However, early indications were that this would not be the case - the sign at the parking lot [1] reads 'Emerald Lake 1302m' as we scoot past at 7:45am. El Presidente towers above us at 3138m. 1836m of climbing to go. Doh!!

Now thinking in blocks of time the size of 'Do approach' or 'Get to col', we make speedy progress without needing too much in the way of breaks. After a 2hr march to the base of the couloir [2], the clouds are low again, and Matt suggests binning it and going back to bed. Steph charges up the couloir before Matt has chance to argue / beat him up. As we climb higher the clouds lift over the glacier, and the sun appears. At the top of the couloir we engage in some charming (NOT!) low 5th class on exposed and very loose rock. Fortunately when we reach the top we find a rap station equipped with pitons, although perhaps we were climbing the descent route and should have ascended the rocks to the right? Anyway, surprisingly after all this sketchiness, the loose stuff disappears and we climb beautiful steps made out of stripey beige and white rocks.

This leads to the easiest glacier we've ever seen, and Steph patiently hacks a 2hr lead to the col (2875m, [3]), which we reach at 1:30pm. At 2875m, we're pretty tired of climbing, so we mentally delude ourselves that the false summits we see are in fact the real ones. First, the President (3138m) is an easy climb except for the very top, where Steph insists we climb up the dodgy cornice to the 'true summit' [4]. Then the Vice President. After a weary argument over the relative merits of loose rock and 45° ice, we opt for the latter, but fortunately it turns out to be snow, and half an hour's step kicking puts us on the summit (3066m [5]). The view is great from up here, and there is no cornice to fall off! Nutella bagels are consumed and then down, down, down we go.

In under 1hr we are at the foot of the glacier. Then it's all good fun rapping off the pitons and boot-skiing down the couloir. We're surprised to see a couple more climbers headed up, camping out below the couloir. We give them the beta, discuss mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies (which by now we know something about!) and roll on to the lake. The sign at the lake reads "You are now half way round".

President (3138m) and Vice President (3066m) successful summits. 12.5 hour attempt with (2875 - 1302) + (3138 - 2875) + (3066 - 2875) = 2027m of climbing!!!