Eagle Mountain (Goat's Eye)

September 25, 2017, Massive Range, Banff National Park

Summit
2820 m
Gain
1700 m
Distance
15 km
Round trip
7.5 hr
Technical
OT3 YDS (Hiking)
Activity
scramble, hike
Quick 'n dirty
Class 1 - you fall, you are silly
Difficulty
No difficulties other than having the motivation to slog to the summit after presumably already scrambling nearby Mount Howard Douglas.
Route
GPS trackMap

After a delightful easy / moderate scramble up Mount Howard Douglas, it was time to add a second peak to my day. Why? Don’t ask. I guess I’m still a peakbagger at heart because there’s really no reason to grind up Eagle Mountain other than to claim another summit. In my case that’s not entirely true.

Eagle Mountain Route Map
Eagle Mountain Route Map
Howard Douglas and Eagle Mountain Route Map
Howard Douglas and Eagle Mountain Route Map
Passing through a nice larch forest on the way to Eagle Mountain.
Passing through a nice larch forest on the way to Eagle Mountain.
The day continues to improve as I look back at Howard Douglas (L) and over the larch forest under Eagle Mountain.
The day continues to improve as I look back at Howard Douglas (L) and over the larch forest under Eagle Mountain.

The weather kept clearing as I descended Howard Douglas and as I topped out on the ridiculously easy Eagle Mountain I got even better views from its summit than Howard Douglas’, thanks to the clearing clouds. There’s really nothing else to add to this easy pile of scree. It was kind of neat to walk through the larch forest between Howard Douglas and Eagle and then to ascend some of the double black diamond ski runs that I’ve skied in winter.

There are only five named summits on the entire 24km length of the Sundance Ridge. Cone Mountain on the SE end, Beersheba (the highest point on the ridge at over 3,000m), Allenby and Mercer near the Allenby Pass - and Sundance Peak near the NW end and left on this photo.
There are only five named summits on the entire 24km length of the Sundance Ridge. Cone Mountain on the SE end, Beersheba (the highest point on the ridge at over 3,000m), Allenby and Mercer near the Allenby Pass - and Sundance Peak near the NW end and left on this photo.
The valley between Eagle, Unnamed (L) and Howard Douglas (R) looks like an interesting spot to visit, as does Brewster Creek running alongside the Sundance Range in the distance at right.
The valley between Eagle, Unnamed (L) and Howard Douglas (R) looks like an interesting spot to visit, as does Brewster Creek running alongside the Sundance Range in the distance at right.
Looking west over the Sunshine Meadows towards The Monarch, Twin Cairns, Ramparts, Healy Pass, Haiduk, Sugarloaf, Healy Pass Peak, Greater and Lesser Pharaoh Peaks, Mount Ball (L to R).
Looking west over the Sunshine Meadows towards The Monarch, Twin Cairns, Ramparts, Healy Pass, Haiduk, Sugarloaf, Healy Pass Peak, Greater and Lesser Pharaoh Peaks, Mount Ball (L to R).

After enjoying the views from the top - Howard Douglas looked fierce - I descended easy ski runs back to the base of the mountain before walking down the road and back to my truck in the parking lot.

Chairlift and larches as I descend from Goat's Eye.
Chairlift and larches as I descend from Goat's Eye.
Working my way down the ski runs.
Working my way down the ski runs.

I do think it’s worth doing these peaks together, but I recommend doing Howard Douglas first like I did, rather than Eagle which is Nugara’s suggestion. Howard Douglas is a much better scramble and if you’re too tired to bother with Eagle afterwards, you aren’t missing out on very much.