Notes: Ascent of Peak 4, the true summit. Skipped Peak 3, the named summit.
Trip Report
Dolomite is the distinctive string of jagged teeth seen from the Helen Lake trail, also visible as a side-view from the Icefields Parkway. The trek up this peak offers beautiful views in a relatively short day. Scrambling to the true summit (Peak 4) is at the moderate end of difficult scrambling, though reports from others indicate the named summit (Peak 3) is more difficult. We ended up behind a particular party on this day and decided we were content with just the true summit.
We picked up the trail at the pull-out and followed it in along Helen Creek. The trail thinned in places, but was picked up again within a few hundred meters. Helen Peak can be seen in the gap of trees just right of center.The turn-off for the col between the third and fourth peaks was marked with flagging tape. Our objective is the fourth one in from the left. The low cliff-band ahead is easily overcome via the grassy slope at center.Continuing up the drainage toward the col. Wherever the way looked impassible, a bypass was easily found. The drainage holds much loose rock and we welcomed the variety offered by sections of hands-on scrambling.Making our way through an interesting section of brightly coloured rock.Looking back at Dan. A small cairn in the foreground confirms that we are on route.We bypassed one cliff in the drainage via a moderate scrambling line to the left.Dan gazing ahead to our objective, the fourth peak (center).We bypassed another cliff, again scrambling to the left. This one felt closer to difficult scrambling.Looking back at the Crowfoot Glacier hanging over Bow Lake. The Helen Lake trail can’t quite be made out, but traverses below the ridge in the foreground, roughly at treeline.The drainage narrowed as we neared the col. We started noticing a lot of rock fall and heard faint voices, but didn’t hear a response to our shouts of “hello?”. We eventually caught up with the trio coming down from the fourth peak and beginning up the third peak. I’m not sure what their deal was, but we left them to it.Traversing around the base of the fourth peak, looking back at the third peak. Many, many cairns marked the easiest way around the tower to the ascent chute.One last tricky rock chute before the top.Dan standing at the top of Dolomite Peak (fourth peak) with the fifth peak behind him. Further back (south) are Mount Andromache and Mount Hector.Looking west from the peak to the Wapta Icefield.The trio reached the third peak (using a line to the north of the tower) just as we were returning to the col. Figuring that, if we were quick, we could avoid being in their rockfall, we returned the way we came without pause. This shot is looking back up at the fourth peak.We made it back to Helen Creek with no issue larger than a broken trekking pole. One last look back up at Dolomite before following the creek back out.
We returned to our vehicle in 6 hrs 40 min. This string of peaks had piqued our interest a few years prior while hiking to Helen Lake, but it took some time before conditions lined up with days off, including our first attempt being thwarted by a bear closure. Dolomite Peak made for a fulfilling objective. It’s worth noting that rock fall hazard makes this objective poorly suited to larger groups.
Peak Bliss 