Bertha Peak V
(Akiiohtaikiistakoo)
January 3, 2024
Mountain height: 2440 m
Elevation gain:
1150 m
Ascent time: 4:20
Descent time: 3:00
Solo
scramble.
Gambling that
the weather would be better than forecast, I set out to hike to Bertha Lake
with the option of doing a winter ascent of Bertha Minor. The unofficial peak west
of Bertha Peak has become yet another of the plethora of trips in Southern
Alberta I would characterize as “my favourite”! The scramble route up Minor can
be as colourful an experience as you may ever encounter in the Rockies,
boasting an insane variety of rock, wildflowers, and lake views galore. 
Winter
ascents of Minor would be highly unadvised due to avalanche concerns, however
that was not the case on the third day of the year in 2024. An alarming lack of
snow in Waterton boded well for avalanche-free conditions – if there was any
chance for a winter ascent this would be it. I reasoned there would be enough
snow to enhance the rock scenery, but not completely hide it.
The hike to
Bertha Lake went with ease, microspikes helping out quite a bit beyond Lower
Bertha Falls. Getting to the start of one of several the ascent routes to
Bertha Minor required a bit of a knee-deep thrash through unsupportive snow but it could
have been much worse. 
Had I been thinking, I would have simply hiked across frozen
Bertha Lake. Due to its elevation the lake freezes early in the season and
thaws late.
The weather had
held up to this point, however, I was made my way up the ascent slopes, clouds
started to stream in from the west – and naturally my motivation to make the
summit of Bertha Minor streamed out! This may have
been a good thing, as the upper slopes of Bertha Minor were holding a decent
amount of snow. Trail-breaking to the summit looked to be potentially very
strenuous.
Interestingly,
the ascent slopes of Bertha Peak were practically bare. As such, I turned north
and tromped up those slopes with relative ease, stopped very briefly at the
summit (two minutes, tops), and retraced my steps back down the mountain and to
the trailhead.
A very good day of
exercise, but not the triumphant return to Bertha Minor I wanted. Of course,
that simply means I have an excuse to return another day!
On the bone dry section of the Bertha Lake Trail, looking back at Mount Crandell
Sun hits the east side of Bertha Peak
The viewpoint over Upper Waterton Lake - always a must stop
Mount Richards and the Moon
Bertha Peak. Summit at the left and some of the route we used in September 2020, just right of centre
Lower Bertha Falls - another mandatory stop and photo op
Bertha's east ridge again
Bertha Lake
The Alan Kane route goes up the centre here
An easier route farther west has gained popularity over the years and that's the one I went up
Both routes are littered with colourful rock
While some of the clouds were very cool, more eventually moved in
Mount Alderson above Bertha Lake
Mount Richards also sits above the lake. The best of the easier routes up Richards starts near the end of the lake.
First green and red argillite encounter and Vimy Peak in the distance
Straightforward travel up alarmingly snow-free slopes (left). Bertha Peak at the right.
This dead tree should be completely covered in snow
Good view of Richards in its entirety and Bertha Lake. The clouds still providing more entertainment than disappointment.
View towards the Waterton Lakes
Here comes the really colourful rock
...with lichen
The route is also littered with cairns
Approaching the upper section
The reason why I chose Bertha Peak instead of Bertha Minor
First encounter with deep snow
Bertha Minor is holding way more snow than Bertha Peak
The clouds are no longer entertaining!
Still a great view, but much better without the clouds
Same as above, but in the opposite direction.
Looking through a gap in the ridge to the east ridge of Bertha and Mount Crandell
Buchanan Peak (the lower flat section near the left) and Buchanan Ridge (highest point in the centre)
Mount Carthew peaks over Alderson's east ridge
Easy travel up the ridge
What a view this would be without the clouds
Summit cairn
View to the east
View to the west
View to the west and northwest. Someone spray-painted the word "summit" on the rock at the lower right. I kinda' thought that fact was obvious, but maybe that's presumptuous of me!
Carthew, Buchanan, and Mount Rowe
Following my tracks back through a snowy section between the Bertha Minor ridge and the bowl below Bertha Peak
Bertha Lake and Mount Richards as seen on descent
Vimy again. The Peak in the centre and the Ridge stretching out to the right.
Same as above
Lichen on rock close-up
The classic view of Vimy Peak from low down on the Bertha Lake Trail
The End
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