Eight Ramblers arrived at Sunshine Parking Lot and pleasantly surprised by the brilliant weather, the sky would be unblemished blue throughout the day. Initial planning was to ascend to Healy Pass, then descend back to Healy Meadows to hike South to Eohippus Lake in the shelter of the Monarch Ramparts. This had made perfect sense when the trip was planned; at that time the weather forecast was not that good. Given this beautiful weather, the route heading SSE over the Monarch Buttresses and descending SE to Eohippus Lake was an obvious choice.

We started from the car at 9:10AM, and made a quick & easy ascent to Healy Pass at ~2330m (9.4km mark), arriving at 11:45AM. We climbed just above Healy Pass to 2,376m for lunch with a fantastic view of The Monarch Ramparts, leading up to Mt Monarch 2,904m to the South.

Ramparts and Monarch Mt (2,904m) seen from Healy Pass

Lunch at Healy Pass. Cornelis (hat) John, Susan, Anita (middle), Joan, Alicja, Caroline, Jim (front)

Egypt and Scarab Lakes seen from Healy Pass

To the NW we saw the Pharaoh Peaks 2,711m with Egypt and Scarab Lakes we visited a few weeks ago with Mark’s backpack. Mt Bourgeau (2,931m) was visible to the NE. The range from the Twin Cairns to Citadel Peak was visible to the E-SE, and the Simpson Ridge to the SSE. Mt Assiniboine (3,618m) stood out to the South. The Healy Meadow Lakes, all the way south to Eohippus Lake, sparkled like gems in the sun, surrounded by golden larches. We packed up at 12:30 for a short ascent up to the Ramparts. The Rampart’s summit is at the 11.6km mark, 2,430m altitude. From the ramparts, you have an awe-inspiring view in all directions.

Your coordinator was impressed by the intricate geology of this area. Under our feet we had finely laminated (Hornblende-rich) shale with a silky sheen and waxy feel to it. Obviously, the shale and surrounding dolomites had been subject to hydrothermal alteration / thermal metamorphism. In the lower autumnal sun, the whole Ramparts shimmered like a huge dark smoky-glass mirror. The silky / waxy mineral responsible for this effect is Talc Mg3Si4O10(OH)2, formed by hydrothermal alteration / thermal metamorphism of amphibole-type (Hornblende) minerals in the surrounding siliceous dolomites and shales. The Redearth Pass we had passed to our right showed signs of intensive hydrothermal alteration. What looked like collapsed karst systems had glacial moraines & talus piled on top. My eye spied equally interesting features to the West, South of Egypt Lake. Visible was Talc Lake, also called Natalco Lake, part of the Ball Range. Most interesting was a huge Rock Glacier just South of Talc Lake oozing down Ball Range like a huge wet mop, with compression ridges in the talus-sized (& larger) rock rubble. A little further South from the Rock Glacier, on the SE face of Ball Range an enormous active rock slide could be seen. It looked as if it had failed along a significant geological fault (strike NE-SW, dip 60 degrees approx.), sliding more than 200m down its plane. The fault looked active (moving due to sub-duction of the pacific plate). It is likely that the fault zone is weakened by the same insidious hydrothermal processes as described above. At home, I looked up the history of this interesting area: In 1917, park warden Bill Peyto filed a claim on the talc deposits at Talc Lake. A few years later, the National Talc Company (Natalko) took the claim and built a wagon road to haul the talc more than 20km down Pharaoh Creek to the CPR line.

Ball Range Rock Glacier and Talc Lake as seen West of the Monarch Ramparts

Redearth Pass Area as seen NW of the Monarch Ramparts. Haiduk & Pharaoh Peaks in background.

Mt Bourgeau (2,931m) and Healy Meadows as seen NE from the Monarch Ramparts

To continue our report: We made the easy descent down the Ramparts to Eohippus (that pre-historic horse with toes) Lake, enjoying the ancient golden & gnarled Larches. We enjoyed a spontaneous nap on a grassy spot NE of Eohippus lake from 2:45 to 3:15PM (at the 15.8km mark 2,130m altitude), enjoying the mild warmth of the sun, while watching the golden Larch needles float down against the deep-blue sky.

Larches on the Ramparts above Eohippus Lake

Descent from the Monarch Ramparts to Eohippus Lake (2,127m)

Ramblers reposing at Eohippus Lake

After stretching our limbs, we continued on, hiking north along the lakes of Healy Meadows, ascending gently to 2,194m on a grassy animal trail along a little creek to a few pretty lower-lying no-name ponds in an elongated hollow between the 16.8 and 18.6km marks.


Healy Meadows No-Name Lake

Soon we picked up a distinct trail heading to Simpson Pass which we reached at 4:30PM (20.1km mark, 2,106m elevation). At Healy Creek campground, we were back on the trail we took up to Healy Pass earlier that day. We were back at the car at 6PM, after a wonderful day, with a wonderful Ramblers Hiking Team.

Participants: John, Joan (guest hiker), Susan, Carolyn, Anita, Alicja, Jim, Cornelis as coordinator, navigator, scribe, trip geologist and photographer.

Trip Statistics: Distance 27km. Ascent to highest point on the Ramparts 760m at 2,430m altitude. Total ascent 910m.