From the parking lot Mount Field can be seen a far way off in the distance. There was a guy sleeping in his van, so I was as quiet as possible.
The first part of the journey is the 8km / 900m gain to Bruges Pass. The sign at the bottom warns hikers that the trail to the pass is strenuous with 48 switchbacks. I only counted 43. I decide I am right.If you carry on the Wapta highline trail you will pass the Bures shale beds. These UNESCO fossil beds are heavily protected by law. The only legal way to visit the fossil beds is by signing up for a guided tour.Note to self: Sign up for tour. Take pictures. From Burges pass you can get a good view of mount field. The very approximate route is in red here.Starting up the slope to the summit of mount field. Not surprisingly, it is a long lose shale grind.Views of Watpa mountain come into view and the grind up the shale just keeps going.And going and going and going.The crux of the ascent is actually a nice break from the shale.Traditional Summit Selfie!Looking down on the town of field.View in the other direction. Wapta lake makes an appearance.Mt. Stephen is on the other side of the valley.Some thoughtless individual littered a beer in the snow on the summit. I decide I will do the right thing and take it back down the mountain with me. Of course I need to empty it first to save weight. In the back ground is Takakkaw falls.Close up of Takakkaw falls. The second tallest waterfall in Canada.Mount Burges and Walcott peak are on the other side of Bruges pass.Emerald lake on the left side of the picture. Home of the famous Emerald lake lodge. Looking back down the shale route when it is time to leave. The Burges pass trail and Wapta highline trial can be seen far below.
For a different perspective, check out a mount field ascent in the winter:
1 Comment
Shawn Bags Mount Field - Trip Bagger · March 27, 2022 at 11:04 pm
[…] Canada Highway in the distance. Just keeps going up. Victory! Same summit but in the summer. https://www.tripbagger.com/2007/09/02/shawn-bags-mount-field-yoho-national-park/ Town of Field. Same shot but in the summer. Emerald lake… not so emerald in the winter. […]