Unity Peak - Lipalian Peak loop Scramble on 5-Oct-2026

It had been five years since I had last done the Unity – Lipalian loop, and I had forgotten how magnificent the views are from this spectacular ridge walk. We left the trailhead at the Fish Creek parking lot at 9:00 am, arrived at the summit of Unity Peak at 12:00 noon, were on the summit of Lipalian Mountain at 2:15 pm, and were back at the parking lot at 4:30 pm. On the way in we spotted a grizzly bear quite high up on the ski run above Temple Lodge, but he was too busy grazing to pay any attention to us. There was much helicopter activity all day around the new Richardson Ridge chairlift, possibly involved in the glading work that is going on there this summer. The wind was very strong and steady at the cols between Unity and Purple and again between Purple and Lipalian, but otherwise was light with only the occasional gust. From a distance it looked like we would be walking in a significant amount of snow, but it turned out that most of the time we could the avoid the snow altogether, except on the descent to the top of the Larch chair. This is the fifth time I have done this trip, and I will definitely be doing it again. Thanks very much to two very strong scramblers Jane and Linda for joining me Jack on this spectacular trip.

Total distance: 17.7 km

Total elevation gain: 1270 m

Total time: 7.5 hours

Wolverine Valley
Wolverine Valley

At the col between Mount Redoubt and Unity Peak, Redoubt Lake in the background.
At the col between Mount Redoubt and Unity Peak, Redoubt Lake in the background.

On the summit of Unity Peak.
On the summit of Unity Peak.

Lake Louise and the Chateau from the summit of Unity Peak
Lake Louise and the Chateau from the summit of Unity Peak

Purple Mound and Lipalian Mountain from the summit of Unity Peak
Purple Mound and Lipalian Mountain from the summit of Unity Peak

Looking back at our route up to the Redoubt - Unity col. We followed the grassy slope at the left edge of the photo.
Looking back at our route up to the Redoubt - Unity col. We followed the grassy slope at the left edge of the photo.

On the summit of Lipalian Mountain, Lake Louise in the background.
On the summit of Lipalian Mountain, Lake Louise in the background.

Looking across at Moraine Lake, some of the Ten Peaks, Temple, Hungabee, Paradise Valley from the summit of Lipalian.
Looking across at Moraine Lake, some of the Ten Peaks, Temple, Hungabee, Paradise Valley from the summit of Lipalian.

Looking back at our descent route from Lipalian from the top of the Larch chairlift.
Looking back at our descent route from Lipalian from the top of the Larch chairlift.

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