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Mount Bell (Attempt)
Lake Louise, Alberta
July 12, 2005
To reach Mount Bell, Sue, Kari, Dale and I used the Taylor Lake approach and ascended a snow-covered gully. Even though Kane recommends this route, I think it's unnecessarily long. I returned five years later and summited using the Boom Lake approach.
This trip was doomed from the start. Included in my party was someone who needed to get to Calgary in the early evening, and another person who was slow. What a bad combination! Ultimately we turned back due to the lack of time, just when the summit was in sight. After this trip, I vowed never to promise anyone to return at a set time.
After passing Taylor Lake we did some scrambling
To reach the ridge, we ascended this gully on the left
Topping out on the gully
Boom Lake
Plenty of scree to cross
We turned back after passing this outcrop
Castle Mountain
Bident Mountain
Looking back just before we turned around
The summit is right
Back at the ascent gully leading to Taylor Lake
Glissading down the gully