[MCR] Egypt Lake/Healy Pass, Rockies, June 30, 2014

I led a group into the Egypt Lake area over the long weekend.  The trail up Healy Creek from the Sunshine parking lot was in fine shape, and we didn’t encounter snow on the trail until past the Healy Creek campground. The trail up to Healy Pass was mostly just muddy and wet, and we only really post-holed through thigh deep snow for about 100 metres at the height of the pass. We encountered more significant snow patches in shady spots on the west side of the pass as the trail descends towards Egypt Lake, but the recent showers and long weekend traffic has made these easy to navigate.

The short trail from the campground towards Egypt Lake was still holding snow patches about 1 metre deep, as well as the trail towards Scarab Lake starting at about 2100 metres. The short trail up to Pharaoh Lake was in quite good condition, having only one significant snow patch near the Pharaoh Creek trail junction.

As an exit we hiked over to Simpson Pass before dropping down to Healy creek. While Simpson pass was snow free, the trail between Healy and Simpson pass was almost completely snowbound, and the trail connecting back to Healy creek from Simpson pass has not yet had its deadfall cleared from the trail.

Bring a good pair of gaiters, and keep an eye out for the herd of about three dozen mountain goats that have been grazing under Bourgeau Falls.

Nathan Dahl

Hiking Guide

 

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