Backpack into Ghost via Aylmer Pass Scramble on 3-Jul-2025
This was an exploratory backpack into a remote, trailless wilderness area.
Day 1: The hike along Lake Minnewanka was swift, but the climb to Aylmer Pass took a long time and we finally stopped for lunch as soon as we reached treeline. After the pass, we left trails behind and started our adventure with a willow-whack followed by some rock fields and a nasty bushwhack through thick forest strewn with deadfall. Finally we emerged into the gorgeous landscape that would be our home for the next two nights. About 17 km, 1200m, in 7 hours.
Day 1: The hike along Lake Minnewanka was swift, but the climb to Aylmer Pass took a long time and we finally stopped for lunch as soon as we reached treeline. After the pass, we left trails behind and started our adventure with a willow-whack followed by some rock fields and a nasty bushwhack through thick forest strewn with deadfall. Finally we emerged into the gorgeous landscape that would be our home for the next two nights. About 17 km, 1200m, in 7 hours.
We've just entered the Ghost Wilderness and will leave this faint trail shortly
In the willows
All of Brock's ridge and summit (pointy bit just right of the brownish peak) is visible here
Lots of deadfall and old trees
Sunrise over our camp; spot the tents
Day 2: We were all cold overnight and woke to frost on the tents. But the sky was blue and we were excited. The day started with a ridge walk to scramble up Brock’s Peak, the views from which gave a complete overview of our playground, including valuable route-finding ideas. From there we swiftly descended back to valley bottom on an amazing soft scree run, and then finally had to deal with the 8-foot tall willows that we had read about. Wow, they were thick and nasty. We were almost through and ran into a wide deep stream choked with more willows, but miraculously there was a large dead tree only a few metres away that made an effective though precarious bridge.
Then the hard work began to get into the Spectral Lakes basin. Super steep, micro route finding with lots of up and down, and some scrambling. The rewards came with a long gentle ascent through vast alpine meadows and then finally the first lake. What a special place! After a long lunch we visited the upper lake, and then tackled the descent back to the waiting willows. Lots more climbing and walking on rock brought us back to camp with thankfully no more whacking. Overall, a deeply satisfying day in an extraordinary place. One funny moment was filtering drinking water, seeing something chunky in the filter bottle... and then realizing that the thing was swimming. Yum...
About 12 km/1100m in 9 hours. We were TIRED; those two days were physically challenging!
The forecast rain never arrived, and the night was calm except for lots of rockfall from Spectral Peak, and some deer or sheep that came through camp in the dark snorting indignantly at our tents. Beautiful stars.
Already warm enough for t-shirts at 7:45 AM
On the summit ridge of Brock's Peak; Aylmer Pass above the figures and our camp just right of centre
Brock's Peak summit, pointing towards the Spectral Lakes
Scramble down from Brock's Peak
Looking down with anticipation at a scree run guaranteeing an easy 300m elevation loss
The climb to Spectral Lakes is above the figures
The fallen tree that saved us from wading a deep willow-choked creek
Vast alpine meadows
First Spectral Lake, with Apparition Mountain behind
Filtering water, hopefully without added pond life
Scramble section to exit the Spectral Lakes area
Back in the 8-foot tall willows
Last climb of the day
Kitchen and dining room
Day 3: Our trip out went much smoother thanks to our gained experience regarding the local terrain, and we made it back to Aylmer Pass with very little trouble but a fair amount of sidehilling. Lots of fresh grizzly diggings throughout the pass, but all we saw were sheep and a deer. A hot walk along the lake and we were back at the chaos of the parking lot.
16 km/400m in 6 hours.
Thanks to the group for bringing their sense of adventure, sharing in the routefinding, and laughing during the tough parts. It felt like a real getaway from the modern world despite it being only 2 nights. And a special welcome to Nathalie; definitely a kindred backpacking spirit!
Total about 45 km/2700m.
Participants: Jane, Ingrid (coordinator), John, Nathalie