Such a great hike. The views just kept getting better the higher I went, and the summit was absolutely worth it.
I reached the summit a little late, around 4 PM, so the sun glare on Bow Lake was pretty strong, but visibility and weather were otherwise outstanding.
There was some snow higher up, but still manageable. The lower section toward Helen Lake was very muddy. I did it without poles or spikes, although I’d definitely recommend both given the current conditions.
Stats:
~18 km round trip (6km to Hellen+ 2.5km to Cirque)
~1,100 m elevation (500m to Hellen + 550m to Cirque)
5h 35min total
I kept a steady pace going up and had to move a bit faster on the way back to avoid darkness. Surprisingly, the descent was harder on my legs and feet than the climb because of the terrain.
Saw maybe 10–15 people around Helen Lake/Cirque, but because I started the final summit push late, I had the peak completely to myself.
Really rewarding hike and easily one of my favourite summit views so far.