Hiking Mount Borgeau

Our final day hike of our Banff trip was the Mount Borgeau hike.  The Mount Borgeau trailhead is about 30 minutes south of Lake Louise.  You can see the all trails link HERE.  This hike is very LONG.  It was 14.2 miles and 5,921 feet of elevation gain.  

The trail begins in the woods as you follow a stream.

You eventually pass over the creek with a waterfall up above.  

Just as you get to the top of the tree line, you reach Borgeau Lake.  Borgeau Lake is a beautiful lake nestled right below the peak of Mount Borgeau.

As you carry on past Borgeau lake, you really begin the get out of the trees.  The trail opens up into an alpine meadow.  You pass multiple tarns (small lakes) as you approach Harvey pass.  Even the views from the pass are exceptional.

Looking back down at Borgeau Lake from the pass

Other views from the pass and tarns along the way

After the pass, you begin the final ascent to the summit of Borgeau.  Mount Borgeau is an easy mountain to summit in that you do not need any technical climbing skills to do it.  However, getting to the top and then back down felt like an eternity.

There were lots of views like this!  Please note that Charlie is far above me in both pictures 😂 (humbling).

We finally made it to the top.  We were blessed with a clear day and the views were fabulous!

We signed the summit register inside this box.

What a memorable moment!  It was beautiful.  We soaked it in and then began the long descent.  Going downhill killed my blistered feet.  By the end of this day (and thus our last big hike of the trip), I found myself halfway jogging the last 2 miles.  My jogging was not because I had so much energy left in the tank, mind you.  No, this jogging was because I was so over the hiking and the hurting feet.  I was desperate to make it to the end as quickly as possible! Ha Ha! Charlie, while he was ready to be done, was as surefooted as a mountain goat and didn't even have half a blister.  I was a bit jealous 😉