What a sublime day! Sunny blue skies with cloud-puffs most of the day, a little cloud halfway the hike rapidly clearing. We did not have enough hikers for a car-shuttle, so all 3 of us comfortably got into one hybrid car (popular Cabbie - model V, but bright - red) to minimize our environmental footprint (4.5 litre/100km = 22.2km/litre = 52.3 mpg) for the day. We started from the Helen Lake trailhead at 10:30AM, noting quite a number of hikers were heading for the Dolomite Circuit. Therefore we decided to hike the circuit, hoping for one of us to hitch-hike back the 8km from Mosquito Ck to Helen Lake trailhead at the end of the day – we were successful doing so upon our arrival at 6PM. The hiking parties spread out wide so we were never in a crowd, but enough to scare the bears. At the other side of the South Dolomite Pass, in the meadows heading down to Mosquito Ck we saw some bear diggings and scat (of the scaredy-cat type). The meadows were festooned with Alpine Flowers.
 
We took several breaks in the sun to enjoy the magnificent views, going at a relaxed pace. The pictures below tell the story (click to enlarge):
 



Overlooking Helen Lake from the Ridge above

Janice and Harold on the Ridge above Helen Lk, Cirque Peak (2,993m summit) in the background

Cornelis and Janice on Helen Ridge

Bobac Mt (3,087m) and Watermelon Pk (3,095m)

Dolomite Cirque

From Dolomite Cirque looking towards Cirque Peak

Climbing SE from Dolomite Pass up to the pass to the Mosquito Ck Drainage. Cirque Peak in the background.

Janice on Dolomite Pass S.

Harold, Janice and Cornelis in the Pass (~2,570m) to the Mosquito Ck drainage

Looking into Mosquito Ck drainage, Mt Hector (3,394m) the glacier-capped peak in the background.

Alpine Flowers including Indian Paintbrush in the meadows below the South Dolomite Pass

Looking back North to South Dolomite Pass, left the NE Dolomite Peak outlier (2,840m), right Watermelon Pk (3,087m)

Looking back North to South Dolomite Pass, Creek draining to Mosquito Ck, left the NE Dolomite Peak outlier (2,840m), right Watermelon Pk (3,087m)

 
Participants: Janice, Harold (pictures), Cornelis – Coordinator, pictures, gps, Scribe. Janice and Harold, thanks for joining!

Trip Statistics: Dolomite Circuit: Helen Lake Trailhead (~1958m) via ridge above Helen Lk, Katherine Lk, Dolomite Pass, via South Dolomite Pass (~2,567m) into Mosquito Ck Drainage, hike out to Mosquito Ck camping Icefield Parkway (~1,841m), Distance ~19km. Effective ascent ~609m, Total climbs ~940m.



Dolomite Circuit: Helen Lake Trailhead (~1958m), Katherine Lk, Dolomite Pass, South Dolomite Pass (~2,567m) into Mosquito Ck Drainage, hike out to Mosquito Ck camping Icefield Parkway (~1,841m), Distance ~19km. Effective ascent ~609m, Total climbs ~940m.