Notes: Mostly hiking with one move of easy scrambling. This route will have been impacted by the Jasper Wildfire in 2024.
Trip Report
Roche Bonhomme, aka Old Man Mountain, is visible from the Jasper townsite and easily recognizable by its distinct likeness to an old man sleeping. It’s one of the easier peaks around the townsite and offers excellent views of Skyline Trail and the Colin Range. The parking is the same as for Maligne Canyon, which has outhouses and a cafeteria. The lot tends to fill up before noon during peak tourism season.
We picked up the trail from Maligne Lake Road and followed it up along the edge of a drainage to treeline. The trail is steep with about 1000 m of elevation gained in 2 hrs. This photo is looking back at the Jasper townsite.Looking ahead, a short, scrambly section leads to the summit ridge. The scrambling is never beyond easy.Gazing south at the peaks of Skyline Trail including Excelsior Mountain (left) and Mount Tekarra (center-right).Continuing along the summit ridge. The large summit cairn can just barely be made out in the distance to the left.There was one short section of downclimbing along the summit ridge. This gentle ramp would typically be an easy walk, but had a particularly fierce coating of frost on the day we were out.Looking southeast along the Colin Range. In the foreground, Roche Bonhomme’s summit cairn is encased in hoar frost.Looking west from the summit to Pyramid Mountain (left) and The Palisade (center). Autumn can still be seen lingering in the valley below us, but the cold bite of winter has very much arrived in the alpine.Summit panorama.We returned the way we came, happy to be back in the trees.We passed several other parties, with varying levels of winter layers. Most seemed to have turned back just below the summit ridge, having possibly misjudged how frosty it would be above treeline. Back in the Jasper townsite, looking northeast at Roche Bonhomme from Connaught Drive. A face can clearly be seen just left of center – he is asleep on his back with his hands clasped in front of him on his belly (right of center). The ascent route follows an avalanche gully just behind (left of) his head.
We made it back to Maligne Canyon in 5 hrs 45 min. Roche Bonhomme makes for a great little trip near the Jasper townsite that I would recommend to a fit friend. Because the ascent route follows an avalanche path, this one can only be attempted when fully snow-free.
Peak Bliss 
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