Route: from the Helen Lake trailhead, a clear path rising initially uphill, then traversing round the end of a spur before further uphill zigzags and then a slow ascent into the valley to reach Helen Lake. Picking up a trail behind the lake to rise onto a higher plateau behind it to find a less clear route on sand to rise onto the spur of Cirque Peak. Facing stiff wind, showers and apparently worsening conditions, then beating a retreat down the spur to scree run down the sand and more or less retrace the outward route.
Conditions: en route to the trailhead from Jasper, torrential rain. On the walk a mixture of sun and showers giving way to colder wind and heavier showers before the retreat. Thereafter, sunny and pleasant.
Pub: much later after coffee at Laggans, the Explorer's Lounge, Lake Louise Inn for Hop City Barking Squirrel (lager) and another New Brunswick beer.
