Back of the Lake, Lake Louise
climbed by G.Cornell August 2008
Walk 15 minutes past the last sport climbing cliff at Lake Louise(Back of the Lake).
Pass a scree fan seen across the river and when some dark boulders come close to the trail where a large tree root is crossing the trail, walk into the unfun jumble and scramble the best way you can figure is easiest to get to the main bouldering area near the river flats. It may be better to gain the river’s edge sooner and parallel it where a at rock on the trail overlooks this same scree fan across the river. The third option is to bushwack down the far southern edge of the boulderfield where the pine trees begin again.
An old trail may have passed through this jumble many moons ago due to signs of rusted nails in timber and the odd rusted drum. Bring a pad or two however many established problems have good landings. Spotters are mandatory for the unclimbed orange block facing east. Great views of Mt.Lefroy and Victoria, unfortunately tourists can have great views of you as it is easy to see from the busy trail. Most descents are piece of cake.
1) Black Classic Arete(V0) this is a good rst line to begin on, not mindblowing but obvious. Likely done by some interested traveller years ago. Climb the in-your-face black prow. An unnished line has neared the top of the black north face.
2) Knicker (V2) on the smaller boulder west. Hard undercling on pocketed face to the edge briey before back onto the face microcrimping up also briely but fun.
3) On with the Show (V3) on the same west boulder but on the arete.
Crouch and paw o bumpy slopers to a high ake and go up. Decend ledges on the backside slab.
4)Alleycat (V1) found in a neat alleyway. Traverse using the crest but midway get onto crimps, make lunge move to horn.
5)Street Magic (V3) funky problem faces north beside the big slab. Traverse from the low right end, get hands o the crest and use crimps and neat heel hook to get around the arete and onto the slab around the corner. Needs a SS up the arete.
6) ’Ole Guide Dyno (V3) walk half a minute north past bushes and a boulder so overhung on the east side it appears to be levitating. Hang from the ridge on the tilted north face and just climb up this cool feature. Needs a route outta the cave, it’ll go one day.
7)Floodline (VB) tiny boulder close to the river. SS cracked east face and climb up.
8)Big Alpine Crack (V0, HB) climb along the mega-positive crack left to the arete and go up, don’t fall here.
9)Green Jeans (V3) classic. Climb steep green face.
10)Easy Gamble (V1) on the same face but left-side. Traverse scarey jug crack to obvious nish. Bad landing but real fun.
11)Nice Canvas (V0) casual slab faces north next to cobbled ‘road’. Beginner route.
12) Cirque de Soleil (V3) well overhung triangular face on the far west side of the bouldereld next to the shrubs on the hill. Crouch from a good crimp on the north face, stick the feet underneath, paw arete to incut then slink over to the great at ledge above the lip. Swing up to get the top ridge. FA’er topped out and slipped on a moss patch and came back over the front and landed on the ledge on his knees then did a forward roll o it onto the ground. Use a spotter to move the pad!
