Bertha Minor II
Bertha Peak IV
August 14, 2022
Mountain heights: 2416 m, 2440 m
Elevation gain: 1225 m
Round-trip
time: 8 hours
Solo scramble.
Where to begin?
I can’t decide
if this was the best trip I’ve ever done in the mountains, or simply highlights
my ridiculous obsession with red argillite rock. Upon reflection I’m going with
a 30-70 split! (open to interpretation).
My first run up
this outlier of Bertha Minor, about five weeks earlier, was hampered only by
miserable weather conditions, although the stormy skies did provide some pretty
cool views. I strongly suspected a repeat ascent on a clear weather day would
be very scenic, but I wasn’t quite ready for how scenic it would actually be.
After hiking to
Bertha Lake and around about half of the lake’s west side, I started up a
different drainage than the one I used on the first ascent. This drainage worked
initially, but eventually was interrupted by a dense mess of alders. 
I
traversed over to the next drainage, soon encountering the same obstacle. This
was hardly discouraging, as I was already in “argillite heaven” and more than welcomed
traversing across the slopes instead of up them.
In addition to
the superb red argillite rock scenery from beginning to end, the ascent slopes
also featured a stunning variety of other rock types and colours, a few
sections with a proliferation of wildflowers (many to the process of being pollinated
by bees and butterflies), and bright green vegetation, a wonderful contrast
with the red rock. 
I spent almost three hours ascending these slopes, a task
that should have barely taken an hour.
Upon reaching
the ridge both summits were easily reached, yet again boasting fantastic and
colourful views in every direction. The spiky form of Mount Alderson, red Mount
Carthew, and the deep green/blue waters of Alderson Lake were especially captivating.
I had already
decided to run up Bertha Peak this time and from the col, an easier ascent it
could not have been. Requiring only about 130 m of elevation gain on gentle,
brilliant red slopes, I was at the summit of Bertha for a fourth time in no
time. The usual stunning Bertha Peak summit view awaited. What an amazing trek at
to that point and it wasn’t yet over!
To make the most
of all already mind-blowing trip, the logical descent route was to follow
Kane’s ascent track down to a low point between Minor and Peak and then
traverse over to the descent ridge south of the Kane route. This too worked
extremely well, offering great rock scenery throughout and that fast and easy
escape off the mountain.
I cannot rave
enough about this route: lakes galore, unbelievable rock, wild flowers and bright
green vegetation, opportunities to enjoy a variety of hands-on scrambling, and ever-changing
and thoroughly satisfying views. Only death will keep me way from Bertha Minor
III!
A perfect, calm day at the head of Bertha Lake
Hiking the west side of Bertha Lake. Mount Alderson (one of the best scrambles in the park) towers above the lake.
On the lower slopes, enjoying the first round of wildflowers
Mid-slope and enjoying the first of many rounds of red argillite
Here comes the good stuff
Butterfly at work pollinating
A bee joins the butterfly
The combination of green, yellow, and red was unbeatable throughout
Interesting rock (and it's not even argillite!)
A different type of yellow wildflower
Back to the red argillite
This was one of my favourite sections
Not hard to see why
The variety of colour here was staggering
Add in a some of Bertha Lake for good measure
Short break from the red argillite
A blue butterfly with yellow flowers. Of course this only makes me
think of the upcoming NFL season and the defending champions LA Rams:)
Hard to believe Calgary didn't even have an NHL hockey team when I started supporting the Rams!
Looking over to the descent ridge
The red reappears
So does the lake
Finally on the ridge. Mount Alderson to the left.
Closer look at Alderson's fierce northeast ridge, rated at 5.8
Little glimpse of the Waterton Lakes
Back to checking out cool rock and lichen
On the upper ridge, with the two summits of Minor at the left and Bertha Peak at the right
The big swath of red argillite between Minor and Peak is magnificent!
The two summits of Minor
The view of Alderson gets better and better
Summit #1
View to the northeast
View to the southwest
Heading for Summit #2
Same as above
Pano from Summit #2
Same as above
Alderson Lake is a wonderful shade of blue
Mount Blakiston
Mount Lineham
Buchanan Northeast in the foreground
The mystery of Buchanan Peak (centre) and Buchanan Ridge :the Peak is much lower than the Ridge.
Already looking forward to hitting the summit of Bertha Peak
Mount Carthew and Alderson Lake
The northwest view is the most colourful
Obligatory yellow lichen on red argillite
Looking back as I descend is as intriguing as looking forward
Argillite in the shade, argillite in the Sun
Descent pano
Approaching the aforementioned swath of red argillite
Still looking back
And of course looking forward
Back
Neither. This is to the side.
The rock at the upper left looks like a smiling reptile
Couldn't stop taking photos here. This section of the ridge is thoroughly mesmerizing.
Heading up Bertha Peak
This section of argillite was especially bright
Easy hike to the top
With great views along the way
At the summit of Bertha Peak and a view I will never tire of seeing
Closer look at Mount Richards and Bertha Lake
Hard not to look back while descending Bertha Peak also
Crazy turquoise lichen!
The upper ascent ridge and summits of Minor
A figure on the ridge. We chatted at the summit and I suggested he do the route I just did but in reverse.
Approaching the col. I traversed over to the treed ridge to get to the easy descent route.
The traverse
Lots of wild flowers along the way
On the descent ridge
The descent from this point features great views of Mount Richards and Bertha Lake
And also a nice variety of rock
Vimy Peak at the far left also contributes to the view
The Middle Waterton Lake sits below Vimy
A striking section of strikingly white rock
A stand of resilient dead trees
Interesting to see sections of treed terrain that succumbed to the Kenow fire alongside sections that were spared
The fire did not reach the east side of the lake
The west side was heavily burned, but not the trees near the lake
The defined trail attests to the popularity of this descent route
The red argillite shoreline of the lake
Back at the lake outlet. Very different view from that in the morning.
Vimy
Always love this view of Boswell
Love this view too
And the cool rock just before reaching the viewpoint
The viewpoint is busy today
Mount Crandell and the magenta flower of fireweed
The End
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