: I think Johnny Depp walks like he is avoiding things and managing uneven terrain, even when walking down a flat paved sidewalk with no obstacles. That's what makes it so crazy.

Bourgeau Lake