Perley Rock

This particular hike comes with a few warnings to consider at the onset. The first is that this is a highly strenuous hike. You will be climbing over thirteen hundred meters of elevation on a 7km trail. Do not let the short overall distance mislead you; this hike will take the better part of the day even if you are in excellent shape. The second warning is that this trail can have snow on it deep into the summer due to the elevation. Parks Canada usually doesn't even open up the trail until late June, and I have encountered scattered snow on the trail as late as August. If you intend to do this hike earlier in the season, be prepared to deal with snow. 

There is parking at Illecillewaet campground. Perley Rock's trailhead begins just up the hill from the parking lot, marked as the Mount Sir Donald Trail. 

Enjoy an easy trek through the valley to begin the hike. Perley is merciful in providing you with ample warm-up before the actual challenge begins. Once across the valley, you will enter a massive landslide boulder field from long ago. The grade begins to steepen, and as you exit the nearly impassible labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks, it gets even better. The trail veers sharply skyward, ensuring with the promise that your fitness will be tested to its limit for the remainder of the hike.  

At roughly 5km you will reach a fork; to the left is the trail that leads up Mount Sir Donald. A formidable and impressive hike worth exploring another day. If you would like to backcountry camp in the area, Mount Sir Donald is one of your only options. A word of warning, however, the Sir Donald camp is about 800m higher than the end of the trail and requires climbing the spine of a very steep moraine then fording a glacial river. Be well prepared to safely attack this trail if you ever intend to explore it. 

The Perley Rock trail veers left along the base of Terminal Peak. You will continue to climb steeply towards the sky facing countless switchbacks and ever-thinning air. Anyone not acclimatized to this altitude will almost certainly feel light-headed and dizzy at this point. Eventually, one of the switchbacks won't switch back and will instead rise around a bend to reveal a small glacier in front of you and towering black granite, Perley Rock. The trail bends through the glacier, requiring that you briefly pass over the icy snow. Be very careful. 

After circling past the glacier, the trail steeply curves around the side of Perley and eventually deposits you right on top of the monstrous rock. You will immediately be in awe of the sight before you. You are standing at 2,612m looking out at the Selkirk range. To your right is the looming mass of Mount Sir Donald. To your left is the massive Illecillewaet Glacier. 

If all this beauty hasn't bewildered you enough, turn around. Behind you, about a kilometre away, is the massive ice wall of Illecillewaet Névé. It is unquestionably remarkable from a distance, but don't hesitate to walk the short trail leading to its base since you came all this way.