Paradise Lake

July 2, 2019 with August 5, 2023 update. A short hike to a tiny blue lake in the Castle Wilderness, with a return via Haig Ridge. Region: Castle Mountain Resort. Traditional territory of the Tsuu T’ina, Ktunaxa, and Blackfoot First Nations Distance: 4.9 km one-way to the lake, 9.8 km loop with return via the […]

Haig Lake Loop

June 23, 2019. An enjoyable rainy day hike to a picturesque lake. Distance: 8.3 km loop* Total Ascent: 460 m* Elevation of Objective: 1800 m Total Time: 2h 25m *Due to the fact that I wandered around en route, these figures may vary from the most direct route. Castle Mountain Ski Resort is the closest […]

Heart Mountain and Grant MacEwan Peak

June 15, 2019. An enjoyable and popular scramble to a pair of low peaks near Canmore. Distance: 8.2 km out-and-back* Total Ascent: 1038 m* Elevation of Objective: 2135 m (Heart Mountain) and 2149 m (Grant MacEwan Peak) Hiking Time: 6h 30m* *I did this trip as part of a scrambling course, so we went back and forth on […]

Star Creek Falls

June 9, 2019. An easy hike around a waterfall in the Crowsnest Pass. Perfect for young kids. (Updated April 30, 2021 after I confirmed the loop-route and checked out the route up the canyon) Region: Crowsnest Pass, Traditional Territory of the Tsuu T’ina, Ktunaxa, and Blackfoot First Nations Distance: 1 km one-way from the parking area to […]

Table Mountain – Scrambler’s Route

June 4, 2019. A straight-forward scramble to the summit of one of the gems of Castle Provincial Park. Distance: 11 km Total Ascent: 877 m Elevation of Objective: 2225 m Hiking Time: 4h 3m round-trip Two years ago I climbed the usual on-trail route to the summit of Table Mountain. That trail is varied and steep, and has […]

Anklebiter Ridge to Bluemat Hill Loop

June 1, 2019. An enjoyable scramble to a pair of low peaks in the Canmore area. Distance: 8.6 km according to TopoMaps, 6.4 km according to MotionX – I can’t explain the large discrepancy, but 6.4 km is closer to the distance reported by other blogs Total Ascent: 1,023 m Elevation of Objective: 2,123 m Hiking Time: 5h […]

Wedge Mountain Summit

May 20, 2019. A spring ascent of a low summit in the Crowsnest Pass. Distance: 7.2 km round-trip Total Ascent: 490 m Elevation of Objective: 1917 m Hiking Time: 2h 13m I’d previously snowshoed up Wedge Mountain Trail in the Crowsnest pass and found it to be a pleasant winter outing. At that time I’d taken a […]

Lower Bertha Falls

March 16, 2019. A pleasant snowshoe trip on one of Waterton’s most popular trails. Region: Waterton Lakes National Park, Traditional Territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina, and Ktunaxa First Nations Distance: 2.7km to the lower falls / 5.4km out-and-back Total ascent: 209m Elevation of objective: 1448m Hiking time: 2h 30m round-trip (this included frequent stops to take test photos with […]

Tunnel Mountain Circuit

February 8, 2019. A short winter hike around the base of Banff’s Tunnel Mountain. Distance: 5.0 km loop Total Ascent: 153 m Elevation of objective: N/A Hiking time: 1h 25m Last February I had the chance to follow the trail up to the summit of Tunnel Mountain. This year I decided to put together a route that […]

Mount Backus

January 13, 2019. A tedious climb to a low summit in the Castle Wilderness. Distance: 6.25 km round-trip Total ascent: 478 m Elevation of objective: 1800 m Hiking time: 3h 13m Steep, uphill bushwhacking. Barbed wire. Copious deadfall. Traveling through trees. Bare ground alternating with thigh-deep snow. These are the features that await on Mount […]