Mount Jimmy Simpson - August 2nd 2023

First ascended in 1897 by George Baker (for whom nearby Mount Baker is named), Mount Jimmy Simpson rises sharply above Bow Lake and Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. The peak was named posthumously in 1973 in honor of Jimmy Simpson (1877 - 1972). Simpson was a well-respected guide (in the summer) and trapper (in the winter). In 1920, he leased 5 acres of land on the shores of Bow Lake and built a small log cabin (Num Ti Jah Lodge) there to support his outfitting business. The construction of the Icefields Parkway connecting Lake Louise to Jasper during the Great Depression brought increased traffic to Bow Lake and, by 1937, Num Ti Jah Lodge required a major expansion resulting in the construction of the current red-roofed building. After this time, the much smaller original lodge became Simpson’s private residence where he remained until his death in 1972. The summit of Mount Jimmy Simpson, surrounded by the grand peaks of the Wapta Icefield provides an ideal location to reflect on his words: “There is absolutely nothing in the city to give us the same feeling as the great, mysterious things of nature even though they be stone and ice.
Mount Jimmy Simpson is one of the best summit view we have seen. Absolutely loved that hike with easy scramble!