Bald Eagle Peak Route Map (see link in desciption - or click here - for interactive version).

After reading multiple reports of horrible, disorienting bushwhacking when starting from the south end of Harvie Heights, I said "no thanks!" and looked for an alternative. We decided to try our luck with the longer, but well travelled Tibits Quarry Trail, starting on Harvie Heights' northern end. This trail provided a quick and easy approach, and we eventually turned right on Montane Traverse, leading towards the route up Bald Eagle. GPS was crucial here, as the "trail" heading up to the left from Montane Traverse could easily be missed if you don't know where it is! From here we continued up through the forest on faint trails, and eventually up through thinning trees on the classic steep, dusty, hot slope that many Canmore scrambles possess, before eventually topping out on the jagged ridge! Trust me, there's really not much to see before this point!

Starting off, up slabbly rock, along the ridge. Our route would soon angle slightly off the ridge crest, to climber's right, and ascend a gully full of unpleasant treadmill scree, before regaining the slabby exposed ridge higher up.

Scrambling up the typical slabby terrain, once we regained the ridge.

Goofy guy :P

Scrambling along the ridge. Note: the hidden scree gully (lighter brown rock) we ascended to regain the ridge, can be seen bottom-left, below the cliffs. Photo credit: Dad

The ridge eases off a bit, before another steep section...Pretty significant drop off that left side!

Analyzing the final steep section before the summit block...Luckily there are lots of grooves for holds, and it actually wasn't as bad as it looks...At least I didn't find it to be ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Scrambling up the steep slabs! Photo credit: Dad

The exposure was truly noticeable along the final stretch of the ridge!

No slip zone! Photo credit: Dad

Once past the exposed ridge, it was on to the summit "nipple", which can be ascended around the back side.

Scrambling up a slabby ramp, leading around to the back.

There was only this one short awkward step, stepping over a gap, while climbing around an outcrop of rock. Once around to the back, it was just a matter of ascending scree slopes to the summit! Photo credit: Dad

Comprehensive view to the north from the unsurprisingly small summit of Bald Eagle Peak!

Mount Charles Stewart South rises directly up the ridge to the east! That one's on the list, but looks like quite the scree slog...wonder if the connecting ridge from here is scramble-able??

Mount Charles Stewart itself!

Mount Peechee rises center-right, over Princess Margaret Mountain.

The ridge down from Charles Stewart South (to the south) continues on to Lady Mac!

Looking down to the town of Canmore, with Mount Lawrence Grassi and Ha Ling Peak guarding the west side!

For some reason, the register lies on a point slightly lower than the summit, and takes a short, exposed step, over precarious blocks, to get to! Some meanie probably just tryna add some extra excitement to our lives. PS. A new register is definitely needed up here...this one was a mess! Photo credit: Dad

My dad scrambles back up the exposed step to the visibly higher summit.

Looking back. Photo credit: Dad

Another scrambler (Louis) joined us on the summit, and took this rare non-selfie of my dad and I! Louis is actually a mountaineer, who was just doing this as fitness training...okay, okay...no need to flex! lol! After a nice chat, he was ripping back down!

Summit pano to the south!

Looking down the valley towards the town of Banff, with two classic Banff scrambles on opposite sides; Rundle (left) and Cascade (right)!

Taking in the view of Mount Lougheed (center) and The Three Sisters (right) at the opposite end of the valley! Photo credit: Dad

My dad starts down the scree slopes on the backside.

His view back up. Photo credit: Dad

Traversing some ledges.

Descending the slabby bit. The awkward step was more so awkward on descent rather than ascent.

This summit block is quite impressive!

My dad descends the exposed ridge!

My turn! Photo credit: Dad

Downclimbing the steep section!

Looking back up!

The ridge is always interesting...

But unfortunately we'd eventually have to leave it behind and descend the unpleasant steep, dusty slopes below :( Photo credit: Dad

..or not! Quickly tiring of the aforementioned slopes, we saw a faint trail branching off to skier's right, down to the valley on the north side of Bald Eagle, and decided to follow it for variety! We ran down the trail, eager to escape the dusty heat, and soon reached more lush terrain in the valley below!

The slabby nature of the rock from above continues to be present down in the valley!

Ooh! Pretty! We followed the creek down, encountering multiple scenic waterfalls along the way!

We often wondered if we'd get cliffed out by these waterfalls, but there was always a way down on skier's right.

This alternate descent route proved to be beautifully peaceful, filled with many artistic waterfalls, and was a real highlight of the trip!

Following the creekbed down, which would lead us back to the junction between Tibits Quarry Trail and Montane Traverse! As it turned out, Bald Eagle Peak wasn't as daunting as I once believed, and the solid rock scrambling along the ridge, combined with this beautiful alternate descent, made for a very enjoyable day, summiting a peak I've been eyeing (that might sound bad given the previous name...but don't take it out of context!!) for quite some time!