MOUNT STEPHEN

Elevation: 3199m          Gain: 1920m                   Difficulty level: difficult

Ascent time: 9 hours    Total trip time: 14 hrs     Conditions: Summer/Dry

Parking area: Mount Stephen Fossil Beds (park on the street in Field)

 

 

 

ROUTE

 

Warning: You need a permit to hike across the Mount Stephen fossil beds to access Mount Stephen. Since this is a LONG hike, you will likely want to start the hike before the Field visitor centre station opens. This means picking up your permit the night before (ie. camp or hostel in Lake Louise/Field). Alternatively, permits can be picked up at an earlier date (eg. if you were hiking in Lake Louise a week or so before). Unfortunately, each person must pick up their permits in person. 

 

comments: Its good to have done this. However, between the logistics of getting the permits/driving to Field, the incredibly early wake-up time, and the relentless elevation gain (ie. 2km); I don't think I'd come back. Imagine driving 3 hours to do Lady Mac, double the elevation gain, increase the grade, add an exposed ridge  (like Lady Mac) near the top, and then add a brief climb... voila... Mt Stephen.

 
The hike starts off straightforward enough. A long (750m+) slog through the forest has you de-layering pretty quickly.

 

 

You then cross over the Mtn Stephen Fossil bed. Taking samples is not permitted, and the area is monitored by video surveillance. Inconsiderate hikers removing fossils in the past are the reason for the permit requirement.

 
The route up beyond the fossil fields requires a bit of route finding, but after yet more ultra-steep elevation gain, you reach the first plateau... where you encounter... you guessed it... even more elevation gain. Most of the route isn't particularly difficult technically. There is some handwork, but no major exposure. However, as stated many times before, the path up is steep and unrelenting.

 

The final 125m is not for the faint of heart. First, you have to cross a ridge, with a sheer 2 km drop down to Field on one side, and then a 1km sheer drop on the other side. I am sure there are some that consider this fun. I am not one of them.
 

The scramble then ends with a brief climb up a rock face. If its any consolation, at least you don't have to still put up with an aerial view of Field from 2km up. 

No report of Mount Stephen can be complete without the classic shot of the rockface.

(PS: Minor stitches and scrapes were also included in this hike)

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