Mount Lefroy 3423m, 11230ft (Part 1 The Approach)

MOUNT LEFROY 3,423 m - 11,230 ft June 23–24, 2026 Lake O’Hara, British Columbia Day 1 – Approach Trying to climb the 11,000ers always comes with a few challenges, and one of the biggest is getting a good weather window. After monitoring the forecast on Monday, it looked like we were finally going to get a couple of perfect days. I quickly decided to go for Mount Lefroy. Since it was a weekday on such short notice I wasn’t able to find a climbing partner, so I made the decision to head out solo for this mission. Before leaving on Tuesday morning, I secured a bivouac permit. Unfortunately, I couldn’t reserve a seat on the Lake O’Hara shuttle bus, but I figured I’d try my luck with the 10:30 a.m. bus since I was heading there to do some mountaineering business and not just visiting the Lake O’Hara area. Without wasting any time, I drove to Lake O’Hara and arrived at the parking lot shortly after 10 a.m. I tried to catch the bus, but they weren’t able to accommodate me. Rather than wait around, I started hiking the 11 km access road. It took me about two hours to reach Lake O’Hara, where I took a short break before continuing up to Abbot Pass. Once there, I set up my tent, relaxed for the afternoon, and recharged for the summit push the next morning. Day 2 – Summit Push I woke up shortly after 4 a.m., got ready, and by 5 a.m. I was on my way. The elevation gain starts immediately, and I spent a good portion of the ascent front-pointing up steep snow. I found this to be the most physically demanding part of the climb, and for me it was the crux of reaching the summit ridge. From there, the climbing became more technical and exposed as I carefully traversed the narrow ridge toward the true summit. The ridge is quite narrow, with large cornices hanging off the right side, so every step required complete focus. The views from up there were absolutely incredible. I reached the summit shortly after 7 a.m., climbing at a moderate pace from Abbot Pass. That gave me plenty of time to film, take photos, and carefully move through the more sketchy sections. Soloing an 11,000er leaves absolutely no room for mistakes, whether you’re climbing up or making the descent. By 10 a.m. I was back at my bivouac. I quickly packed up my tent and started hiking down toward Lake Oesa. From there, it was an enjoyable hike back to Lake O’Hara. I arrived at Lake O’Hara around 1:30 p.m., giving me enough time to negotiate a seat on the 2:30 p.m. shuttle back to the parking lot. After a relaxing ride out, I drove to Canmore to do some gear shopping before finally heading home to Calgary. Mount Lefroy turned out to be another incredible solo adventure and another memorable Canadian Rockies 11,000er. Disclaimer The content in this video is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Climbing mountains involves inherent risks and dangers. Please conduct your own thorough research, evaluate your skill level and physical condition, and consult with experienced climbers or professionals before attempting any climb. The information shared is based on my personal experience and perspective and is not intended as advice or a recommendation for others to follow. If you choose to climb this mountain after watching my video, you do so at your own risk.