They are commonly subdivided into four divisions: the Bugaboo Glacier Peaks, and the Eastern, Central, and Western Spires.

[1] Located in the snow- and rain-heavy "Columbia Wet Belt", this section of the Purcells is subject to heavy erosion and large, active glaciers.

[2] Originally covered in weaker rock, glaciation eventually revealed the granodiorite batholiths[3] which form the group's distinctive spires.

The igneous intrusion cooled slowly, forming the crystalline structure of the hard granite found today.

Mining brought the first Europeans to the region with a small, ill-fated gold rush occurring in 1895 and 1896 near Bugaboo Falls.

[5] Along with Albert and Bess McCarthy and others, Kain would pioneer first ascents of North Howser, Marmolata, and Crescent Spires.

Fred Beckey and Yvon Chouinard (founder of the Patagonia clothing company) established new routes on several spires.