Mount Haig and Gravenstafel Ridge

August 5, 2023. A return to Mount Haig to deal with the “unfinished business” of Gravenstafel Ridge. Almost exactly 4 years ago I climbed Mount Haig. That day I decided to return to my car by descending down to Haig Lake and following the trails out. For whatever reason I didn’t feel like ascending adjacent […]

Bertha Peak – “Gullies” route

June 3, 2023. Route finding and moderate scrambling to the top of Bertha Peak. Alan Kane’s Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies describes a route to the summit of Bertha Peak which involves scrambling up gullies on the east face beginning at a spot somewhere behind the backcountry campground. On previous visits to the lake I’ve […]

Forum Peak & Akamina Ridge

October 8, 2022. A scramble to a summit on the Alberta/B.C. boulder followed by an iconic Southern Rockies ridge walk. Akamina Ridge is one of the premier hikes the Southern Rockies. The usual route involves following a well-maintained trail starting in Waterton Lakes National Park which passes over Akamina Pass and enters British Columbia’s Akamina-Kinishena […]

Mount Chester

July 31, 2022. Scrambling a K-country 3000’er next to a hugely popular lake. Region: Kananaskis Country. Traditional territory of the Stoney, Tsuu T’ina, and Blackfoot First Nations Distance: 13.5 km round trip Total Ascent: 1140 m Elevation of Objective: 3054 m (the official summit elevation, my apps gave wildly different readings) Total Time: 5h 8m […]

Hawkins Horseshoe Part 3: Mount Lineham

July 24, 2022. The third and final leg of the Hawkins Horseshoe: Lineham Ridge to Mount Lineham. See Part 1 of this trip report for distance and elevation details for the entire route. Part 2 can be found here. Safety and Disclaimer From Mount Hawkins to Mount Lineham there’s no more scrambling to be found, […]

Hawkins Horseshoe Part 2: Mount Hawkins

July 24, 2022. The second leg of the Hawkins Horseshoe: the ridge walk to Mount Hawkins. See Part 1 of this trip report for distance and elevation details for the entire route. Safety and Disclaimer Departing from Aahkoinimaiisták, I proceeded west along the ridge top to a slightly lower adjacent high point before descending further […]

Hawkins Horseshoe Part 1: Aahkoinimaiistak (Mount Blakiston)

July 24, 2022. An amazing high level ridge walk, starting off with a visit to Waterton’s tallest summit. I’ve been waiting to do this trip for a long time but between work, weather, family, and forest fires the time never seemed right. So as July 2022 neared its conclusion, and I had a free day […]

Festubert Mountain via Mount Rowe

July 16, 2022. A long ridge walk between two summits on the Continental Divide. Region: Waterton Lakes National Park. Traditional Territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina and Ktunaxa First Nations Distance: 32 km round-trip Total Ascent: Approximately 2000 m due to repeated altitude loss/gain on the outward and return journey Elevation of Objective: 2522 m […]

Drywood to Loaf Mountain Traverse

June 18, 2022. A scenic long-distance ridge walk in the Castle Wilderness. Region: Castle Wilderness. Traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina, and Ktunaxa First Nations Distance: 30.4 km loop Total Ascent: 2127 m – there is substantial and repeated loss and regain of altitude along the route Elevation of Objective: 2634 m (the summit […]

Rimwall Summit

June 10, 2022. A short scramble to great views of the Spray Lakes area. Region: Kananaskis Country. Traditional territory of the Stoney, Tsuu T’ina, and Blackfoot First Nations Distance: 7.7 km round-trip Elevation Gain: 1000 m Elevation of Objective: 2657 m (Kane’s guidebook puts it at 2680 m) Total Time: 5h 14m Safety and Disclaimer […]