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Mt. Joffre - August 2002
The first stop on the way to Mt. Joffre is the mysterious Hidden lake, which has no outflow channel. The headwall looms up behind. The route follows the left-hand shoreline to the opposite side. Looking back across Hidden Lake at the point where the trail enters the forest. Mt. Indefatigable in the distance. Fossil falls. The route continues towards the headwall on the left. Fossil falls from the headwall. Waka Nambe peaking out in the distance. Looking back from the headwall towards Hidden lake and the Upper K. Lake further on. Once past Aster lake and onto the outwash plain, Mt. Joffre finally comes into view. A humbling sight. The route leads up the outwash plain and onto the slope under the "horns". But it will wait until the early morning... After a long hike in moonlight, the lower reaches of the Joffre environs are revealed. Ice pool below the glacier. The snout of the Mangin glacier. On the ice looking back north. The ridge of the Mangin glacier was clear with no visible cracks. A solitary soul trudges onward... The right-hand side of the "Y" shaped notch is the route up the wall. The crux. Just below the notch... A good place to stop for a rest. The ice axe is handy here. View up the north-east ridge to the summit. The final push. View to the south-east from the ridge. The Petain glacier. Ridges The summit of Joffre. Looking north from the summit, under a perfect sky. Stayed on top a whole hour to enjoy this view. A satisfied scrambler. A gully near the summit, looking south. Looking west towards Top of the World provincial park in B.C. The Royal Group on the left, Assiniboine on the right. Mangin glacier below, Mt. Sir Douglas beyond. The long narrow ridge in the upper center is the Northover ridge. Close up of route along glacier, with outwash plain in the distance. On the ridge looking back towards summit. View of Mt. Joffre from the secondary summit to the north. Descending the ridge back to the glacier. Descending the notch. The magnificent expanse of the Mangin glacier. Not a crevasse in sight. Joffre in all its glory. Mt. Cordonnier to the left, a good vantage point to scout out the route. The ice pools below the glacier. Looking back towards the summit from the pools. And finally, a view of the rock strewn drainage and the very long slog that remains before reaching Aster lake. Round trip, 22 hrs.