Ridge NW of Harvey Pass Off-Trail hike on 22-Oct-2026

When I saw that the weather was changing starting on Friday, I was determined to get out for one last long hike into high country. And what a fantastic day it turned out to be!
Even though it's difficult to feel enamoured with the walk to Bourgeau Lake, it goes by fairly quickly and we were rewarded with a close encounter with robust bighorn sheep. It was wonderful to finally emerge into sunlight about 2.5 hours into the day, and our focus changed from a steady push upward to savouring the alpine landscape and frozen tarns around Harvey Pass. We continued on higher ridges and decided to stop at a high point with fantastic views in all directions. After a leisurely lunch, we wandered around the plateau some more because we were so reluctant to leave the views. Alas, the short days of October forced us to start descending at 1:30. But the hike back was enjoyable and even the long walk through the forest felt like a gift, especially since we didn't see any other people all day. 20-21 km, 1250m, <8 hours.
Participants: Evan, Donna, Ingrid (coordinator), Deborah, Linda