Hector South Peak II
    


 
August 14, 2025
 
Mountain height: 2970 m
Elevation gain:    1170 m
Ascent time:        3:50
Descent time:      2:25
 
Scrambling with Doug.
 
The original objective for the day was an unnamed peak south of Pulpit Peak, as described in David Jones' Rockies West. Deliberately waiting until mid-August, we imagined an easy crossing of the Bow River, with the crux occurring later in the trip. Nope! We didn’t even get across the river. The Bow was shockingly high and fast flowing. Doug made several valiant efforts (while I cowered on the shore!) to find a safe path across but to no avail. If I’m picking my method of death it’s going to be spontaneous human combustion, not drowning in the Bow! We both agreed that continuing was way too risky and turned around. 
 
Several alternate objectives were discussed on the way back to the car and we eventually settled on the south peak of Mount Hector. Doug had not done this trip, and I had completed it in winter conditions. Repeating the ascent without snow would probably feel a whole lot different. In addition, I had been on the lower south ridge of Hector earlier in the summer, enjoying that trip far more than I anticipated. 
 
It took longer than expected to negotiate the steep, forested slopes at the beginning of the ascent, but once above treeline we were in for a rewarding ride of terrific views and wonderful hands-on scrambling up the quartzite rock band higher up. Even with cloudy conditions, views from the summit were fantastic. 
 
For descent, we followed the summit ridge south for a while and then dropped down to the valley below. A descending but trending to the north route allowed us to get back to road, only a short walk from Doug’s car. 
 
Like Hector South Ridge, I can see multiple trips up Hector South Peak. Still lots to explore up there.



Heading towards the Bow River



The objective near the right



Doug looks for a safe place to cross the surprisingly high river - there wasn't one - abort!



Sometime later, looking west towards the original objective (just left of centre) from the lower slopes of Hector South



Mount Aberdeen above the cool cloud layer



Doug approaches a distinct animal trail running across the face



Massive Hector Lake



The cloud layer in the valley was very cool, but would have been even cooler with blue skies above



Above treeline and not complaining about the view to the west



Doug skirts a quartzite rockwall



And then he climbs up onto it



Doug's view of me (photo by Doug)



Easy terrain above the rock band



Better view of Hector Lake



Clouds atop and below Mount Temple



More quartzite



The summit block of Mount Hector is just visible through the clouds



And minutes later it's fully visible



Same as above with a human (photo by Doug)



Bow Peak



Cathedral Mountain in the centre



Close-up of the original objective. Maybe next year (and we'll bring a canoe!)



The summit is now visible, right of centre



Dolomite Peak in the distant centre



Peaks of the Wapta Icefield



Big Rock



On open slopes before gaining the ridge at the right (photo by Doug)



Mount Balfour



The exciting part of the ascent at the left



But first we have to get there and there's lots of enjoy before - like the burgundy strip of Waterton-like rock



Close-up of what's to come



Doug fords ahead while I salivate over another section of burgundy-coloured rock



The summit block of Hector is extremely impressive from this side



I may have to leave the ridge to check out some of that ledgey rock near the left



Worth the minor detour















Time is get back on track



Doug is already there


\
Suddenly, Hector South Peak is looking taller than Mount Hector, but in fact the Mount is over 300 metres higher



The bowl to the north might be an interesting destination in itself



The man in red is lagging behind (photo by Doug)



Doug waited for me



Then he disappeared behind this boulder



He's back (photo by Doug)



Here we go. This section of quartzite rock is super fun to ascend (photo by Doug)



The view behind



Same as above with Hector Lake again taking centre stage



Going straight up is not an option without climbing equipment, but there are plenty of scramble routes around the left side (photo by Doug)



Still enjoying the low-lying clouds, but could do without the high clouds



Cathedral again



Close-up of Balfour



Scrambling (photo by Doug)



My turn to hide (photo by Doug)



The burgundy rock cannot escape my obsessive eye



Doug blends into the quartzite



Hector



Doug reaches the top of the band



Same as above



Lagging behind, but sometimes that makes for more interesting photos (photo by Doug)



And sometimes the other subjective is too far away to be distinguishable



First view (for me) over the other side of the ridge



This small but beautiful tarn will be the subject of many photos



Hector Lake and Doug will continue to be my favourite subjects



All three and Mount Hector



Doug and Balfour



The beautiful geometry of quartzite fracturing



Other forms of beauty



Same as above



Some of the interesting east side of the ridge



The summit is minutes away



Great capture of Hector Lake by Doug (photo by Doug)


Summit panos














A cool outlier of Hector South



Mounts Douglas (left) and St. Bride



Peaks of the Skoki area, including The Wall of Jericho, Pika Peak, and Mount Richardson



Bident, Quadra, and Fay in the background; Babel and the east end of Temple in the midground; Little Temple in the foreground



Mount Lefroy



Mount Victoria



Mount Stephen



Hector and and tarn



Hector and its namesake lake



Pulsatilla Mountain



Molar Mountain (left ) and Molar Tower



View to the east (photo by Doug)



Northwest



Peaks of the Waputik Icefield



Same as above



Cirque Peak in the foreground centre and Observation Peak behind



Doug at the summit



Me (photo by Doug)



Close-up (photo by Doug)



Lush valley to the southeast



Heading down



Another spot of colourful rock



Found a nice little perch (photo by Doug)



That intriguing outlier again



On the perch (photo by Doug)



View from the perch



Two small but beautiful tarns in the valley to the east (photo by Doug)



Doug passes by a very tenacious block of snow



Continuing down. The summit of Hector South Ridge can just be seen at the far left.



Approaching the minor bump of the ridge where we will leave it and start heading down into the valley to the west



Still enjoying great scenery on the ridge before we leave it



Same as above



Working our way down another band of quartzite



Hector South Ridge (just right of centre in the foreground) is fully visible now



Not sure what this beaut is



Our last view of Hector Lake (photo by Doug)



Looking over to the super fun part of the ascent route



Trending down and right to intercept the ridge in front



Probably the last look at the Lake Louise area (photo by Doug)



And a cool close-up by Doug (photo by Doug)



Another great close-up, this time of the some Yoho peaks (photo by Doug)



Aberdeen's scary north glacier



Doug side-slopes to get us back into the correct valley



Some steep terrain before we descend into the forest



A very colourful fungus to end a very colourful day

The End

LOG